For more than a decade, driving on the Nurburgring has been at the top of my automotive bucket list. When I was a teenager, I used to watch live video feeds from the famous German racetrack, focusing on random cars zooming by and picturing myself taking those very same corners.
Over the years, I’ve viewed numerous race series and endurance races at the circuit, and been amazed at the bravery of drivers, coming within inches of the crash barriers, pulling off daring overtakes, and hitting speeds exceeding 200 mph (320 km/h) down the main straight, which seems to stretch on forever.
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I’ve also played several video games starring the Nordschleife, including Gran Turismo, and through my work, watched more spy videos of cars lapping the circuit than I can count. So, last year, when I booked a trip to Germany to go to ‘The Green Hell’ for the very first time, I thought I knew everything I could know about the track. I thought I was as prepared as I could be. Oh, how wrong I was.
Making Arrangements
While many people travel to the Nurburgring to watch races there or scoop on manufacturers testing their future products there, I knew that alone wouldn’t satisfy me. I also knew that jumping in one of the many ‘Ring Taxis’ for a passenger ride wasn’t enough. I needed to jump in the driver’s seat and experience the circuit for myself. So I started planning.
My visit to German coincided with a longer break to enjoy the European summer. I scoped out the calendar for suitable days with Touristenfahrten sessions, the days when the track is open to the public. I then booked my accommodation and started searching for a suitable car.
Choosing The Right Car
There are several rental car companies based near the Nurburgring that offer track rentals and tutelage of the circuit. I went with RSR Nurburg, one of the most well-regarded rental agencies at the circuit and known for having a huge fleet of cars to choose from. While it would have been amazing to jump behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 or a Boxster Spyder, they were well out of my budget.
As such, I booked a Hyundai i30 N. I’ve driven several i30 Ns over the years, including numerous ones at the Bend Motorsport Park and Sydney Motorsport Park. They’re entertaining as hell and extremely well-suited to track use. Most importantly, I feel comfortable behind their wheel, and find it easy to push them to the limits without overstepping them.
After checking in and getting a driver’s briefing at the RSR Nurburg facility, I jumped in the driver’s seat with an expert instructor sitting beside me for my first lap of the circuit. As we pulled up to the gates to start my first of four laps, the marshal stopped us without explanation. Red flags were waving, and we, like the dozens of other cars lined up, were ushered into a parking area to wait.
After a few minutes, word started to filter out that just 3 minutes after the 17:30 session opened, someone had crashed. Before long, my instructor told me that a motorcyclist and a car had come together and that the track may be closed for a while. Then, 15 minutes later, a marshal announced the entire evening session for that day had been canceled because of the severity of the crash. Just like that, I thought my Nurburgring dreams had been crushed.
A Change Of Plans
I’d only booked a single night at the circuit and had already organized onward travel for the next day. However, I figured I may not return to the ‘Ring for several years, so it was now or never. I extended my accommodation, extended the Fiat 500 rental car I had driven to the track, pushed back bus transfers, and arranged a rental with RSR Nurburg for the following evening. Unfortunately, all the i30 Ns had been booked, so I went for an i20 N instead. I’m also intimately familiar with the i20 N and of all the N products, have found it to be the most enjoyable to drive on track.
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The following evening, I rocked up at the circuit, got strapped in, and headed to the track. This time, there was no red flag and no canceled session. As I rolled through the gates for the first time and felt the track beneath me, I couldn’t believe that after all these years, I was finally here.
My instructor encouraged me to take it easy for the first few corners, so I did just that. While I’ve driven the i20 N on track before, I was nervous. Extremely nervous.
Most of the tracks I’ve driven on in the past are wide and have huge run-off areas, leaving you with plenty of margin for error. Most circuits are also significantly shorter than the Nurburgring, so it’s easier to learn the corners and become familiar with them. The ‘Ring was something else entirely.
Intimidated? You Bet!
I gained a little bit of confidence on my first lap, but even my instructor could tell I was nervous, even though he complemented my skill and awareness. He encouraged me to push a little harder. But I just couldn’t do it. For that entire first lap, I couldn’t bring myself to go beyond 160 km/h (100 mph) and eased through corners, worried that if I experienced just the tiniest bit of understeer, I could end up in a barrier.
If that happened, it would have been very, very expensive. All the companies that offer rental cars at the track provide insurance, but they come with a hefty excess. For the i20 N I was driving, that insurance excess was €25,000 (~$27,000). If I crashed and the car was a write-off, that’s how much I’d have to pay. It also costs €1,000 ($1,092) for every 1 meter of crash barrier you damage, and that’s not covered by any insurance. That’s money you have to pay straight to the track’s owners, and the thought of that was enough to get me to not drive beyond 60% of my abilities, or even half of what the car was capable of.
I arranged four laps of the circuit. After my first lap, I dropped off the instructor and had three on my own. The surface of the track is beautifully smooth, but there are plenty of off-camber corners that need to be taken with care, particularly when you’re not familiar with them. And no amount of spy videos or video games could prepare me for them.
Finding Out What The ‘Ring Is Really About
I was also shocked by the elevation changes of the circuit, as these really don’t come across on a computer or TV screen. Sections of the track reach up towards the sky while other areas fall down, and on these sections, it’s easy to pick up more momentum than expected.
For my first time at the ‘Ring, I was glad to only be driving a hot hatch with a 1.6-liter engine. The Hyundai was developed extensively at the circuit and felt right at home on it. It doesn’t have the trick adjustable shocks of the i30 N, but it remained compliant and offers heaps of grip. I did manage to cook the tires after my second lap as I picked up the pace, but after letting them cool for a couple of minutes, was able to begin attacking corners once again.
The 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder of the i20 N is good for 201 hp and 203 lb-ft (275 Nm) of torque. That’s plenty of power for a hatchback of this size and one that weighs just 1,190 kg (2,623 lbs). It picks up speed effortlessly and offers up a surprising amount of grunt even at low revs. I also made full use of the excellent rev-match function, as attempting to hell-and-toe shift while lapping the fearsome circuit was a little too much to process.
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Driving on the Nurburgring requires extreme mental focus and is more demanding than any other track I’ve been on. This isn’t just because it’s 20.8 km or 12.9 miles long, but also because there are more than 150 corners and very few areas where you can relax for even a second. Additionally, because I was driving in a Touristenfahrten session, I had to keep checking my mirrors and give way to any faster cars behind me.
Having Lots Of Fun – And Then Rain Comes
My first two laps were heaps of fun, and as I started my third lap, I’d built up enough confidence to go a little faster while still keeping myself in check and not going anywhere near 100%. Unfortunately, spits of rain started to appear on the windshield about halfway through the lap, so I slowed down and took things gently. The heavens then opened for my fourth and final lap.
As if driving on the ‘Ring wasn’t scary enough, driving on it during a rainstorm took things to a whole new level. In some areas of the circuit, it was a deluge, and my visibility was compromised by the rain, while in other sections of the track, it was much drier with little to no rain. This made it difficult to determine grip levels at each and every corner. Once again, my self-preservation instincts kicked in, and I took things slowly.
An Unforgettable Experience
Through it all, the punchy little Hyundai proved to be the perfect companion for my first – and hopefully not last – trip to The Green Hell. It’s friendly, approachable, and supremely capable on a racetrack. Indeed, it remains my favorite N car to drive on a circuit thanks to its compact size, great levels of grip, and playful nature.
Driving at the Nurburgring gave me a newfound appreciation for those who race at the formidable circuit. I struggle to fathom how those competing at famous events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours manage to lap the track hour after hour, in variable weather conditions, without making the slightest mistake and slamming into a wall. If you’re a petrolhead and live in or visit Germany, experiencing this automotive wonder is a must.
