Good news from the motoring Mecca and for hardcore track fans.
Nurburgring will soon lift the controversial speed limits set on some sectors of the track, but not before some much needed upgrades. In fact, the board of Capricorn Nurburgring GmbH identified 16 issues that need improvement, seven of which will be implemented in the winter, between November 2015 and March 2016 while the circuit is closed.
Don’t worry Nurburgring diehard fans, the Green Hell’s legacy and character will be preserved, although some sectors will be revised.
But in order for the speed limits to become a thing of the past, the most dangerous sections must first be made even safer. Yes, speed limits on a racing circuit sound ridiculous, especially in Germany where a large section of the Autobahn hasn’t got an imposed speed-limit, but following a terrible accident which claimed a spectator’s life, the German motorsport association introduced multiple restrictions on the track.
That said, Capricorn Nurburgring GmbH presented a comprehensive set of measures at a “round table” with the German motorsport association, ADAC, the automotive industry, organizers and team representatives, with the proposals for the renewal of the circuit finding wide approval. The next step is to submit the modifications to FIA (International Automobile Federation).
Unfortunately, we don’t know what all 16 upgrades are about, but we know the board is mainly concentrated on the spectator’s safety. That translates in the installation of additional safety fences on some sections of the track and a restricted zone in the Schwedenkreuz area.
Moreover, the upgrades will include a renewal of the track’s surface in some sectors, such as Flugplatz. The location in question will be upgraded over a length of about 500 meters, smoothing out five bumps resulted from years and years of high utilisation and heavy use of the circuit.
The modernisation of the Nurburgring is not only important for track-day fans and motorsport events, but for car manufacturers testing their upcoming vehilces on the infamous racing track.
Just to calm you down – if you believe the track will be severly altered – here’s what Hans-Joachim Stuck, DSMB president, had to say:
“All parties want to preserve the Nordschleife and its uniqueness. However, we all know that we will have to improve safety. To this end, the Nürburgring as track operator has worked hard to devise a set of effective measures in great detail which met with broad approval at this round table.”