Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit Touristen fahrten
Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit Touristen fahrten
Author
Discussion

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
I'm passing by the Nurburgring on the 11th next month, I was rather hoping to go on the ring but it seems there isn't Touristen fahrten that day, but there is one for the Grand Prix circuit apparently. This confused my as I didn't think there was the same access to the Grand Prix circuit as there is the Nordschleife? Can anyone enlighten me? The exact thing it says on the Nurburgring website is: 'Touristenfahrten, 11.03.2010
(Grand-Prix-Strecke)'
Thanks in advance.

iguana

7,314 posts

284 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
Similar but diferent if that makes sence, you pay for a session rather than a lap or laps card then go out with a bunch at the same time.


Isnt a highway like 'ring but 'think' still have to have road leagal car for these public sessions

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
I see, is this a more recent thing? I'm sure I've not heard about access to the GP circuit before other than on track days. Don't suppose you know how much it is? The Nurburgring website seems to say very little about the GP circuit sessions.

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
I think it is E30 for 20 minutes. I'd read the T&Cs quite carefully for the insurance situation if it were me. I suspect that you need 3rd party cover.

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
Sounds pretty reasonable to me. The general Nurburgring T&Cs don't seem to mention GP circuit sessions, and I can't find any information about these sessions other than when they are...

Guillotine

5,516 posts

288 months

Monday 15th February 2010
quotequote all
That'll be the GP sessions.

Like Hockenheim, they open the track for 20 min sessions when you can drive the track "touristfarten".

Hockenheim does 3 20min sessions car, bike,car,bike,car,bike.
Pay for tokens...off you go.

Hocks is like russian roulette...fantastic! Best fun I've had on a track inc racing!
Mental tho...

Not sure if RingGP is a "bad"

You will be OK with UK track insurance so long as its not excluded as the Nordschleife is a different circuit. Check.

Shape Shifter

5,194 posts

261 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
I've driven the Nurburgring GP circuit TF sessions. It's a great alternative if you have wet weather as there are a few low speed corners that are WIDE and have plenty of run off so you can indulge in the sort of tail-out goonery that often results in a prang on the Nordschleife!

It's amazing how much more grip there is than on the NS though. I've driven the two circuits joined up (in the wet) and going from the GP circuit to the NS is like suddenly driving onto wet glass.

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for the info. Can you remember how much it was for a session? Also what are the rules regarding insurance, does it count as a 're-restricted toll road' or an actual track?

DiscoColin

3,328 posts

238 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
norman156 said:
Cheers for the info. Can you remember how much it was for a session? Also what are the rules regarding insurance, does it count as a 're-restricted toll road' or an actual track?
It is a prepared, purpose built closed racing circuit used for top tier international motorsport, has no speed restrictions and is not patrolled by the police... It doesn't have an exit gate half way around, so doesn't actually go anywhere either. What do you think an insurance underwriter will call it frown

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
DiscoColin said:
norman156 said:
Cheers for the info. Can you remember how much it was for a session? Also what are the rules regarding insurance, does it count as a 're-restricted toll road' or an actual track?
It is a prepared, purpose built closed racing circuit used for top tier international motorsport, has no speed restrictions and is not patrolled by the police... It doesn't have an exit gate half way around, so doesn't actually go anywhere either. What do you think an insurance underwriter will call it frown
Yes you may not be covered, but crucially if it isn't a 'derestricted toll road' like the ring is you won't be liable if you hit anyone else. That's the thing that puts me off the Nordschleife, the whole risk of being liable to pay out to a third party if you cause an accident. If I bin my own car on the GP circuit that'll be bloody irritating, but I don't run the risk of being ruined for life.

Shape Shifter

5,194 posts

261 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
I think it's €30 for twenty minutes. About the same as the Ring in other words.

Fall off the track and they usually flag you in.

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
Not too bad, will definitely give it a go. Might post up a short write up on here as there seems to be so little information about the GP track sessions. Is it pretty obvious where you're supposed to go when you get there?

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Tuesday 16th February 2010
quotequote all
norman156 said:
DiscoColin said:
norman156 said:
Cheers for the info. Can you remember how much it was for a session? Also what are the rules regarding insurance, does it count as a 're-restricted toll road' or an actual track?
It is a prepared, purpose built closed racing circuit used for top tier international motorsport, has no speed restrictions and is not patrolled by the police... It doesn't have an exit gate half way around, so doesn't actually go anywhere either. What do you think an insurance underwriter will call it frown
Yes you may not be covered, but crucially if it isn't a 'derestricted toll road' like the ring is you won't be liable if you hit anyone else. That's the thing that puts me off the Nordschleife, the whole risk of being liable to pay out to a third party if you cause an accident. If I bin my own car on the GP circuit that'll be bloody irritating, but I don't run the risk of being ruined for life.
What is your basis for saying that?

On a UK track day you a) sign a disclaimer; and b) there is a general understanding that third party liability is waived. I'm not sure that is the case in Germany, esp. for "TF" sessions like this.

From a thread on Northloop on this very topic:

"because of the German court ruling on TF at Hockenheim (OLG Karlsruhe judgment of 6.9.07, 12 U 107/07) its a more complicated position at the GP circuit"

I'm pretty sure (though I can't find a relevant link) that the ruling referenced basically said that German road cover did apply during TF sessions at Hockenheim and by implication at the Nurburgring. Which suggests that there may be an expectation that 3rd party cover is in place for all participants.

However, having said all that you may well be right, but it sure as hell isn't clear, and I would certainly like to find out with some certainty.

Oh, to answer the other question, directions from the same thread:

"go in the Dorint entrance. turn right. turn left and go through the tunnel. head left. the ticket office is in pit 6 (from memory - could be completely wrong on this). buy ticket. head through into the pitlane and wait in the queue. stop at red light until it goes green. costs about €30 for 20 minutes. check website for opening times."

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Wednesday 17th February 2010
quotequote all
I'm basing that on the assumption that there will be some sort of disclaimer involved as you mentioned is the case with UK track days, but of course I don't know for sure. Also, if third party cover is needed, I'd expect it to be easier to obtain that third party cover for the Nordschleife. Shape Shifter, was there some sort of disclaimer involved with the GP circuit TF sessions?

Also tertius, could you could post a link to the thread on Northloop?

Edited by norman156 on Wednesday 17th February 00:08

Wh00sher

1,751 posts

242 months

Wednesday 17th February 2010
quotequote all
I`ve done a few sessions on this. Definately no disclaimer, come to that, there was nothing apart from buying a ticket and joining the queue. As said its €30 for 20 mins. Very obvious what to do when you actually get there.

Great fun, but if you really want to have your eyes on stalks, do a few sessions at Hockenheim during their TF. Thats incredible. I`ve never been racing, but it has to be the closest you can get to it, apart from you get cars from GT3 RS`s down to a family out in their old Fiesta. Overtaking both sides (often at the same time), under braking, in corners, basically anywhere. Madness biggrin

Edited by Wh00sher on Wednesday 17th February 06:35

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Wednesday 17th February 2010
quotequote all
Here it is, its not really conclusive:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Northloop/index.php?sho...

norman156

Original Poster:

2,097 posts

220 months

Wednesday 17th February 2010
quotequote all
tertius said:
Here it is, its not really conclusive:

http://z8.invisionfree.com/Northloop/index.php?sho...
Not really no... I'd like to find a more definite answer before I go. Still, at the very least I suppose the chances of having an accident are going to be less than on the Nordschleife (in Theory!)