Stunning race cars battle it out at the ‘Ring!
The 35th running of the Nurburgring 24 hours this weekend. Can Aston Martin triumph?
This weekend (9th and 10th of June) sees the 35th running of what is arguably one of the most spectacular motor races in the world - the Nurburgring 24 hours.
Over 200 cars will line up to tackle the daunting Nordschleife, and thanks to a complex class structure and a very relaxed set of regulations, amongst them are some of the most exciting competition cars to be found anywhere in the world right now. With the challenge of the circuit, the usual bad weather and the gruelling attrition rate, the race is a fight for survival as much as a competition between rival teams.
Last year’s winning team Manthey Motorsport are favourites once again with their highly developed 997 GT3 RSR, but formidable competition comes from a horde of other Porsches including the Alzen brothers’ new Cayman-based race car. Expect other contenders to include the mighty Zakspeed Viper GTS-R and the quickest of the M3 GTRs.
Throughout the field there are interesting machines, such as a racing Audi RS4, the spectacular Lamborghini Gallardos, a Honda NSX Type R and a Falken-entered Nissan 350Z driven by Dirk Schoysman amongst others.
Aston Martin are also looking for an overall victory with a mean-looking DBRS9 run in high downforce spec and featuring Klaus Ludwig on the driver sheet. The marque is also represented by three N24 V8 Vantage models in a lower class.
Down at the other end of the grid, there are Vauxhall Corsas, Clios and even a Rover Mini. What it must be like in one of these at night, in the rain, when you’re lapped by the quickest cars, we can only imagine. Sadly.
If you can’t be there you can keep up to date with what’s going on by listening to the Radio Le Mans team, who will be broadcasting live from the Nordschleife. Log on to their website below or select Sky channel 0157 to hear them.
PH will be there too, dribbling over the cars and soaking up the atmosphere – especially as the sun sets on 200,000 race fans around this wonderful circuit. Expect a full report next week.
I have been to Le Mans 9 times (including this year) and have been thinking that a visit to the Nordscleife for this might be in order some time...

Weather will be very hot with the occasional thunderstorm.
Entry to the track is in comparison to LM extremely cheap. It's an uncredible sensation to see the cars racing through the night at Planzgarten for instance.
If you have a chance to receive DSF on Astra be sure not to miss the live coverage! Or better go and have a look yourself!
There has been full race LIVE streaming (same coverage as DSF) at http://adac.24h-rennen.de/live/streaming.html
I'm in garage 31 as we speak, been racing in the Brunswick Alfa 147. Viewers may have seen it dissappear in a cloud of smoke at about 5hr mark. 2nd (and last) turbo blow, game over for us.
Brunswick have an RX7 and about 1min ago i hread it has crashed, not bad, driver O, There have been some realy, really horrific crashes here. Torrential rain came 30mins before the start which got delayed 1hr, 2 full safety car laps then GO!
I was suposed to be 2nd driver after 6 laps but 1st driver came in after lap 1 with cramp and so i was off, with just 90sec notice, i even drove the whole stint in my normal shoes, no time to get race boots.
Amazing place though, crowds amazing, atmosphere amazing, just wish i still had a car to drive.
[URL=http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5641858]
If above pic works, both blown turbos.
As originally said, some amazing cars, sounds awesome. On my 1st lap I went out just 15secs in front of the leaders and was seriosuly mugged for the first half lap, at least 10 cars passed me, racng hard down the foxhole.
Hi Glenn, great to hear from you. Yes, it was awesome while it lasted, such a range of emotions in the night, we all decided to go back to guest house around the time they red flagged it, sunk a few beers and had a few hours kip. Despite the huge dissapointment the spirit in the team is great, everyone trying to keep everyone else upbeat. We are jst about to setoff for the track to watch the end of the race.
Maxx
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