The Nürburgring is a legendary motorsports complex in Germany’s Eifel mountains, famously nicknamed the “Green Hell” by Jackie Stewart for its brutal difficulty. Opened in 1927, it is best known for two main circuits:
The Nordschleife (North Loop): The iconic 20.8 km original track. It’s a narrow, terrifying rollercoaster with over 150 corners, massive elevation changes, and unpredictable weather. It’s considered the ultimate test of both car and driver.
The GP-Strecke: A modern 5.1 km circuit built in 1984, designed for major international races like Formula 1 (the F1 circus stopped using the Nordschleife after Niki Lauda’s infamous 1976 crash).
Today, the ‘Ring is a multi-purpose icon:
A Race Venue: It hosts grueling events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, an endurance race that draws hundreds of thousands of fans.
A Test Lab: Carmakers use the punishing Nordschleife as a development proving ground to fine-tune performance cars.
A Public Toll Road: On designated days, anyone can pay to drive their own car on the track, making it a bucket-list destination for petrolheads worldwide.