Nurburgring 24hr 2023

[ecsrobin]

We went over in a VW T6 last year staying at camping am Nurburgring (we wanted electric hookup) that seemed to be where more expensive kit lived but it was very varied around the circuit. We arrived Wednesday afternoon and struggled for a space! Everyone was so friendly though and we never saw any trouble.

Beer and food could be taken in to the circuit and grandstands or you could buy from the traders. From memory a bottle of bitburger was €3-4 which wasn’t bad at all! And currywurst €6-7. We were really shocked there was no scalping like you’d get at most events.

The weird one was everyone was packed up Saturday evening ready to leave Sunday before the race even finished. We watched the finish, went for some drinks, go-karting, esim racing and then a meal, got back to the campsite and we were the only vehicle in the campsite. Come Monday morning and as we were leaving all the rockers had gridlocked the roads waiting to setup for the Friday - Sunday rock am ring.

I’m gutted I’m not there this year and probably not next year but I highly recommend it and if anyone wants to know more I’m happy to share.

[LukeBrown66]

The problem is when you see this, then you see the state of the place after Rock Am ring, it takes weeks to sort it all out, it is pathetic really.

The 24 fans are among the est in the world, arguably even better than LM fans to be honest

[Silver3ides]

I'd would be frankly terrified on track in the lowest class of car with the speed difference .

[Sandpit Steve]

Silver3ides said:

I'd would be frankly terrified on track in the lowest class of car with the speed difference .

That little Dacia Logan was getting lapped by the top class after less than two laps, it’s going to be one hell of a mobile chicane for the rest of the field. Hope he has big mirrors.

The speed difference is massive, and while dealing with traffic is one of the key skills of endurance racing, terrifying is the right word for it - especially at night. There are plenty of inexperienced ‘gentlemen’ further down the field, who aren’t always predictable when being overtaken!

Amazingly, we’re nearly an hour in and very few incidents so far.

[Silver3ides]

Yep , I wrote it after watching the Logan was mobbed by the leaders at the carousel

[Truckosaurus]

I noticed the Dacia's best qualifying lap time was a minute slower than the next slowest car.

It also, of course, was on its own first lap when lapped.

[ecsrobin]

Think the Dacia is on its 3rd or 4th year so suspect the team and drivers are on the ball. What’s the lap times in comparison of the manta.

[boxedin]

Well the last hour has been edge of the seat stuff with Estre, blimey.

I think his Porsche's exhaust is being fixed using a pair of Knipex Plumbers Pilers. So that's something I have in common with Manthey Racing :-)

Van Der Linde did well to get the Lambo back without trashing the rear of the car. Kinda balanced it out with the first corner spin after though.

Punctures and now.... rain!

Great race already.

[thegreenhell]

ecsrobin said:

Think the Dacia is on its 3rd or 4th year so suspect the team and drivers are on the ball. What’s the lap times in comparison of the manta.

I haven't checked the driver names this year, but I think they're all just random paying drivers and it is in effect a rental race car. It's quite likely they are all relative novices. That was the case a couple of years ago when Misha Charoudin paid to race it in the 24h.

I think it was lapped three times within the first hour.

[Sandpit Steve]

thegreenhell said:

ecsrobin said:

Think the Dacia is on its 3rd or 4th year so suspect the team and drivers are on the ball. What’s the lap times in comparison of the manta.

I haven't checked the driver names this year, but I think they're all just random paying drivers and it is in effect a rental race car. It's quite likely they are all relative novices. That was the case a couple of years ago when Misha Charoudin paid to race it in the 24h.

I think it was lapped three times within the first hour.

It’s now done 15 laps after three hours, when the leaders have done 24 laps!

Its fastest lap is 12’38”, more than two minutes slower than any other car in the field, and four-and-a-half minutes slower than the GT3s in the fastest class - which will see it every three laps, as the Dacia has done two!

Why would you choose something so damn slow, does it save that much money over buying a slightly more competitive vehicle? The late Sabine in her Transit van was faster than this!

[df76]

Sandpit Steve said:

thegreenhell said:

ecsrobin said:

Think the Dacia is on its 3rd or 4th year so suspect the team and drivers are on the ball. What’s the lap times in comparison of the manta.

I haven't checked the driver names this year, but I think they're all just random paying drivers and it is in effect a rental race car. It's quite likely they are all relative novices. That was the case a couple of years ago when Misha Charoudin paid to race it in the 24h.

I think it was lapped three times within the first hour.

It’s now done 15 laps after three hours, when the leaders have done 24 laps!

Its fastest lap is 12’38”, more than two minutes slower than any other car in the field, and four-and-a-half minutes slower than the GT3s in the fastest class - which will see it every three laps, as the Dacia has done two!

Why would you choose something so damn slow, does it save that much money over buying a slightly more competitive vehicle? The late Sabine in her Transit van was faster than this!

Unfortunately it’s just too slow. You can’t just have a single car circulating at that pace. So tricky to deal with, especially at night.

[Truckosaurus]

Sandpit Steve said:

...The late Sabine in her Transit van was faster than this!

Different track layout though.

As above, it probably isn't that much cheaper than running in an old 3-series, but no-one would give you a second look in one of those whereas everyone is cheering for the Dacia.

I'm all for obscure entries, but the Dacia is comedy slow, at least the Manta is leading its class.

[Sandpit Steve]

Truckosaurus said:

Sandpit Steve said:

...The late Sabine in her Transit van was faster than this!

Different track layout though.

As above, it probably isn't that much cheaper than running in an old 3-series, but no-one would give you a second look in one of those whereas everyone is cheering for the Dacia.

I'm all for obscure entries, but the Dacia is comedy slow, at least the Manta is leading its class.

Ah yes, that was bridge-to-gantry, rather that the full lap including the GP circuit they are doing today.

Totally agree on supporting comedy entries and the once-in-a-lifetime gentlemen drivers, but when you’re that far off the pace it can be bloody dangerous for everyone. Only one of them as well, so not like there’s a whole class of cars doing the same slow pace. It would be like putting a Formula Ford 1600 car at the back of the F1 grid! Even cars in their own class, like the Manta, will see them every five or six laps.

[ecsrobin]

And don’t forget it had an engine swap last year to a more powerful clio sport engine.

[500TORQUES]

Large number of punctures this year throughout the field.

[boxedin]

The Dacia's fastest lap is slower than I set on a 98bhp motorcycle with a top box. I appreciate the TF isn't the N24 layout, but still.

I reckon a stolen Yamaha TMax would give the Dacia a hard time.

[Digga]

500TORQUES said:

Large number of punctures this year throughout the field.

Yes I think that’s a concern.

Estre was, in many ways, extraordinarily lucky. He was going side by side on an overtake at about 150ish mph through Teirgarten, moments before the tyre let go. Could have been hideous.

[Active75]

The cameras and coverage is very good this year. Cracking race so far.

[rallycross]

Active75 said:

The cameras and coverage is very good this year. Cracking race so far.

Just turned it on cracking live pics shame the dumb commentator can’t just calm down and stop yakking so much - 24 hrs or the same rubbish let’s just watch and listen to the cars

[500TORQUES]

rallycross said:

Just turned it on cracking live pics shame the dumb commentator can’t just calm down and stop yakking so much - 24 hrs or the same rubbish let’s just watch and listen to the cars

Seems to be the way of the world now, they have to fill time with utter ste.