Ringside Seat: The Nordschleife popularity contest
Sale worries are cast aside as punters continue flocking to the 'ring
'Ring still popular with a few then!
Hundreds and hundreds of cars queuing down the Dottinger Hohe after another big closure. It was a four-day session of public driving, and the weather on the first two days was rubbish. So when the weather finally dried out, everybody took to the track at once.
It's an amazing sight and, as annoying as it is when you're stuck in it, it's reassuring for those of us worried about the Nordschleife's future. It shows that enthusiasts from all over Europe and the world still love to make the trip here, and there's no ebb in the old circuit's popularity.
"Quick lads, the rain has stopped! Oh."
Safety teams, timing lights, film crews and photographers. All of them looking after a solitary NISMO GT-R test mule.
The rumours can't be avoided now; 7m10s and 7m06s. Several different sources have told me they expect the new NISMO to go under 7m10s on a lap of the Nordschleife. That's ridiculously quick for a car that won't cost a million euros. The 7m06s is either the time it can theoretically lap according to the engineers' calculations, or it's the time that the car has actually achieved.
Where else was a NISMO GT-R going to be?
If it's a no-holds-barred brawler with too much boost and a lot of aero, then it's possible. Certainly the newly-extended rear wing and the epic compressor stall echoing through a very open intake would suggest this. I'm not sure that wing will make it through type-approval here though as it probably obstructs the rear view. That could hint at the new car being a JDM model only. Of course, that's just my own speculation.
And while we're descending into rumours, let's just touch on the Nurburgring's impending sale, privatisation or investment opportunity. Whatever you want to call it.
Rumours of a sub-7m10s lap abound...
So I'll just stick with the facts; the Nurburgring is as popular as ever and I'm happy about that!
Don't get me wrong, I love the Ring and am glad there is such a place, but it has become a victim of is own success in some ways. Unless you either get there for 8am on a full session day, get lucky with the crowds or go for a weekday session, it gets very very busy nowadays, which is frustrating. The penultimate trip I made in 2010, I only did 8 laps in two full session days!
I had the opportunity to go last weekend, but for various reasons could not make it. I heard back from my mate who did go and he said, as the pictures in the article show, it was busy and there were loads of accidents. So even going in mid-October is not a safe bet anymore!
Instead of spending all of your time trying to be the dominant Alpha-female in the world, and sending other countries into apoplexy with your monetary 'advice', why not divert some of the money earmarked for numerous corrupt regimes in '3rd world' countries, set you own stall in order and pump it onto The Nurburgring.
Really keen to see what the Nismo GTR can do
Also, in the Netherlands, there is a " Free Riding" format where you show up at the track (Zandvoort or Assen) on the pre-announced date and drive for 20min sessions arranged in groups (according skills and car types) for a small fee. No driver brief required.
Glad to hear the 'Ring is still popular, but is that an accurate indication that it's out of danger?
I would really, really like to go there someday, but it's a lot more difficult living here in the US. Here's hoping they'll still be there when I can finally afford it.
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