Nurburgring

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cobra_UK
  • 58 comments
  • 3,479 views
Ok one tip:

Go on Sunday to the Ring. And go very early in the morning. Because it's ****ing busy when the ring is open.

Been there on vacation this year. And i'm going there next year again. The Ring RULEZZ!
 
Thanks for the feedback guys! :)

I've visited the website you recommended and I'm working my way through all the links provided for the videos. I have seen a video on Nurburgring of a car like mine but in black and got pretty excited.

From what I learned so far is good to never underestimate "The Ring", respect the rules there and try to pick times when it's not too busy on the track. Another thing I've learned is to not be so concentrating on lap times and just enjoy the day.

Here are some suggestions from me.

Insurance - They don't ask you don't say, if you crash on racing track you're on your own anyway. Buy travel insurance though as it will help if there are any personal injuries.

Practice - It may not be like the real thing but racing enough times in PGR2 and GT4 on Nurburgring will at least help you learn the circuit to a certain extent. Even on the day you get to do it for real leave your best efforts for last.

Car - Take your car, you know how it drives, you know it's condition and you know it's yours. Rent a car you haven't driven before, may not be in good condition, crash it and end up having to pay for the car, badly injure yourself or even worse...
 
Cobra_UK
Thanks for the feedback guys! :)

I've visited the website you recommended and I'm working my way through all the links provided for the videos. I have seen a video on Nurburgring of a car like mine but in black and got pretty excited.

From what I learned so far is good to never underestimate "The Ring", respect the rules there and try to pick times when it's not too busy on the track. Another thing I've learned is to not be so concentrating on lap times and just enjoy the day.

Here are some suggestions from me.

Insurance - They don't ask you don't say, if you crash on racing track you're on your own anyway. Buy travel insurance though as it will help if there are any personal injuries.

Practice - It may not be like the real thing but racing enough times in PGR2 and GT4 on Nurburgring will at least help you learn the circuit to a certain extent. Even on the day you get to do it for real leave your best efforts for last.

Car - Take your car, you know how it drives, you know it's condition and you know it's yours. Rent a car you haven't driven before, may not be in good condition, crash it and end up having to pay for the car, badly injure yourself or even worse...
Click to expand...

Yep take it easy and you'll have a fantastic time. Next year I plan to join some fellow S2000 owners from the UK who have been several times before..... for referance a good lap in the S2000 is around 8min 40secs (for a racing driver) my fellow S2000 owners are good drivers but are generally around a minute slower than that. With 260bhp/ton to play with in your Beemer you should be able to break the 10minute (and possibly the 9) but don't time yourself with a timer you can see it may cause you to push too hard...... the advice I have been given is not to time yourself at all to start with...... wait until your last two laps start the clock and put it in your pocket then forget about the timing until you complete the lap then and only then see what time you did 👍
 
Well, I may never get to actually drive this course, but I have driven the famous Monaco F1 Track. It may not be exciting with traffic, but its great in the early morning.
 
I know Le Mans. I don't know Nurburgring. And for what I know, it would take about two Le Mans to make the length of the Nurburgring Nords. For some people, online play was going to be the highlight of GT4. I think for many more of us, Nurburgring Nords. is going to be the highlight of this game. Nurburgring Nords. is perhaps one of the big feats in gaming- being able to come up with a track this big, with so much detail, and have it in a game available to race. The track has all sorts of corners, and it's so tough to try to generate perfect lap timrs with so many corners to deal with. This track is also pretty magical as well. You don't have many tracks or racing events with sometimes well over 100 competitors (I think I heard of 240 or 260 from this year's race) on actual public roads going for 24 straight hours. I'm willing to try new things here. Nurburgring Nords. should make for a delightful experience. That is, if drifting and trying out Photo Mode and B-Spec Mode don't become equally satisfying.
 
I found this site whilst digging around today:

http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/nurburgr.html

It contains the full track layout, with details on each section of the track, including the optimum racing line. Should be quite helpful for both real-life and the game.

Note: The detail sections (the 1-9, etc under the main track image) are actually GIF files, but they're misnamed on the server as a "G" file extention. Just save them to your hard drive and rename them to GIF and they'll open right up.
 
Derek Bell? Well of course. That man drives (did) drive the Audi in that one type of racing.

It was right before the ALMS race, and then after ALMS would be another, but smaller race.

I forgot what it was.

Derek Bell also used to drive the Panoz GTR-1 race car, so I highly doubt he would make slow times at being a very professional racer.
 
I´m at the ring at least 10 times a year because i live in Aachen (90 fast car minutes away from the Nürburgring).

Here is my advice:

1. Forget about lap times, brake points and on-camber- and off-camber-Curves!!!!
Stay in 4th or 5th gear and enjoy the ride ! Try to remember landmarks. Let faster drivers pass (they don´t need any more practice or the are just stupid) ! Look at the tarmac and even when you are driving much slower than possible you should try to feel the "ups" and "downs" on the "North-Bend".

2. Take a trip with the Ring-Taxi (when i last used it in 2002 it was about 90 Euro, but it is more expensive now). You will detect some real surprises like the "Adenauer Forst" or the first "Pflanzgarten Jump" !!!

3. Take a really slow car !!!!!!
Forget about a cobra or an M3 ! Take an old Fiat Uno or a Fiesta or something like that !

I´m working at a local Mercedes-Dealer and i´ve already been able to drive cars with more than 300 hp on the Nordschleife, but i was beaten even by cars with less than 80 hp, coz the drivers new the track very well! There are allways much faster drivers than you !

4. You will make to many gear-shifts and you will brake too hard in almost every corner of the track in your first 40 laps !!!!!

That´s a fact ! The car will suffer !

You will need years to really learn the Nordschleife !

Look at it like a trip to Disney-Land ! Just enjoy and have fun.
Try to imagine the feeling of boys like Jim Clark or Jackie Stewart, when they drove in these movable petrol tanks with lots of Horsepowers and no downforce !

It´s really impressive.

5th and last: Forget the stop-watch or take it just for fun !

oh, and by the way: normal road tires are normally ruined after 2,5 really fast laps with a good line. But as i said before, you won´t be able to drive a good line your first laps, so the tires need a break after every lap.

But don´t stop the car !!!!!!!!

You will ruin your brakes !
Get off the track and drive to the main street ! The Brakes will be very hot, because you allways broke too hard and too long ! Give them time to cool down by cruising without braking !

And your suspension shouldn´t be too hard ! I know many cars that would be much faster with a more comfortable set-up on the Nordschleife. After the Jumps and Bumps you have to give full throttle as soon as possible.

Dont get frustrated, when smaller cars overtake ! Even little changes on the front wheel camber can make huge improvement to the handling of these cars !
 
Would be fun... if it was at all possible for me to get there with my car... living in Washington State and all :p

That, and if my AW11 hit ANYTHING.... it would turn into dust... such a small light car...
 
Lambolover
That video of the 956 looks really fast, anyone know what the official record on the nurburgring is?
Click to expand...

For details on the road car on road tyres record see this thread

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50890


Jedi2016
I found this site whilst digging around today:

http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/nurburgr.html

It contains the full track layout, with details on each section of the track, including the optimum racing line. Should be quite helpful for both real-life and the game.

Note: The detail sections (the 1-9, etc under the main track image) are actually GIF files, but they're misnamed on the server as a "G" file extention. Just save them to your hard drive and rename them to GIF and they'll open right up.
Click to expand...


Not bad at all, this one is my prefered choice

http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/fascination/bmwm/index.html

Follow the link on the right hand side of the page 'Race reading"Nordschleife ideal line",presented byBMW M GmbH (PDF, 3.6 MB).'

Its a corner by corner guide produced by BMW and Sportauto. giving a first class guide to the track from the perspective of an 8min 22sec lap in an M3 SMG.

:)
 
Wow, alexsteffen that's some great info, thanks.

Since I'm driving up there from UK and it will be so unforgiving on tyres, should I take some money with me to buy a new set of tires for the way back?

My car is lower by 30mm and has a small camber in front wheels only. Tyres are Goodyear Eagle F1's 29 PSI/front, 31 PSI/back. I'll service the car before my trip and clean it and re-check it before going on "The Ring". I will remove passenger/rear seats/bench, electric aerial, spare tyre and a few other things (-61Kg). I'll also only use 20l super unleaded with additives for practice and 10l for the timed laps. I'll increase the down force on front with my splitter. There is plenty of other things I want to do before going there. I'm gonna do the practice laps with my girlfriend and the timed ones by myself. Most important one is to get a few more days in at Donnington Park in late spring hopefully.

And by the way I will definitely come back with some videos and pictures for everybody. 👍
 
alexsteffen
I´m at the ring at least 10 times a year because i live in Aachen (90 fast car minutes away from the Nürburgring).

Here is my advice:

1. Forget about lap times, brake points and on-camber- and off-camber-Curves!!!!
Stay in 4th or 5th gear and enjoy the ride ! Try to remember landmarks. Let faster drivers pass (they don´t need any more practice or the are just stupid) ! Look at the tarmac and even when you are driving much slower than possible you should try to feel the "ups" and "downs" on the "North-Bend".

2. Take a trip with the Ring-Taxi (when i last used it in 2002 it was about 90 Euro, but it is more expensive now). You will detect some real surprises like the "Adenauer Forst" or the first "Pflanzgarten Jump" !!!

3. Take a really slow car !!!!!!
Forget about a cobra or an M3 ! Take an old Fiat Uno or a Fiesta or something like that !

I´m working at a local Mercedes-Dealer and i´ve already been able to drive cars with more than 300 hp on the Nordschleife, but i was beaten even by cars with less than 80 hp, coz the drivers new the track very well! There are allways much faster drivers than you !

4. You will make to many gear-shifts and you will brake too hard in almost every corner of the track in your first 40 laps !!!!!

That´s a fact ! The car will suffer !

You will need years to really learn the Nordschleife !

Look at it like a trip to Disney-Land ! Just enjoy and have fun.
Try to imagine the feeling of boys like Jim Clark or Jackie Stewart, when they drove in these movable petrol tanks with lots of Horsepowers and no downforce !

It´s really impressive.

5th and last: Forget the stop-watch or take it just for fun !

oh, and by the way: normal road tires are normally ruined after 2,5 really fast laps with a good line. But as i said before, you won´t be able to drive a good line your first laps, so the tires need a break after every lap.

But don´t stop the car !!!!!!!!

You will ruin your brakes !
Get off the track and drive to the main street ! The Brakes will be very hot, because you allways broke too hard and too long ! Give them time to cool down by cruising without braking !

And your suspension shouldn´t be too hard ! I know many cars that would be much faster with a more comfortable set-up on the Nordschleife. After the Jumps and Bumps you have to give full throttle as soon as possible.

Dont get frustrated, when smaller cars overtake ! Even little changes on the front wheel camber can make huge improvement to the handling of these cars !
Click to expand...

Couple of small bits to add to the excellent post above.

1 - As well as your tyres, your pads and disks will take a total hammering. The advise to take a short break every lap is spot on. Brake fade is the last thing you want. Also watch for oil surge if your car is not dry-sump lubricated, can very quickly damage an engine and result in the need for recovery (see point 5)

2 - Its standard track-day stuff, but DO NOT put the handbrake on after you finish. With the temp the discs will be at it will lock solid.

3 - The 'ring is a one-way public road and as such German traffic laws apply, read every part of Ben Lovejoy's site for info on this. The legaly responsible party in an accident will be determined according to German law.

4 - Point 3 also means that strictly speaking your UK road insurance may apply, however some companies have specific clauses to exclude the 'ring (I believe that this is quite common with German insurance companies, but those in the UK are catching on).

5 - Point 4 also applies to break-down and recovery services, for example the AA has a clause in its policies that specifically exclude recovery from the 'ring. Check very carefully as recovery back to the UK is not cheap.

6 - If you have an accident you are responsible for the cost of track/Armco repair, clean-up, track closure and ambulance cover. This is not cheap (again details can be found on Ben Lovejoy's site) and with the small run off on most parts of the track you are likely to cause some damage if you lose it.

Not trying to scare any-one off, but you do need to be aware of what the risks are. In my opinion its more that worth it, but this track does kill people and I would rather it was not some-one I knew.
 
Scaff
For details on the road car on road tyres record see this thread

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50890





Not bad at all, this one if my prefered choice

http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/fascination/bmwm/index.html

Follow the link on the right hand side of the page 'Race reading"Nordschleife ideal line",presented byBMW M GmbH (PDF, 3.6 MB).'

Its a corner by corner guide produced by BMW and Sportauto. giving a first class guide to the track from the perspective of an 8min 22sec lap in an M3 SMG.



:)
Click to expand...

Thanks staff, good stuff!! That radical is amazing, i would give anything to drive that round the nurb. I have driven a Lamborghini Murcielago round Thruxton UK, and that was pretty special, one day..........................
 
Sounds ambitious Cobra_UK. I'd not time myself at all if I were you.
Remember there is NO runoff, NO room for error and pushing it on your first visit is likely to make you crash.
It's about having fun, not setting times, leave that to GT4.
I'm sure the Nordschliefe TT will be one of the most contested online competitions in GT4 :)
 
I know what you're saying mackie but I like to push myself I'm an adrenaline junkie. :crazy:

I do like my life though so I'm not gonna do anything stupid. I'm taking a risk, hell everyday you go out the door you take a risk, but this will be a very calculated risk.;)

I can tell you though I've been doing Nurburgring in PGR2 constantly and I will be doing it in GT4 too. It will certainly help. But I've read everything you guys posted and been to lots of websites reading about the dangers and I'm not going to underestimate it...
 
As long as you know the risks then go for it :)
I'm tempted to go over around Easter time next year, probably with a convoy of other brits.
 
you know ,you don't have to take risk on a circuit to go on fault , i have done the experience last year on dijon-prenois racetrack
2 times out of track ( one at 150km/h....) withtout an agressive driving , only 2 small mistakes and..........( no crash , but :scared: :scared: ...)
and dijon-prenois have a wide track with lot of place arond to slow down if you miss a corner , nothing of that on the nurburgring
if you go out on the "ring" , you wreck your car , or worth ,YOU.....
that why ,if i go to the "ring" next year , i would take my time to learn this track ( with GT4 and essentially on my 2 or 3 first laps) before hoping trying to go a little bit fast on it :nervous: :nervous:
thanks Scaff for the link to get the nurburgring guide on www.bmw.com 👍
 
By the way:

The actual Record for legal street cars (with normal street tires or with sport tires for street use) has just been broken.

This contest has been started by Horst von Saurma, the chief of the german sports car magazine "sport auto" years ago.

And normally there are two new records a year (maximum).

Von Saurma managed the Ring (with the shortened Grand-Prix-Track) within 7:32 minutes in a brand new (not tuned !!!) Porsche Carrera GT. But 3 weeks ago the Chief of Donkervoort Germany gave it a try with a street legal Donky with the 1,8 Litre Turbo-Charged and tuned engine of the Audi TT. It has about 400 hp and i heard that the weight of the car is at about 550 KG (!!!!).

For the first time in the history of this contest the track was not closed !!!

In his first try he managed a 7:18 Lap in the traffic !!!!!

RESPECT
 
alexsteffen
By the way:

The actual Record for legal street cars (with normal street tires or with sport tires for street use) has just been broken.

This contest has been started by Horst von Saurma, the chief of the german sports car magazine "sport auto" years ago.

And normally there are two new records a year (maximum).

Von Saurma managed the Ring (with the shortened Grand-Prix-Track) within 7:32 minutes in a brand new (not tuned !!!) Porsche Carrera GT. But 3 weeks ago the Chief of Donkervoort Germany gave it a try with a street legal Donky with the 1,8 Litre Turbo-Charged and tuned engine of the Audi TT. It has about 400 hp and i heard that the weight of the car is at about 550 KG (!!!!).

For the first time in the history of this contest the track was not closed !!!

In his first try he managed a 7:18 Lap in the traffic !!!!!

RESPECT
Click to expand...

Sorry mate, beat you to that one, see the thread below. By the way, the Radical SR3T stuffed the Carrera GT time (see the thread) but next year should see a few good battles between the Radical and Donkervoort.

Scaff
For details on the road car on road tyres record see this thread

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50890
Click to expand...

The Radical set its time on it one and only hot lap attempt, but the driver (Phil Bennet) has stated that he could see the SR3T drop under 7 minutes, if the Donky was in traffic then that should be capable of a sub-7 lap as well.

Roll on 2005.
 
They say it takes around 50 laps to really learn it. You definately don't want to attempt going close to quickly on your first few.
GT4 will help you learn the layout but I doubt they've reproduced all the bumps and varying surface quality
 
Scaff
Not bad at all, this one is my prefered choice

http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/fascination/bmwm/index.html

Follow the link on the right hand side of the page 'Race reading"Nordschleife ideal line",presented byBMW M GmbH (PDF, 3.6 MB).'

Its a corner by corner guide produced by BMW and Sportauto. giving a first class guide to the track from the perspective of an 8min 22sec lap in an M3 SMG.

:)
Click to expand...

Hey, no fair! Your link is better than mine! :) :bowdown: :cheers:
 
GTXLR
What the hell is a Donkey?
Does it have 4 legs and a tail :dunce:
Click to expand...

Nah, its this


29877.1.gen.jpg


Links

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=18&t=133095&h=0 (see if you can workout who P490KUP is on this thread - its not difficult)

http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/?id=29876 (in Dutch - but lets be fair its not that hard to understand what is being said).
 
Jedi2016
Hey, no fair! Your link is better than mine! :) :bowdown: :cheers:
Click to expand...

Thanks Jedi.

Its by far the best guide to the 'ring I've seen and its free.

Everyone looking to get GT4 should save and print it out, along with anyone who is planning to go to the 'ring.

Seriously, it is that good.
 
Scaff
Everyone looking to get GT4 should save and print it out, along with anyone who is planning to go to the 'ring.

Seriously, it is that good.
Click to expand...

I already have it saved.. I just need to find a binder to put it in and I'll be printing it out. :)
 

Latest Posts

Back