Nürburgring — Nordschleife
The Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Eifel: 20.832 km of elevation changes and corners, nicknamed the "Green Hell".
The Nürburgring is in Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany), in the heart of the Eifel mountains. Its northern loop, the Nordschleife, is 20.832 kilometres long. Construction began in 1925 and the circuit was opened in June 1927.[1],[2]
The original full track, with the southern loop, was 28.265 km long. The Nordschleife has an elevation difference of about 300 metres between its lowest and highest points.[1],[2]
At a glance
| Place | Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate (Eifel mountains)[1],[2] |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Layout | Nordschleife |
| Endurance series | Le Mans 24 Hours (historic) |
| Period | 1927-present |
| Nordschleife length | 20.832 km[1],[2] |
| Opened | June 1927[1],[2] |
| Nickname | "The Green Hell"[1],[2] |
Landmarks of the circuit
- Flugplatz and Fuchsröhre
- The Flugplatz is a series of fast crests and kinks, named after a small nearby airfield. In the 1960s and 1970s, Formula 1 cars took off there several times a lap. The Fuchsröhre is a very fast, confined section through the forest.[1],[2]
- Karussell and Brünnchen
- The Karussell is a banked hairpin named after Caracciola. The Brünnchen, with its blind corners, is a popular spectator spot.[1]
- Pflanzgarten and Schwalbenschwanz
- The Pflanzgarten is a section with large jumps. The Schwalbenschwanz chains fast sweepers and a 90-degree corner.[1]
Key dates
- 1927 — The circuit opens in June, after nearly two years of construction.[1],[2]
- 1968 — Jackie Stewart nicknames the circuit "the Green Hell" after winning the German Grand Prix, run in rain and fog.[1]
- 1970 — The 24 Hours Nürburgring are added, usually held in mid-May.[1]
- 1976 — The 1976 German Grand Prix, in which Niki Lauda was badly burned in a crash, is the last F1 race on the old circuit.[1],[2]
- 1984 — The Grand Prix circuit opens, built on the old pit area.[1]
- 2002 — The Grand Prix circuit takes its present form of 5.148 km and 15 turns.[1]
In the game
This circuit is part of the Circuit game: a heavily zoomed photo of one of its landmarks that you have to recognise. Play Circuit
Sources
The numbers in brackets refer to the sources listed at the bottom of the page.