Nurburgring 2021

[RSbandit]

We've had an annual thread so thought I'd kick another off. Obviously it's tricky to have travel plans right now but I'm booked for the Circuit days double just after Easter which was rolled forward after last year's corresponding event was cancelled. I'd have preferred a later trip in the summer tbh as I'm not sure this one will go ahead even though things are looking better on the covid front but here's hoping.

[RSbandit]

Nice track weapon what is it? So the Circuit days double after Easter has been postponed til late June, that's a relief tbh and seems sensible given what's going on much more likely to go ahead then.

[RSbandit]

ecain63 said:

There was an email and text message the other day. Looks like it's still going ahead, pending the release of "greenlight country" list in the coming days. Darren and the team are hoping to sort a covid test facility for us to use before we head home too.

I'm still cautious about the potential for a last minute scuppering, but hopefully we'll all be allowed to safely travel.

And if Germany not on the green list? Quite possible given their slower vaccine rollout?

[RSbandit]

Just saw a news story that EU looking to open up travel to fully vaccinated people whether from inside or outside the bloc....positive news although not clear on the timeline.

[RSbandit]

So Germany to ban Brits from tomorrow the paranoia is truly staggering now absolutely senseless decision. I'm guessing all uk organized trackdays over there are torpedoed for 2021. Seems UK vaccination rates count for nothing with the Germans. Was desperately looking forward to the end of June just brutal.

[RSbandit]

ecain63 said:

The reality is that it's due to Germany's failings in the take-up of the vaccine. That's the reasoning behind it.

They can't afford to inherit our variants, regardless of how well we've done.

If that is the case then how many are they vaxxing a day in Germany? Another month could make a big difference with the potential to review this decision if they manage to get another 20 million people jabbed? Or perhaps I'm clutching at straws and this is all political and it'll make no difference...

[RSbandit]

Looks like the DN trackday on Jun 11th is going ahead despite the problems facing UK based drivers...I'd have thought UK organized track days at the Ring would be predominantly UK based clients at least 60-70%? Gonna be great for those who can attend if UK drivers cannot.

[RSbandit]

Rob_R said:

Thing is, I'm not sure how the UK based TDOs will manage to get over there to organise everything unless the organisers themselves are resident in Germany. Which I'd assume they are not?

You are not allowed into Germany from the UK even for business at this point unless you are a resident.

Here's hoping it all goes ahead though, as I'm currently booked onto the July 2nd day with Circuit days.

Yeah I'm booked on that day and the June 29th one as well not to mention that RSR trackday at Spa on June 30th! There's still talk the EU is looking to allow fully vaxxed or a negative PCR to travel in without quarantine from next month but that still doesn't mean Germany have to change the new restriction...really need to have some clarity by mid June on this but I'm not optimistic.

[RSbandit]

Indeed however we are fighting against the clock for things to calm down this time around and then throw in some political nonsense for good measure...last yr I went over in July no testing ,no vaccines and everything was fine how can it be that travel seems in a worse situation this year despite the vaccination rollout?

[RSbandit]

NIgt3 said:

Good point, I was there last year 3 times and no problems, this year basically the whole of the UK’s is vaccinated and now we’re not allowed to go !! And this Indian variant, are we meant to be so stupid to believe it’s not there in Europe already, like we test the virus itself more than anyone else so obviously we’re gonna find different variants first, a lot of balls if you ask me.

Exactly right think the UK and Denmark are leaders in the sequencing of this stuff so always first to identify any deviations from the previous strains and yes the Indian variant already over there I would imagine....way too much being made out of it anyway the vaccines seem to be as effective on it. I'm actually an Irish passport holder so trying to think if there's a way around this bks!

[RSbandit]

Seems France to loosen travel restrictions for fully vaxxed Brits from next Wed...will ze Germans follow suit??

[RSbandit]

ecain63 said:

Your still need to quarantine on your return to the UK unless the UK relaxes at the same time.

Indeed just like all those G7 delegates who have arrived in the UK and are currently isolating...oh wait

[RSbandit]

Well I finally threw in the towel and cancelled with Circuit days. I'm a glutton for punishment though so booked the DN double at end of Aug instead if travel isn't easier by then I will really wonder what the point of the vaccination program is. No doubt there's some political games being played at the moment, Germany deaths still over 100 a day UK mainly in single figures...makes complete sense to expect vaxxed UK residents to quarantine for 10 days. Anyway rant over looking forward to August!

[RSbandit]

Adenauer said:

Hmm, that's a bit selective though isn't it?

Germany new cases per day 600, Vs UK 10,000.

I can understand Germany not wanting you guys over here at the moment.

Hmm 600 cases a day with over 100 deaths would suggest they're not testing anywhere near the same level as the UK case levels much higher in reality or else the CFR has exploded which would be alot more worrying! Fully vaxxed with a negative PCR what's the risk to Germany? Anyway plenty of other threads to discuss the ins and outs of Covid...I'm hopeful that by late Aug things will be better and Germany with higher vaccination rates by then will have hopefully relaxed.

[RSbandit]

That would be the sensible thing to do but Merkel banging on today about how every EU country should make UK citizens quarantine...give over ffs!

[RSbandit]

Would love to try Bathhurst! To illustrate how completely stupid a metric case numbers in isolation are the UK is currently testing 10 times the number of people compared to Germany... 14.5 tests per 1000 people compared to 1.4 per 1000 in Germany...way more testing means more cases. And today Belgium has banned UK citizens completely you're not even allowed quarantine...its an utter farce.

[RSbandit]

Yeah not so bad postponing now I've had my fill of wet days there it's interesting but I much prefer dry fast lapping.

[RSbandit]

Seems the meeting between Boris and Angela Merkel has gone well...she indicated fully jabbed Brits would be able to visit Germany without quarantining in the near future...should make the DN event at the end of Aug a very realistic prospect...no more spanners in the works please!
Looks like the weather held up for the Circuit days event this week tough not to be there but light at the end of the tunnel at least.

[RSbandit]

Wh00sher said:

I`m being optimistic as usual and hoping that`s in place for Ringmeisters....

I really want to get out for that, if not and it`s DN at the end of August, I`ll have to buy some new tyres as my Direzzas probably won`t last 2 days and that event doesn`t allow slicks (of which I have loads)

You might be in luck Germany to allow fully vaxxed UK citizens or those who have recovered from Covid (how to prove that?) to enter without having to quarantine...now the UK needs to reciprocate with amber list countries, this seems to be the plan but when is the question.

[RSbandit]

That's great that you are gonna get over! So you still need to show a negative PCR in Germany even if you've been fully vaxxed? Hopefully the amber list rules will change for coming back fairly soon.