Spa -vs- The Nurburgring

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As belgian, i prefer Spa

Also the fact that it's a lot easier to overtake due to that the track is almost twice as wide. It make's it easier to stay close to somebody without touching him, so for me Spa is better for closer races, and the fun to take the Raidillon well and pass a lot of cars there
 
There's two trains of thought with me on this issue, Nurburgring tests the driver, Spa tests the car.

You can have an absolutely perfectly setup car, then take it to the Nurburgring and you'll be the one that makes the mistakes first. Take it out on Spa for a while and you'll find the setup's mistakes.

I can post consistently good lap times at Spa, whereas Nurburgring is a track where consistency is plausible, but not always possible, mostly due to the sheer scale of the circuit. I've stopped using Nurburgring for all my testing, as I know I have many driving flaws, but the cars may not, thus giving me a false impression of the actual car's performance.

(EDIT: - So far, Spa is the only track I can drive and find my miserable face crack a smile)
 
Both are great and different in the same time, it's nice to finally have them both and enjoy them :D
 
Spa is a much better all rounder than the Nurburgring:

Reasonably challenging to all level of drivers
It's still great for testing cars with
Wide, open track design better suited for racing
It's not as long as the nurburging is, so track days don't feel as lonely at times
 
The ring for one lap wonders or cruising (particularly the 24 hour layout change weather/change time) and Spa for hot lapping in all weather conditions. Both outstanding tracks which bring their own unique qualities to the driving experience.
 
Two fabulous tracks, who is so heartless to ask people to decide on one? You wouldn't ask it of a parent with a newborn second child.
 
TJC_69
It just takes practice & alot of patience at the 'Ring . The more you drive it , the better you get . 👍

As some other posters have said , Spa is great for close & fun racing . An amazing track yes , but the 'Ring silently calls me back every time .

It always wants you to push that little bit harder , & the barriers will claim you with the smallest of mistakes.

That's the real beauty of this track . 👍
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i hear that silent call all the time.. i've had 100s of races at the nurburgring track and it just doesn't get old.. the better the drivers the better the experience., i could probably race it with my eyes closed.. this is the only track that my adrenaline starts pumping when its just you and the other driver battling it out after half way through the course. love it. only course where where you can intimidate someone by riding their bumper. better be on your game here.. i know I'm on mine.. see you there


online race


comeback win after spin (online race)


GTR official record
 
Heathenpride
I love racing Spa but it does not compare to the epic 'ring for me.

It all gets down to personal preference though and I think it will be an extremely close poll to reflect the greatness of both tracks.

I recommend the 'ring at sunset, it's amazing :)
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I agree with you, as my vote went to the ring. I've only been a spa afew times thus far, but it quickly won track time when i'm online or off.👍
 
You're asking the wrong man. I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I really dislike driving nurburgring. Taking the narrow corners at frighteningly high speeds does nothing to make me any faster than those whose brain has a tattoo of the track, and more often than not eventually leads to disaster and frustration. It's a good test track. It's a good race track if you're a professional GT endurance racer.

Spa, however, is phenomenal in every way as a circuit. The perfect distance around, the perfect amount of hairpins and chicanes versus wide speed-heavy bends and steep elevation changing straits. It's just...better.

Let the hate begin :)
 
You don't need to be hated, it's almost a personal thing. There are two or three people in the whole planet that hate both :D

Now, my thought. Just take the Nordschleife. Run from start line to Aremberg (the first bridge), then build a new almost plain road (which is almost impossible... in reality) from the Aremberg bridge to half Dottinger Hohe (the longer straight), with some hairpins, chicanes and one or two interesting corners, then back to pits.

This is what they did to Spa THE very high speed raceway.
Spa-Francorchamps%20map1.jpg


The new track still keeps safe some hot points: Eau Rouge/Raidillon, and Blanchimont.
In the new section built in the '80s between the Kemmel straight and Stavelot (see the picture), the Malmedy/Rivage section and the Fagnes chicane are boring.... only Pouhon and Stavelot give me a thrill.

Who drove in the old Spa (simulated... perhaps in GPL?) knows what I'm saying. Actual Nordschleife is constant heartpumping, like many other tracks of the past: Zandvoort, Brands Hatch (past?).
Actual real great tracks in GT5: L. Seca and Suzuka.... and Spa on top of them.

The good of Spa, imho: some old-styled corners, and an ideal mix of slow and fast corners 👍
 
I love Spa, I am able to drive it pretty well after only a few laps on it, the Ring still gives me fits after all this time but it is irreplaceable. Spa is my favorite. Just took a run around Spa in a one make GT40 race, lots of fun!
 
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Not actually the best racing i have seen on Nordschleife in those vids. Some contact and i'm always bit iffy about taking GT1 Turbo out against home brewn tuned cars even thoug it is street legal. :)
 
They are so different that it's hard to compare. Nordschleife will always be Nordschleife of course, but Spa is also great. Nordschleife is a lot about not making mistakes, and overtaking can often be quite risky. Spa is a track where you can go more for attack, and there's more opportunities for overtakes.

As others has said already, time transition (and some endurance events) would be great for Spa!
 
Spa is the best allround race track in the world !!!
But the Nordschleife is One of a kind and will always be the KING!!!
(If u dont take the time to learn the Nordschleife's every turn u might disagree. But once u know the track it just keeps on going and going. So much fun to tame Nurb :drool: )

edit:
This vidio keeps on spooking true my mind when im thinking of the ring.
For those who havent seen it yet: ENJOY! .
@6Min10 untill the last corner before streight is CRAZY.
then u realize GT nailed Nurb olmost perfect ingame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Thomd4BQg
 
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"Landslide decision"

The Nurburgring will remain the #1 choice of tracks. 👍
 
Tower Turn 13
You're asking the wrong man. I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I really dislike driving nurburgring. Let the hate begin :)
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Haha, you said it dude. To me the 'Ring is the most overrated racing track in the game. It's a hot lap track on GT5, and a terrible race track. Any room I run in that really is clean, there's little passing, the front straight and first corner is horrible for race starts. Great track for driving, terrible for racing on. I'd take Spa over the "Ring any time.
 
Johnnypenso
Haha, you said it dude. To me the 'Ring is the most overrated racing track in the game. It's a hot lap track on GT5, and a terrible race track. Any room I run in that really is clean, there's little passing, the front straight and first corner is horrible for race starts. Great track for driving, terrible for racing on. I'd take Spa over the "Ring any time.
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This.
 
The ring is my favourite track, it's an epic course and I have great respect for the real thing, I love it in GT5 and it's lots of fun, it's alright to use in races, but Spa is much better to use in races. I voted not sure on the poll.
 
I like the Nurburgring better because of the challenge it represents to the driver on an individual level, there may be few spots to pass while racing clean but it comes with the territory. When you race at the Nurburgring you race more against the track itself than against those who are on it with you.

That said I've been dying to race at Spa for a while, I've never had any Formula 1 games or any other that featured it, so I was sold when I heard PD had modeled it. It's gorgeous, refined, but cheeky if you don't watch yourself, and as added bonus its shape resembles an Uzi. What? I'm just saying, European tracks become more appealing when they look like weaponry, look at Monza, kinda looks like a handgun...
 
The Nordscheifle shouldn't be for racing or testing anymore. Maybe testing in games. The need for laptimes ruin real life cars.
 

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