My Experience: Gran Turismo to Nürburgring

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tao Vantu
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Tao Vantu

Tao Vantu

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7
Canada
Toronto, Canada
Hi GTP Community,

I've been a fan of Gran Turismo since the beginning. Last year I took a trip to Germany to drive on the Nürburgring. I prepared for the trip by driving on the 'Ring in GT5 for one year. Of course, I was only using the game as a guide to memorize the 150+ corners around the track and not mistaking it for "real" experience. The game really does help you prepare for what's coming next on the track.

I'd like to share my experience of going "virtual to reality", some history of the track and the ongoing financial issues at the 'Ring in the mini-documentary I've made. Please check it out when you have the chance. Please share the video if you like.

Cheers,
Tao

SAVE THE RING!

 
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, video is wonderful and I thank you very, very much as my dream is to go the Nurburgring and see it, feel it myself.
Nothing else to say right now but cheers! Greetings from Croatia.
 
Thank Dude for the post! The Ring is the home of motoracing and motorsports and this footage proves why it should always exist for generations to comes. :) Be safe and thank you again.
 
super_gt
One conclusion don't drive as fast as you drive in GRAN TURISMO because you will crash.
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How could you judge others? They can drive as fast as they want and feel, the most important is to learn the track and car.
 
great video!
I also got to live a dream of getting to the ring this summer. Rented a suzuki swift sport from rentracecar.de on a super wet day and had a great time, no records being broken, but certainly a checkmark on the bucket list!

Gran Turismo over the years allowed me to be comfortable with knowing what turns were ahead, etc. I know a few others which have gone and said they felt lost on the track, which I am very glad that I did not!


edit: also located it Toronto which is neat!
 
Hey Tao and Primal, have either of you thought of taking lessons here? I'm planning on going back this late summer\fall for a two day course.
 
Given more time I would have loved to do a course there, but we were only there for one morning and then had to continue on to other places
 
Tao, thank you so much for posting this. I'm right there with you from 4:40 - 5:10. I hope to visit the ring soon. You've inspired me to post about another bucket list/life experience in another thread too!
 
As someone who has also experienced a racetrack (although, I went to Canada's version of Nürburgring, Mosport,) it's really much more awesome when you go in person. Running it (Mosport) in iRacing wasn't nearly as much fun as going in real life.


Go on, go to the track and drive!
 
Good video Primal, glad it wasn't raining when I was there! The Karrusell part was funny. :)

Chron - I didn't take lessons there as I didn't have enough time and wanted to also spend my money driving on the track over the 2 days. I wasn't planning on doing any hot laps and I already knew the map from Gran Turismo (again...not a replacement for real experience but the game helps) . If you have the time and money RentRaceCar and Rent4Ring have good courses and car rentals there.

Thanks for the feedback Simpsobj. Glad I could help with the bucket list! Don't go too late or you might not have public days anymore if the track is sold! :( SAVE THE RING!

ITCC Andrew - I wanted to do the Bridgestone Driving Academy in a Van Diemen Formula Car at Mosport in the next year or so. Looks like fun!

Cheers,
Tao
 
Tao Vantu
Don't go too late or you might not have public days anymore if the track is sold! :( SAVE THE RING!
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I might find myself in Paris in a few months for work. If I do, I'll definitely work this into my plans. I may actually come back here and message some of you guys who have been to get any tips and info if I need to plan in a hurry.

I guess the first thing I should ask now is how much advance notice did you need to reserve a car for public track days? What about where you stayed? Do you know if it would also be flexible if things needed to be pushed a week? I haven't got a clue how many services like that are around the area, and the level of demand.
 
Amazing video! I think everyone should make a "pilgrimages" to the Green Hell once in their life. I also dream to go there sometime in my life and you've inspired me even more. 👍

#SaveTheRing
 
RentRaceCar :cheers: I think I'm going to be dreaming 12 laps tonight.

Only problem is that I'll only turn 28 in April... so no M3. :lol: Who am I kidding? There's probably only a few places where I'd really be willing to really unleash it anyway. It's probably a better idea that I'd run something with less power anyways like the GT86 or the Scirocco Cup+. The F1 paddle shifting may be a blessing the first time on the course.
 
Thanks Tao, haha. There was a lot more talking which my wife made me edit out because she was embarrassed, but I said that had to stay!

With RentRaceCar you can just show up and get a car. It may not be the car you were planning on, but it is possible. I went on a Sunday, which is a day that you are not able to reserve a car unless it is for a half day or more, so if you plan on a 4 laps or less you are at the will of what is available.

Also since it was a Sunday and pouring rain and only 5°C, they only had a few cars prepped for the track that day. I had gone with the hope of a GT86 but there was only one ready for the day and it was booked through late afternoon (I showed up ~9:30am)

With the choice between the Suzuki Swift Sport or a VW Polo GTI, I chose the swift because of the manual transmission. Even though it is by no means a fast car, it is still a stripped out lightweight manual hot hatch with sports suspension and semi-slick tires, so it was still an incredible experience just to drive that!
1010949_10151545587203681_1938662210_n.jpg

(at wehrseifen)

It is very easy to be in email contact with the owners of RentRaceCar, so plans can be figured out if renting a car in advance or getting advice. Their booth is in the same building as the Ring Taxi right beside the track entrance along the straight, so very conveniently placed. The public parking lots are dirt/mud however, so when we were there luckily we had a 4x4 to move around more easily.

Also, the day I was there, a random guy in the parking lot beside the entrance was offering passenger rides in his McLaren MP4 convertible for 50€, so might be worth it just to experience the McLaren!
 
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Really nice video, every time i saw the karouselle in video i'm surprise to see how rought it seem to be
 
The people at RentRaceCar are great. Try booking your car more than a month in advanced to ensure you get the ride you want and say hi to Heidi and Theo for me. I would suggest renting a Scirocco Cup+ as its DSG paddle shifting is a great for people driving on the 'Ring for the first time. A BMW M3 would be nice (don't need all that power for your 1st time) but you get roughly double the time for half the price in a Scirocco. Save the M3 for another time. As Primal says, RentRaceCar shares the BMW Ring Taxi pavilion so you do not have to go pick up your vehicle at their facilities. Just head to the 'Ring entrance and you can't miss them.

As for hotels, if you want to stay "on the track" you can book a room at Hotel An Der Nordschleife as seen here:

hotel-an-der-nordschleife.jpg


I stayed at Hotel Am Tiergarten as it was in walking distance to the track entrance and it's owned an operated by the Schmitz family. They're very friendly, have good prices and good beer!

fc5fcbd6bbde40eb80d21b9b6e5120d1.jpg



Let me know if you have any other question.

Cheers,
Tao
 
Tao Vantu
Hi GTP Community,

I've been a fan of Gran Turismo since the beginning...

...I'd like to share my experience of going "virtual to reality", some history of the track and the ongoing financial issues at the 'Ring in the mini-documentary I've made. Please check it out when you have the chance. Please share the video if you like.

Cheers,
Tao
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for taking the time to share this on GTP.
Its great to see something like this from the perspective you have provided!
 
That's an epic video, thanks so much for sharing. I'm quite touched by people from all over the world take an interest in the race track. Glad you liked the experience.

Just one question: why the dickens wasn't this video featured on the main page?!
 
I went there to the track yesterday and i loved it so much. The elevation changes were epic and i loved it.

I recommend every race fan to visit it.
 
Damn dude. This was touching. That was seriously awesome seeing your experience, it sends a vibe through motorsport enthusiasts like us!
 
I was born and raised in the Netherlands , when gt4 came out I fell in love with nordschleife but sadly I moved to the US 3 yrs ago , this thread is awesome due to the fact that I could see how amwesome you feel about it .. I recently got Invited to go by my friend in holland in his miata , can't wait ! :p
 
That camera car is a Formula V (if you don't know, it's built from VW Beetle parts). That front suspension and tires are right off a Beetle.

Notice how even then, they didn't start up at the pits like we do with the Nordschliefe. I hate that start. The Type V and 24hr track are so much better for starts (especially the Type V)
 
man, this was such a nice video, thanks for sharing it!
btw, what handicam did u use?
 

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