List of Nordschleife lap times (racing)
The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a motor racing circuit in Germany. Its over long old section dating from 1927, was truncated in 1982 as international championships had started to boycott the track after 1976. The adjacent modern Nürburgring Grand Prix track was opened in 1984. The two tracks can host events independently, or they can be combined, e. g. for the 24 Hours Nürburgring. As a result, lap times have been set in racing events on numerous Nordschleife track variants ranging from less than the shortest to the current maximum of nearly.
An even longer approx. combined track that included the Südschleife was seldom used for major races since the 1930s. This shorter southern circuit was not modernized in the 1970s and was sacrificed for the 1980s construction of the modern track, as were the old pit facilities, the Südkehre and the straight behind the pits which were used in an original Nordschleife lap.
1927-1939 Original track
The track was inaugurated in 1927 with the Eifelrennen events for bikes and cars, taking place on the combined Nordschleife and Südschleife, with a length of 28.265 km. On the unfamiliar track, the best motorcyclists achieved an average race speed of about 90 km/h. The best driver was Rudolf Caracciola in the big Mercedes S, at an average of 96,5 km/h. In the three German Grand Prix that were contested there in the late 1920s, 18 laps resp. 508 km distance had to be covered. The cars of the time managed that in just under five hours, with an average of just over 110 km/h, with lap times not under 15 minutes. The Eifelrennen events soon moved to the much shorter Südschleife.After the 1930 German GP had been cancelled due to the great depression, major racing resumed with the 1931 German Grand Prix which from now on took place only on the Nordschleife. Its track length of remained unchanged until 1966. The track surface was altered and improved, with the ditch inside the Karussell being altered to a concrete banking as drivers like Caracciola used to put their inside wheels in there for extra grip. Also, the Nürburgring in the Eifel mountains became notorious for frequent bad weather, and due to its length with lap times of 10 minutes, conditions could change significantly in the meantime. Probably due to this, it took four years between Nuvolari beating the 11 minutes barrier in 1932, and Rosemeyer breaking the 10 minutes in the 1936 GP after several pilots came close in practice.
The speeds rose from 115 to 140 km/h in 1937, at the peak of the unlimited capacity era with 600 hp Silver Arrows like the Mercedes-Benz W125. From 1938 on, rules limited the capacity to 3 litres supercharged, but 480 hp and better handling equalized the disadvantage. Smaller Voiturettes with 1500cc were favored by the Non-Germans, and Mercedes had already built their W165 which proved able to win in this class, too. The new rules were expected to take effect in 1941, but the war changed the rules even more drastically.
Date | Time | km/h | Car | Driver | Event, notes |
19 July 1931 | 11:48,0 | Bugatti T51 | Achille Varzi | 1931 German Grand Prix, fastest lap | |
29 May 1932 | 11:42,8 | 116,81 | Alfa Romeo Monza | Rudolf Caracciola | 1932 Eifelrennen, fastest lap |
17 July 1932 | 10:49,4 | 126,45 | Alfa Romeo Tipo B/P3 | Tazio Nuvolari | 1932 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
28 May 1933 | 113,4 | Alfa Romeo Monza | Tazio Nuvolari | 1933 Eifelrennen, average wet race speed | |
28 May 1934 | 122,5 | Mercedes-Benz W25 | Manfred von Brauchitsch | 1934 Eifelrennen, average race speed | |
15 July 1934 | 10:43,8 | Auto Union Type A | Hans Stuck | 1934 German Grand Prix, fastest lap | |
14 June 1935 | 10:45 | Mercedes-Benz W25 | Manfred von Brauchitsch | 1935 Eifelrennen, quickest in practice day 1 | |
16 June 1935 | 11:03,4 | Mercedes-Benz W25 | Rudolf Caracciola | 1935 Eifelrennen, fastest wet race lap | |
28 July 1935 | 10:32,0 | Mercedes-Benz W25 | Manfred von Brauchitsch | 1935 German Grand Prix, fastest lap, partially wet | |
14 June 1936 | 11:25,0 | 119,88 | Auto Union Type C | Bernd Rosemeyer | 1936 Eifelrennen, fastest lap in fog and rain |
25 July 1936 | 10:03 | Mercedes-Benz W25K | Rudolf Caracciola | 1936 German Grand Prix, quickest in practice | |
26 July 1936 | 9:56,3 | 137,71 | Auto Union Type C | Bernd Rosemeyer | 1936 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
12 June 1937 | 9:57 | 137,55 | Auto Union Type C | Bernd Rosemeyer | 1937 Eifelrennen, pole |
13 June 1937 | 9:58,8 | 137,13 | Auto Union Type C | Bernd Rosemeyer | 1937 Eifelrennen, fastest lap |
24 July 1937 | 9:46,2 | 140,08 | Auto Union Type C | Bernd Rosemeyer | 1937 German Grand Prix, pole |
25 July 1937 | 9:53,4 | 138,4 | Auto Union Type C | Bernd Rosemeyer | 1937 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
23 July 1938 | 9:48,3 | 139,6 | Mercedes-Benz W154 | Manfred von Brauchitsch | 1938 German Grand Prix, pole |
24 July 1938 | 10:09,1 | 134,82 | Mercedes-Benz W154 | Richard Seaman | 1938 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
20 May 1939 | 9:54 | 138,24 | Mercedes-Benz W154 | Hermann Lang | 1939 Eifelrennen, pole |
21 May 1939 | 9:52,2 | 138,66 | Mercedes-Benz W154 | Hermann Lang | 1939 Eifelrennen, fastest lap |
22 July 1939 | 9:43,1 | 140,8 | Mercedes-Benz W154 | Hermann Lang | 1939 German Grand Prix, pole |
23 July 1939 | 10:24,2 | 131,6 | Mercedes-Benz W154 | Rudolf Caracciola | 1939 German Grand Prix, fastest lap, wet race |
1951-1966 Classic Green Hell
The war and subsequent ill-treatment had damaged the track and the facilities. After 20 years, the track was now lined with tall hedges and trees, and thus was later baptized Green Hell. Smaller races resumed in the late forties, but Germans and Germany remained excluded from major sports events until 1951. The pre-war voiturette rule set for supercharged 1500cc engines had basically been made the Formula One in the 1940s.In 1951, major international racing returned to the Ring, but even though the Alfas had also about 400 hp, they failed to eclipse the pre-war records set by Lang, who raced again for Mercedes in 1952 and 1954. Two rule changes brought less powerful machinery, and the Le Mans disaster in 1955 led to the cancellation of many GPs in that year, including the German. By 1956, the old records were finally beaten. Single seater open wheel Grand Prix cars soon came close to 9 minutes and 150 km/h. Also, sports car events emerged in the 1950s, as did touring car racing in the 1960s. The Ring saw two more years without F1 races, as Berlin's AVUS had been chosen for 1959, and in 1960, the German Grand Prix was run on the Südschleife to F2 rules which would become F1 rules in 1961. After three years of progress, including a revival of the mid-engine layout pioneered by Auto Union, the 9 minutes barrier was easily beaten despite small 1500cc engines with less than 200 hp, similar to the power of cars three decades earlier.
, 1977
Date | Time | km/h | Car | Driver | Event, notes |
28 July 1951 | 9:55,8 | 137,9 | Ferrari 375 | Alberto Ascari | 1951 German Grand Prix, pole |
29 July 1951 | 9:55,8 | 137,9 | Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1951 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
3 August 1952 | 10:26,3 | 131,5 | Mercedes-Benz W194 Spyder | Hermann Lang | 1952 German Grand Prix sport car race, fastest lap |
3 August 1952 | 10:05,1 | 135,7 | Ferrari 500 | Alberto Ascari | 1952 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
2 August 1953 | 9:56,0 | 137,8 | Ferrari 500 | Alberto Ascari | 1953 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
30 August 1953 | 10:23 | 131,75 | Lancia D24 | Robert Manzon | 1953 1000 km Nürburgring, pole & fastest lap |
21 July 1954 | 9:50,1 | Mercedes-Benz W196 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1954 German Grand Prix, pole | |
1 August 1954 | 9:55,1 | 138,9 | Mercedes-Benz W196 | Karl Kling | 1954 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
28 May 1955 | 10:00,1 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1955 Eifelrennen pole | |
29 May 1955 | 10:10,8 | 134,8 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR | Stirling Moss | 1955 Eifelrennen, fastest lap |
27 May 1956 | 10:05,3 | 135,662 | Ferrari 860 Monza | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1956 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
5 August 1956 | 9:41,6 | 141,2 | Ferrari D50 | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1956 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
4 August 1957 | 9:17,4 | 147,3 | Maserati 250F | Juan Manuel Fangio | 1957 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
3 August 1958 | 9:09,2 | 149,5 | Vanwall | Stirling Moss | 1958 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
6 June 1959 | 9:37,4 | Ferrari 250 TR 59 | Tony Brooks/Jean Behra | 1959 1000 km Nürburgring, pole | |
6 June 1959 | 9:40,5 | Porsche 718 RSK 1.6 | Wolfgang von Trips | 1959 1000 km Nürburgring, 2nd in qualifying | |
7 June 1959 | 9:32 | 143,559 | Aston Martin DBR1 | Stirling Moss | 1959 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
21 May 1960 | 9:43,6 | Porsche 718 RS 60 | Jo Bonnier/Olivier Gendebien | 1960 1000 km Nürburgring, pole | |
22 May 1960 | 9:37 | 142,315 | Maserati Tipo 61 | Stirling Moss | 1960 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
27 May 1961 | 9:33,7 | Ferrari 246 SP | Wolfgang von Trips | 1961 1000 km Nürburgring, pole | |
28 May 1961 | 9:15,8 | 147,744 | Ferrari 246 SP | Phil Hill | 1961 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
5 August 1961 | 8:55,2 | Ferrari 156 | Phil Hill | 1961 German Grand Prix, pole | |
6 August 1961 | 8:57,8 | Ferrari 156 | Phil Hill | 1961 German Grand Prix, fastest lap | |
4 August 1962 | 8:47,2 | Porsche 804 | Dan Gurney | 1962 German Grand Prix, pole | |
5 August 1962 | 10:12,2 | 134,1 | BRM P57 | Graham Hill | 1962 German Grand Prix, fastest lap, wet race |
4 August 1963 | 8:47,0 | 155,8 | Ferrari 156 | John Surtees | 1963 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
2 August 1964 | 8:39,0 | 158,2 | Ferrari 158 | John Surtees | 1964 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
1 August 1965 | 8:24,1 | 162,9 | Lotus 33-Climax 1.5 | Jim Clark | 1965 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
5 June 1966 | 8:37 | 158,8 | Ferrari 330 P3 | John Surtees | 1966 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
6 August 1966 | 8:16,5 | Lotus 33-Climax 2.0 | Jim Clark | 1966 German Grand Prix pole | |
7 August 1966 | 8:49,0 | 155,2 | Cooper T81 Maserati | John Surtees | 1966 German Grand Prix fastest lap, wet race |
1967-1970 Chicane added
The Hohenrain chicane ' was added in early 1967 to lower entrance speed to the Start/Finish straight and the pitlane. Lap times were affected only initially, as technical progress, especially aerodynamic aids, made the cars significantly faster in the years to follow.Date | Time | km/h | Car | Driver | Notes |
27 May 1967 | 8:56,8 | Porsche 910 | Udo Schütz/Joe Buzzetta | 1967 1000 km Nürburgring, pole | |
28 May 1967 | 8:42,1 | 157,5 | Chaparral 2F | Phil Hill | 1967 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
5 August 1967 | 8:14,0 | Matra MS5 - Cosworth FVA | Jacky Ickx | 1967 German Grand Prix, F2 pole | |
5 August 1967 | 8:04,1 | Lotus 49-Ford | Jim Clark | 1967 German Grand Prix, pole | |
6 August 1967 | 8:21,8 | Matra MS5 - Cosworth FVA | Jacky Ickx | 1967 German Grand Prix, F2 fastest lap | |
6 August 1967 | 8:15,1 | 166,0 | Eagle-Weslake | Dan Gurney | 1967 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
18 May 1968 | 8:32,8 | Porsche 907 2.2 | Hans Herrmann/Rolf Stommelen | 1968 1000 km Nürburgring, pole | |
19 May 1968 | 8:33 | 160,3 | Porsche 908 | Jo Siffert | 1968 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
July 1968 | 7:57,8'' | Ferrari 312 | Chris Amon | 1968 F1 Scuderia Ferrari Firestone tyre testing session | |
4 August 1968 | 9:36,0 | 142,7 | Matra-Ford | Jackie Stewart | 1968 German Grand Prix, fastest lap, in a wet race |
27 April 1969 | 8:05,3 | 169,395 | Matra MS7 - Cosworth FVA | Jackie Stewart | 1969 Eifelrennen F2, fastest lap |
31 May 1969 | 8:00,2 | Porsche 908/02 | Jo Siffert/Brian Redman | 1969 1000 km Nürburgring, pole | |
1 June 1969 | 8:03,3 | 170,093 | Ferrari 312P | Chris Amon | 1969 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
2 August 1969 | 8:11,1 | Matra MS7 - Cosworth FVA | Johnny Servoz-Gavin | 1969 German Grand Prix Formula 2, pole | |
2 August 1969 | 7:42,1 | 177,9 | Brabham BT26A-Ford | Jacky Ickx | 1969 German Grand Prix, pole |
3 August 1969 | 8:12,4 | 166,95 | Matra MS7 - Cosworth FVA | Johnny Servoz-Gavin | 1969 German Grand Prix Formula 2, fastest lap |
3 August 1969 | 7:43,8 | 177,2 | Brabham BT26A-Ford | Jacky Ickx | 1969 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
19 April 1970 | 9:04,8 | McNamara-Ford | Helmut Marko | 1970 Formula 3 ADAC 300 km Goodyear Pokal | |
30 May 1970 | 7:43,3 | 177,4 | Porsche 908/03 | Jo Siffert/Brian Redman | 1970 1000 km Nürburgring, pole |
31 May 1970 | 7:50,4 | 174,8 | Porsche 908/03 | Pedro Rodríguez | 1970 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
2 August 1970 | 8:14,5 | 166,096 | Brabham BT30 - Cosworth FVA | Derek Bell | 1970 Formula 2 Preis von Deutschland |
Due to safety concerns, the Formula One drivers on short notice forced a move of the 1970 German Grand Prix to the Hockenheimring. To meet drivers demands, construction works at the Nürburgring started in fall of 1970. Despite the official track length remaining the same, this altered the character of the track and its surroundings significantly.
1971-1982 Rebuilt Nordschleife
By early 1971, the Nordschleife track had been resurfaced, several bumps and jumps had been removed, and the hedges had been replaced by Armco barriers. As a result, the track became even faster, with sportscars setting new track records before Formula One returned. The Südschleife was not updated and abandoned after 1971. Formula One held its last Grand Prix on the Nordschleife in 1976, the last Motorcycle Grand Prix there was in 1980. Due to aerodynamic advance, Formula Two in almost equalled the record set by Formula One in 1975, and even turbo-powered touring cars came very close."Spazzaneve" test car at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed
tackles the 270° Südkehre turn.
Capri of Klaus Ludwig
Date | Time | km/h | Make model | Class | Driver | Event, notes, source |
1971 05 02 | 7:57,1 | 172,3 | March 712M | F2 | Ronnie Peterson | Eifelrennen Formula 2 fastest lap |
1971 05 29 | 7:36,1 | 180,2 | Ferrari 312PB | Gr. 5 SC | Jacky Ickx/Clay Regazzoni | 1971 1000 km Nürburgring, pole-position |
1971 05 30 | 7:40,8 | 178,4 | Ferrari 312PB | Gr. 5 SC | Jacky Ickx | 1971 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
1971 06 25 | 9:26,2 | 145,2 | BMW 2002 Alpina | Gr. 2 | Hans-Joachim Stuck/Gunther Huber | 1971 24 Hours Nürburgring, pole-position |
1971 07 31 | 7:19,0 | 187,3 | Tyrrell Ford | F1 | Jackie Stewart | 1971 German Grand Prix, pole-position |
1971 08 01 | 7:20,1 | 186,8 | Tyrrell Ford | F1 | François Cevert | 1971 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
1972 04 03 | 7:36,0 | 180,3 | Porsche 917/10 | Gr. 7 CanAm | Willy Kauhsen | 1972 Interserie 300 km Goodyear-Pokal pole-position |
1972 04 30 | 7:51,6 | 174,3 | Brabham BT38 - Ford BDA | F2 | Derek Bell | Eifelrennen Formula 2 fastest lap |
1972 04 30 | 8:59,7 | 152,3 | Ford Capri RS 2600 | Gr. 2 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | 1972 Eifelrennen DRM Div. I pole-position |
1972 05 27 | 7:56,1 | 172,7 | Ferrari 312PB | Gr. 5 SC | Ronnie Peterson/Tim Schenken | 1972 1000 km Nürburgring, pole-position |
1972 05 28 | 7:42,2 | 177,9 | Alfa Romeo T33 TT/3 | Gr. 5 SC | Rolf Stommelen | 1972 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
1972 06 22 | 9:07,0 | 150,3 | BMW 2800 CS Alpina | Gr. 2 | Helmut Kelleners/Gerold Pankl | 1972 24 Hours Nürburgring, pole-position |
1972 07 29 | 8:56,5 | 153,2 | Porsche 911S Kremer | Gr. 4 | John Fitzpatrick | 1972 German GP ECGT Nürburgring Trophäe, fastest lap |
1972 07 29 | 7:07,0 | 192,5 | Ferrari 312B2 | F1 | Jacky Ickx | 1972 German Grand Prix, pole-position |
1972 07 30 | 7:13,6 | 189,6 | Ferrari 312B2 | F1 | Jacky Ickx | 1972 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
1972 09 23 | 7:23,8 | 185,2 | Porsche 917/10 TC | Gr. 7 CanAm | Willy Kauhsen | 1972 Interserie AvD-Preis pole-position |
1973 05 26 | 7:12,8 | 189,9 | Ferrari 312PB | Gr. 5 SC | François Cevert/Jean-Pierre Beltoise | 1973 1000 km Nürburgring, pole-position |
1973 05 26 | 8:20,6 | 164,2 | Porsche Carrera RSR Proto | Gr. 5 GT | Gijs van Lennep/Herbert Müller | 1973 1000 km Nürburgring, in practice |
1973 05 27 | 7:20,3 | 186,7 | Matra-Simca MS670B | Gr. 5 SC | François Cevert | 1973 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
1973 06 22 | 8:39,6 | 158,2 | BMW 3.0 CSL Alpina | Gr. 2 | Niki Lauda/Hans-Peter Joisten | 1973 24 Hours Nürburgring, fastest lap |
1973 08 04 | 7:07,8 | 192,2 | Tyrrell Ford | F1 | Jackie Stewart | 1973 German Grand Prix, pole-position |
1973 08 05 | 7:11,4 | 190,6 | Surtees Ford | F1 | Carlos Pace | 1973 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
1974 05 16 | 6:58,2 | 196,6 | Ferrari 312B3 | F1 | Niki Lauda | 1974 Formula One season Ferrari test sessions |
1974 05 18 | 7:10,8 | 190,8 | Matra-Simca MS670C | Gr. 6 | Gérard Larrousse/Henri Pescarolo | 1974 1000 km Nürburgring, pole |
1974 05 18 | 7:56,5 | 172,5 | Porsche Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1 | Gr. 5 GT | Herbert Müller/Gijs van Lennep | 1974 1000 km Nürburgring, in practice |
1974 05 19 | 7:15,9 | 188,6 | Matra-Simca MS670C | Gr. 6 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | 1974 1000 km Nürburgring, fastest lap |
1974 08 03 | 7:00,8 | 195,4 | Ferrari 312B3 | F1 | Niki Lauda | 1974 German Grand Prix, pole-position |
1974 08 04 | 7:11,1 | 190,7 | Tyrrell Ford | F1 | Jody Scheckter | 1974 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
1975 08 02 | 6:58,6 | 196,4 | Ferrari 312T | F1 | Niki Lauda | 1975 German Grand Prix, pole-position |
1975 08 03 | 7:06,4 | 192,8 | Ferrari 312T | F1 | Clay Regazzoni | 1975 German Grand Prix, fastest lap, lap record |
1976 07 30 | 7:06,5 | 192,7 | McLaren M23-Ford | F1 | James Hunt | 1976 German Grand Prix, pole-position |
1976 08 01 | 7:10,8 | 190,8 | Tyrrell P34-Ford | F1 | Jody Scheckter | 1976 German Grand Prix, fastest lap |
1979 04 29 | 7:31,7 | 182 | Porsche 935 K3 | Gr. 5 | Klaus Ludwig | 1979 Eifelrennen DRM pole-position Div. I |
1979 04 29 | 7:44,4 | 177 | Ford Capri Zakspeed Turbo | Gr. 5 | Hans Heyer | 1979 Eifelrennen DRM pole-position Div. II |
1979 04 29 | 7:37,3 | 179,8 | Porsche 935 K3 | Gr. 5 | Klaus Ludwig | 1979 Eifelrennen DRM fastest race lap Div. I |
1979 04 29 | 7:46,3 | 176,3 | Ford Capri Zakspeed Turbo | Gr. 5 | Hans Heyer | 1979 Eifelrennen DRM fastest race lap Div. II |
1980 03 30 | 7:30,52 | 182,5 | Ford Capri Zakspeed Turbo | Gr. 5 | Klaus Ludwig | 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft pole-position |
1980 03 30 | 7:56,21 | 172,6 | Zakspeed Capri Turbo | Gr. 5 | Harald Ertl | 1980 Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft race |
1980 03 30 | 7:45,44 | 176,6 | BMW 320 Turbo | Gr. 5 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | 1980 Eifelrennen DRM race fastest Category II car |
1980 04 27 | 7:23,65 | 185,3 | March 802 - BMW | F2 | Mike Thackwell | Eifelrennen Formula 2 fastest lap |
1981 04 25 | 7:10,25 | 191,1 | March 812 - BMW/Rosche | F2 | Corrado Fabi | Eifelrennen Formula 2 pole |
1981 04 26 | 7:10,33 | 191 | March 812 - BMW/Rosche | F2 | Thierry Boutsen | Eifelrennen Formula 2 fastest lap and race win |
1981 05 24 | 7:27,02 | 183,9 | Porsche 936/80 Turbo | Gr. 6 | Jochen Mass | 1981 Interserie 1000 km-Rennen, Nürburgring pole-position |
1982 04 25 | 7:06,51 | 192,7 | Maurer MM82-BMW | F2 | Stefan Bellof | Eifelrennen Formula 2 fastest lap, F2 record |
1982 07 04 | 7:08,59 | 191,8 | Ford Capri Zakspeed Turbo 1.7 | Gr. 5 Div. I | Klaus Niedzwiedz | 1982 Interserie GP der Tourenwagen pole-position |
1982 07 11 | 9:02,00 | 151,7 | Jaguar XJ-S | Gr. A | Tom Walkinshaw | 1982 6h GP der Tourenwagen ETCC pole-position |
1982 07 11 | 9:02,36 | 151,6 | Jaguar XJ-S | Gr. A | Tom Walkinshaw | 1982 6h GP der Tourenwagen ETCC fastest lap |
1982 10 | 9:17,58 | 147,4 | Ford Capri 3.0 | Gr. A | Keke Rosberg/Ari Vatanen/Dieter Schäfer | 1982 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap |
As Grand Prix racing had not returned to the Ring after 1976 and 1980, it was decided to build a new track. In late 1982, after the 24 Hours race, the start/finish loop with the pit facilities section was destroyed, putting an end to the classic 22,8 km layout.
1983 (and later) Nordschleife only
With the old start/finish loop and pit facilities having been destroyed, a short bypass with improvised pit facilities was added to allow racing in 1983 while the new track was under construction, to be ready in 1984. Thus, this stop-gap Nordschleife-only variant was used by International motorsport sanctioning bodies only in 1983. While Formula Two, World Sportscars and the ETCC competed here, allowing comparison to 1982, DRM and Interserie remained absent, with the DRM having by now switched to Group C sportscars. The 24 Hour race was not held either, as the pits could not accommodate over 100 cars for 24 hours.Since, this version is used by national events even while other events take place on the adjacent Grand Prix track. The Time Trial Challenge CHC / RCN / BMW-DEC is done on half a dozen Saturday afternoons, with race cars over 15 laps in total, of which 9 are flat out, and the others have to be done within a given time frame, as warm up lap, pit stop laps, and cool down lap. The GLP Regularity Test on Saturday morning is no racing series, with road legal cars having to cover 12 laps in a constant lap time of their choice, between 10 and 15 minutes. Top ten finishers achieve less than 1/10 second difference per lap.
's 1982 March 822 BMW, Techno-Classica 2007
Date | Time | km/h | Make model | Class | Driver | Event, notes, source |
1983 04 22 | 6:31,88 | 191,4 | March 832-BMW | F2 | Christian Danner | F2 Eifelrennen fastest in first training session |
1983 04 23 | 6:26,19 | 194,2 | March 832-BMW | F2 | Christian Danner | F2 Eifelrennen pole position |
1983 04 24 | 6:28,03 | 193,3 | March 832-BMW | F2 | Christian Danner | F2 Eifelrennen fastest lap |
1983 05 28 | 7:19,67 | 170,6 | Anson SA4-Toyota | F3 | Franz Konrad | Formula 3 lap record |
1983 05 28 | 6:11,13 | 202,1 | Porsche 956-007 #2 | Gr. C | Stefan Bellof | 1000 km Nürburgring pole position, fastest lap ever |
1983 05 28 | 6:16,85 | 199,0 | Porsche 956-005 #1 | Gr. C | Jochen Mass | 1000 km Nürburgring 2nd in qualifying, race winner with Jacky Ickx |
1983 05 29 | 6:25,91 | 194,3 | Porsche 956-007 #2 | Gr. C | Stefan Bellof | 1000 km Nürburgring official lap record, then crashed |
1983 05 29 | 7:24,29 | 168,8 | BMW M1 | Gr. B | Harald Grohs | 1000 km Nürburgring Group B lap record |
1983 05 29 | 7:26,88 | 167,8 | Alba AR2 Giannini | Gr. CJ | Carlo Facetti/Martino Finotto | 1000 km Nürburgring Group CJ lap record |
1983 | 7:39,31 | 163,3 | Van Diemen-Ford | FF | Maurício Gugelmin | Formula Ford lap record |
1983 07 09 | 7:56,00 | 157,5 | Jaguar XJ-S | Gr. A | Tom Walkinshaw | ETCC 6h GP der Tourenwagen pole position |
1983 07 10 | 8:02,44 | 155,4 | Jaguar XJ-S | Gr. A | Tom Walkinshaw | ETCC 6h GP der Tourenwagen fastest lap |
1984 | 8:07 | 153,9 | Rover Vitesse | Gr. A/DTM | Armin Hahne | DTM touring car race lap record |
1998 | 7:54 | 158,2 | Opel Kadett C 2.5 16V | Gr. H | Stefan Moses | Castrol-Haugg-Cup first touring car race lap under 8 minutes |
1998 | 8:15 | 151,5 | BMW M3 3.2 | Gr. F | Klaus Bügler | Group F race lap record as of 1999 |
1998 | 8:29,82 | 147,1 | Porsche 944 Turbo | Gr. G | Karl-Heinz Wlazik | Group G race lap record as of 1999 |
1998 | 8:17 | 150,9 | Porsche Carrera | Gr. N/GT | Paul Hulverscheid | Group N/GT standard sports car race lap record as of 1999 |
2000 06 22 | 7:23 | 169,3 | Porsche 996 GT3-R | Gr. A/GT | Uwe Alzen/Michael Bartels | Castrol-Haugg-Cup before ADAC 24h-Rennen |
2000 06 22 | 7:47 | 160,6 | Opel Astra Kit Car | Gr. A | Volker Strycek | Castrol-Haugg-Cup before ADAC 24h-Rennen |
2003 05 29 | 7:04 | 176,9 | Porsche 996 Turbo | Gr. A/GT | Uwe Alzen | Castrol-Haugg-Cup before ADAC 24h-Rennen |
2008 09 20 | 7:00 | 178,6 | Porsche 997 Turbo | Gr. A/GT SP8 | Jürgen Alzen | BMW Driving Experience Challenge "Rhein-Ruhr" |
2008 10 04 | 7:07 | 175,6 | Porsche 997 GT3 | Gr. A/GT SP7 | Sabine Schmitz | BMW Driving Experience Challenge "Nordeifelpokal", quickest non-turbo lap |
2009 09 05 | 6:58 | 179,4 | Porsche 997 Turbo | Gr. A/GT SP8 | Jürgen Alzen | BMW Driving Experience Challenge "Rhein-Ruhr", first lap under 7 min |
2010 08 28 | 7:04 | 176,8 | Corvette C6 SP | RS7/RS8 | Stefan Kissling | ADAC Rundstreckenchallenge "Döttinger Höhe", quickest non-turbo lap |
2011 05 07 | 7:29 | 167,0 | Opel Astra OPC Turbo | RS 3 A | Michael Funke | Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring, first 2000cc turbo under 7:30 |
2011 05 07 | 7:49 | 159,9 | BMW M3 E46 | V 6 | Steve Jans | Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring, record for VLN-Serienwagen |
1984-2002 Combined variants (VLN & 24h)
The VLN series of touring car endurance races was founded in 1977. The long track and the large modern Grand Prix track pit facilities canaccommodate up to 230 cars. Usually, VLN races use the short sprint version of the GP track, taking the Kurzanbindung short cut U-turn on the bridge over the B 258 road, thus bypassing the 1,5 km long section down to Dunlop Kehre. This reduces the number of track workers and adds one or two extra laps of the Nordschleife in the course of a 4h race. In 24h races, the full layout was used.
;Variants
- without GP track, used by VLN in early 2000 due to construction of new pit lane facilities, no significant times as all races were in wet condition
- without GP track, used by VLN in the first two races of 2002 while the new Mercedes Arena was built. The Coca-Cola curve was included, driven in opposite direction, to allow the use of the GP track pitlane and timing facilities
- short GP track without Dunlop section
- full GP track with Dunlop section
km | Date | Time | km/h | Make model | Class | Driver | Event, notes, source |
25,359 | 1988 06 18 | 9:23,82 | 161,9 | Ford Sierra Cosworth | DTM Group A | Armin Hahne | 1988 DTM 24 Stunden Nürburgring, pole position |
25,359 | 1989 06 17 | 9:09,76 | 166,0 | Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo | DTM Group A | Klaus Ludwig | 1989 DTM 24 Stunden Nürburgring, pole position |
25,359 | 1990 06 16 | 9:05,35 | 167,4 | Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo 2 | DTM Group A | Klaus Ludwig | 1990 DTM 24 Stunden Nürburgring, pole position |
25,359 | 1992 06 17 | 8:44,33 | 174,1 | BMW M3 Sport Evolution | DTM Group A | Johnny Cecotto | 1992 DTM 24 Stunden Nürburgring, pole position |
25,359 | 1992 06 18 | 8:46,93 | 173,2 | BMW M3 Sport Evolution | DTM Group A | Johnny Cecotto | 1992 DTM 24 Stunden Nürburgring, fastest lap |
25,359 | 1993 06 09 | 8:45,49 | 173,7 | Mercedes 190E AMG | DTM Class 1 | Jörg van Ommen | 1993 DTM Großer Preis der Tourenwagen, pole position |
25,359 | 1993 06 10 | 8:47,71 | 173,0 | Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI | DTM Class 1 | Nicola Larini | 1993 DTM Großer Preis der Tourenwagen, fastest lap |
23,849 | 1994 10 08 | 8:29 | 168,6 | Mercedes 190E Evo II | DTM/VLN | Olaf Manthey | 1994 VLN lap record for Tourenwagen, beaten 6 years later by 10 sec |
23,849 | 1996 | 9:23,06 | 147,187 | BMW M3 3.0 | Group N | Johannes Scheid | 1996 VLN lap description for a book by 1996 24h winner |
23,849 | 1999 04 24 | 8:12,380 | 174,3 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | FIA GT2/24h S5 | Peter Zakowski/Hans-Jürgen Tiemann | 1999 VLN pole |
25,359 | 1999 06 04 | 8:48 | 172,9 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h S5 | Peter Zakowski/Hans-Jürgen Tiemann/Klaus Ludwig | 1999 24 Hours pole |
25,359 | 2000 06 25 | 8:58,014 | 169,7 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h A7 | Peter Zakowski/Patrick Huisman/Anthony Beltoise | 2000 24 Hours fastest lap |
23,849 | 2000 11 11 | 8:19,910 | 171,744 | Opel Calibra V6 '92 | DTM Class 1 | Volker Strycek | 2000 VLN lap record for Tourenwagen |
25,359 | 2001 05 24 | 8:50,533 | 172,1 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h A7 | Peter Zakowski/Pedro Lamy/Michael Bartels | 2001 24 Hours pole |
25,359 | 2001 05 26 | 8:58,208 | 169,6 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h A7 | Peter Zakowski/Pedro Lamy/Michael Bartels | 2001 24 Hours fastest lap, new record 147 laps |
25,359 | 2001 05 26 | 8:58,703 | 169,4 | Porsche 996 GT3 RS | FIA GT3/24h A6a | Menzel/Luhr/Collard/Abt | 2001 24h 2nd fastest lap by previous year's winner |
20,932 | 2002 04 06 | 7:24,356 | 169,5 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h SP7 | Peter Zakowski | 2002 VLN 27. DMV-4-Stunden pole |
20,932 | 2002 04 06 | 7:20,098 | 171,224 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h SP7 | Peter Zakowski/Pedro Lamy | 2002 VLN 27. DMV-4-Stunden fastest race lap |
2002-present Combined variants (VLN & 24h)
In early 2002, the former Castrol S chicane was replaced by the tight Ω-shaped Mercedes Arena. This added 586 metres and about 20-25 seconds to lap times, and also lowered average speeds by about 4% or 6 km/h.As the 24h Nürburgring weekend includes various supporting races, the organizers use parts of the track as additional paddock area. In 2004, the VLN track variant was used, and the Dunlop section was used as paddock area, but access to the actual pits was impractical. Since 2005, the adjacent Mercedes Arena serves as extra paddock area, and is bypassed by a new, tight Castrol-Z chicane which resembles the old Castrol-S chicane. The track length is reduced by 569m, or, compared to the layout used until 2001, prolonged by c. 20m.
- short layout without Dunlop section, without Mercedes Arena via Castrol-Z chicane, not yet used
- short layout without Dunlop section, with Mercedes Arena, from April 2002. The official track length was since changed twice without explanation. As the VLN uses the S-shaped motorcycle version of the NKG chicane, it is not affected by changes to the layout of the tight Z-shaped version used by Formula 1
- * short layout from 20 April 2002 to 12 May 2007
- * first given for the 2004 24h then used in VLN since 26 May 2007
- * since 2008 VLN season
- long layout with Dunlop section, without Mercedes Arena via Castrol-Z chicane, used in 24h since 2005
- maximum layout with Dunlop section, with Mercedes Arena, used in the 2002-2003 24 Hours, 2003 VLN Eifelrennen, and 2015 FIA WTCC Race of Germany.
km | Date | Time | km/h | Make model | Class | Driver | Event, notes, source |
24,433 | 2002 10 12 | 8:38,105 | 169,770 | Porsche 996 GT3 | Gr. A/GT SP11 | Wilhelm Dieter Kern / Olaf Manthey | 2002 VLN fastest lap |
25,947 | 2003 05 03 | 9:04,909 | 171,4 | Opel Astra V8 Coupe | DTM E1 | Christian Menzel/Volker Strycek/Marcel Tiemann | 2003 VLN Eifelrennen pole |
25,947 | 2003 05 03 | 9:08,008 | 170,413 | Porsche 996 GT2-MR Turbo | Gr. A/GT SP7 | Lucas Luhr/Timo Bernhard | 2003 VLN Eifelrennen fastest lap |
25,947 | 2003 05 30 | 9:00,266 | 172,895 | Porsche 996 Turbo | Gr. A/GT A8 | Uwe Alzen/Jürgen Alzen/Arno Klasen/Michael Bartels | 2003 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
25,947 | 2003 06 01 | 9:02,206 | 172,276 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | GT2/24h | Peter Zakowski/Pedro Lamy/Robert Lechner | 2003 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap, Team DQ'd for fuel tank size |
24,358 | 2004 06 11 | 8:19,288 | 175,6 | Porsche 996 Turbo | Gr. A/GT A8 | Uwe Alzen/Jürgen Alzen/Klaus Ludwig/Michael Bartels | 2004 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
24,358 | 2004 06 13 | 8:26,742 | 173,044 | Opel Astra V8 Coupe | E1 DTM | Strycek Tiemann/Scheider/Reuter | 2004 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap |
25,378 | 2005 05 06 | 8:30,846 | 178,8 | Porsche 996 Turbo | SP8 | Uwe Alzen/Jürgen Alzen/Klaus Ludwig/Peter Dumbreck | 2005 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
25,378 | 2005 05 08 | 8:47,602 | 173,1 | BMW M3 GTR V8 | E1 ALMS | Dirk Müller/Jörg Müller/Hans-Joachim Stuck/Pedro Lamy | 2005 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap |
24,433 | 2005 06 11 | 8:06,393 | 180,839 | Porsche 996 Turbo | SP8 | Uwe Alzen/Jürgen Alzen | 2005 VLN best pole |
24,433 | 2005 09 24 | 8:09,949 | 179,526 | Porsche 996 Turbo | SP8 | Uwe Alzen/Jürgen Alzen | 2005 VLN race lap record |
25,378 | 2006 06 16 | 8:38,136 | 176,3 | Porsche 996 GT3-MR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Luhr/Bernhard/Rockenfeller/Tiemann | 2006 24 Hours Nürburgring pole, Manthey Racing |
25,378 | 2006 06 18 | 8:43,367 | 174,564 | Porsche 996 GT3-MR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Luhr/Bernhard/Rockenfeller/Tiemann | 2006 24 Hours fastest lap, new overall distance record 151 laps |
25,378 | 2007 06 08 | 8:39,560 | 175,843 | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Bernhard/Lieb/Dumas/Tiemann | 2007 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
25,378 | 2007 06 10 | 8:49,631 | 172,499 | Dodge Viper GTS-R | SP8 FIA GT2 | D. Huisman/Coronel/Patrick Simon/Bouchut | 2007 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap |
25,378 | 2008 05 23 | 8:26,730 | 180,3 | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Bernhard/Lieb/Dumas/Tiemann | 2008 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
25,378 | 2008 05 25 | 8:39,990 | 175,697 | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Bernhard/Lieb/Dumas/Tiemann | 2008 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap |
24,369 | 2008 07 05 | 8:10,293 | 178,931 | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Romain Dumas/Marcel Tiemann/Arno Klasen | 2008 VLN season best pole normally aspirated cars |
24,369 | 2008 10 11 | 8:09,779 | 179,118 | Porsche 997 Turbo | SP8 | Uwe Alzen | 2008 VLN season best pole |
24,369 | 2008 10 11 | 8:13,408 | 177,8 | Porsche 997 Turbo | SP8 | Uwe Alzen/Jürgen Alzen | 2008 VLN season fastest lap |
24,369 | 2008 10 11 | 8:14,750 | 177,3 | Aston Martin DBRS9 | SP8 | Tomáš Enge/Robert Lechner | 2008 VLN season fastest lap normally aspirated cars |
25,378 | 2009 05 22 | 8:36,536 | 176,9 | Ford GT GT3 | SP9 FIA GT3 | Dirk Adorf | 2009 24 Hours of Nürburgring pole |
25,378 | 2009 05 24 | 8:36,768 | 176,793 | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | SP7 FIA GT2 | Bernhard/Lieb/Dumas/Tiemann | 2009 24 Hours fastest lap, new overall distance record 155 laps |
24,369 | 2009 06 27 | 8:09,748 | 179,130 | Ford GT GT3 | SP9 FIA GT3 | Dirk Adorf | 2009 VLN season best pole |
24,369 | 2009 08 29 | 8:56,487 | 163,524 | Audi A3 2.0 Turbo | SP3T | Christoph Breuer | 2009 VLN qualifying, first lap under 9 minutes for a FWD car |
24,369 | 2010 04 24 | 8:13,926 | 177,6 | Audi R8 LMS | SP9 FIA GT3 | Frank Stippler/Hans-Joachim Stuck/Marc Hennerici | 2010 VLN 52. ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup pole |
24,369 | 2010 04 24 | 8:17,560 | 176,317 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 FIA GT3 | Chris Mamerow/Wolf Henzler | 2010 VLN 52. ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup fastest lap and winner |
25,378 | 2010 05 14 | 8:24,753 | 181,0 | Audi R8 LMS | SP9 FIA GT3 | Marko Werner | 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
25,378 | 2010 05 15 | 8:28,587 | 179,637 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 FIA GT3 | Marcel Tiemann | 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap |
24,369 | 2010 07 03 | 8:07,507 | 179,953 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 FIA GT3 | Marc Lieb/Arno Klasen | 2010 VLN 50. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen pole and winner |
24,369 | 2010 07 03 | 8:14,300 | 177,480 | Audi R8 LMS | SP9 FIA GT3 | Frank Stippler/Hans-Joachim Stuck | 2010 VLN 50. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen fastest lap |
24,369 | 2010 07 17 | 8:13,913 | 177,619 | Audi R8 LMS | SP9 FIA GT3 | Frank Stippler/Hans-Joachim Stuck/Marc Basseng | 2010 VLN 33. RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen fastest lap |
24,369 | 2010 07 31 | 8:13,353 | 177,821 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 FIA GT3 | Timo Bernhard/Arno Klasen/Christian Hohenadel | 2010 VLN 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen fastest lap |
24,369 | 2010 10 30 | 8:58,451 | 162,927 | MINI 1.6 turbo | SP2T | Markus Oestreich | 2010 VLN, first lap under 9 min. for a 1600cc turbo FWD car |
24,369 | 2011 04 30 | 8:13,730 | 177,685 | Mercedes SLS GT3 | SP9 FIA GT3 | Chris Mamerow/Armin Hahne | 2011 VLN 36. DMV 4-Stunden-Rennen pole |
24,369 | 2011 05 14 | 8:19,362 | 175,681 | Ferrari F458 | SP8 FIA GT2 | Marco Seefried/Jamie Melo | 2011 VLN 6 hour race, fastest lap and first win for Ferrari |
24,369 | 2011 05 14 | 8:28,992 | 172,357 | Volkswagen Golf24 | SP8T | Thomas Mutsch/Franck Mailleux/Fredrik Ekblom | 2011 VLN 6 hour race, sixth overall for the 2500cc turbo 4WD Golf |
25,378 | 2011 06 23 | 8:23,764 | 181,356 | Ferrari F458 Italia GT | SP8 FIA GT2 | Dominik Farnbacher | 2011 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
24,369 | 2011 08 27 | 8:55,226 | 163,909 | Raeder-Audi TT RS | SP4T | Christian Hohenadel | 2011 VLN 6h pole, first with a FWD car |
24,369 | 2011 08 27 | 8:31,333 | 171,568 | Raeder-Audi TT RS | SP4T | Frank Biela/Christian Hohenadel/Michael Ammermüller | 2011 VLN 6h fastest VLN lap with a FWD car, first FWD win since 1979 |
24,369 | 2011 09 24 | 8:12,265 | 178,214 | Audi R8 LMS | SP9 GT3 | Christopher Haase/ Frank Stippler | 2011 VLN 43. ADAC Barbarossapreis pole |
24,369 | 2011 09 24 | 8:13,445 | 177,788 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Mike Stursberg/Hans Guido Riegel/Rene Rast | 2011 VLN 43. ADAC Barbarossapreis fastest lap |
24,369 | 2011 10 29 | 8:04,471 | 181,081 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Marc Lieb | 2011 VLN 36. DMV Münsterlandpokal pole |
24,369 | 2011 10 29 | 8:11,194 | 178,602 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Lucas Luhr/Marc Lieb | 2011 VLN 36. DMV Münsterlandpokal fastest lap |
25,378 | 2012 05 18 | 8:18,382 | 183,315 | BMW Z4 GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Uwe Alzen | 2012 24 Hours Nürburgring pole, in Top40 qualifying |
24,369 | 2012 06 23 | 8:05,783 | 180,592 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Frank Stippler | 2012 VLN 43. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy pole |
24,369 | 2012 06 23 | 8:12,425 | 178,156 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Marc Basseng/Frank Stippler | 2012 VLN 43. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy fastest lap |
24,369 | 2012 07 07 | 8:05,317 | 180,765 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Marc Lieb/Jochen Krumbach | 2012 VLN 52. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen pole |
24,369 | 2012 07 21 | 8:10,521 | 178,847 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Jochen Krumbach/Romain Dumas | 2012 VLN 35. RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen fastest lap |
24,369 | 2012 08 04 | 8:07,736 | 179,869 | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Thomas Jäger/Alexander Roloff/Jan Seyffarth | 2012 VLN 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen pole |
24,369 | 2012 08 04 | 8:11,288 | 178,568 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Frank Stippler/Rene Rast/Marc Basseng | 2012 VLN 6h ADAC Ruhr-Pokal-Rennen fastest lap |
24,369 | 2012 08 25 | 8:09,221 | 179,323 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Frank Biela/Christian Hohenadel/Thomas Mutsch | 2012 VLN 44. ADAC Barbarossapreis fastest lap, race win, new VLN race lap record by Thomas Mutsch |
25,378 | 2013 05 18 | 8:17,212 | 183,746 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Frank Stippler | 2013 24 Hours Nürburgring pole, in Top40 qualifying |
24,369 | 2013 06 22 | 8:03,632 | 181,395 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Norbert Siedler | 2013 VLN 44. Adenauer ADAC Simfy Trophy pole |
24,369 | 2013 06 22 | 8:03,113 | 181,590 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Frank Stippler/Ferdinand Stuck/Johannes Stuck | 2013 VLN 44. Adenauer ADAC Simfy Trophy fastest lap |
24,358 | 2013 07 20 | 8:02,418 | 181,769 | BMW Z4 GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Uwe Alzen | 2013 VLN 53. ADAC Reinoldus-Langstreckenrennen pole |
24,358 | 2013 09 28 | 8:01,069 | 182,279 | BMW Z4 GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Uwe Alzen | 2013 VLN 45. ADAC Barbarossapreis pole |
25,378 | 2014 06 20 | 8:10,921 | 186,101 | McLaren MP4-12C GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Kévin Estre | 2014 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
24,358 | 2014 08 02 | 8:00,973 | 182,315 | BMW Z4 GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Max Sandritter/Thomas Jäger/Dominik Baumann/Jens Klingmann | 2014 VLN 37. RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen pole |
24,358 | 2014 08 02 | 7:59,045 | 183,049 | BMW Z4 GT3 | SP9 GT3 | Jens Klingmann | 2014 VLN 37. RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen fastest lap |
24,358 | 2014 10 11 | 7:57,474 | 183,651 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | Frank Stippler | 2014 VLN ROWE DMV 250-Meilen-Rennen |
25,947 | 2015 05 16 | 8:31,384 | 182,656 | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | FIA WTCC | Yvan Muller | 2015 FIA WTCC Race of Germany Race 2, fastest lap |
25,378 | 2015 01 | 8:19,684 | 182,837 | Audi R8 LMS ultra | SP9 GT3 | 2015 24 Hours Nürburgring fastest lap, | |
25,378 | 2015 01 | 8:17,394 | 183,679 | BMW Z4 GT3 | SP9 GT3 | 2015 24 Hours Nürburgring pole, in Top30 qualifying | |
25,378 | 2016 | 8:14,515 | 184,748 | Mercedes AMG GT3 | SP9 GT3 | 2016 24 Hours Nürburgring pole | |
25,378 | 2018 05 11 | 8:09,105 | 186,792 | Porsche 911 GT3 R | SP9 GT3 | Laurens Vanthoor/Romain Dumas/Kévin Estre | 2018 24 Hours Nürburgring pole |
2007 BMW F1 demonstration laps
After the VLN 4h endurance race of 28 April 2007 which hosted also a BMW publicity day for fans, Nick Heidfeld drove a BMW Sauber F1.06 Formula One car around the Nordschleife and short GP-track, as used in VLN races, with a track length of 24.433 km. For safety reasons, BMW had announced that the car was slowed with hard demonstration tires, maximum ride height, and 275 km/h top speed limited by the transmission. Heidfeld drove three laps on the combined Nordschleife, slowing down once in each lap when passing a camera car.The official lap time released by BMW Sauber was declared to be 8:34, thus slower than the 8:17 of the pole-setting Porsche. The German press duly reported this lap time, yet criticized BMW. In each lap, Heidfeld had slowed down once to pose for a slow video truck, at Schwedenkreuz on the first lap 1, Kesselchen in lap 2, and Döttinger Höhe in the last lap. The two time spans in between the three passes of Heidfeld were clocked by some fans around the track, first Wehrseifen to Wehrseifen in about 7:28, then 7:31 from Klostertal to Klostertal, which was over 40 seconds quicker than the pole-setting Porsche 996 GT3 RSR. This translates to an average of about, similar to Bellof's race record, but it's hard to judge the average speed on the slower GP section with the setup Heidfeld had to use. In the 2007 GP, the fastest lap was barely faster, 199 km/h. Fans who respect the official record of the late Stefan Bellof settle for an "estimated 6:12".
Road & Track magazine reported Heidfeld's lap was a 5:57 or 5:58, breaking the track's six-minute barrier for the first time in history. However, their times were done by measuring the speed in some corners, and then calculating a lap time, and not timing a full lap. Heidfeld has since expressed his desire to repeat the experience with less restriction, as well as for a participation in the 24h race
According to F1 Racing magazine of June 2006, BMW engineers had estimated that a BMW-Sauber F1.06 could lap in under 5:15.8 which equals to an average of.
Motorcycles
Date | Time | km/h | Make model | Rider | Event, notes, source |
1927 06 18 | 89,6 | BMW 500 | Toni Bauhofer | 1927 Eifelrennen, best rider | |
1927 07 03 | 91,5 | Sunbeam 500 | Graham Walker | 1927 German motorcycle Grand Prix, best rider | |
1937 | 102,3 | DKW 600 | Braun/N.N. | 1937 Eifelrennen, first sidecar over 100 km/h | |
1937 | 120 | BMW | Karl Gall | 1937 Eifelrennen | |
1954 | 127,8 | NSU 250 | Werner Haas | 1954 Eifelrennen | |
1955 06 26 | 10:23,3 | 131,7 | Gilera 500cc | Geoff Duke | 1955 German motorcycle Grand Prix lap record, stood until 1970 |
1958 07 20 | MV Agusta 500cc | John Surtees | 1958 German motorcycle Grand Prix | ||
1970 05 03 | MZ | László Szabó | 1970 German motorcycle Grand Prix, first under 10min | ||
1970 05 03 | MV Agusta 500cc | Giacomo Agostini | 1970 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner, held in connection with Eifelrennen F2 race | ||
1972 04 30 | 9:30,9 | 144,0 | MV Agusta 500cc | Giacomo Agostini | 1972 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner, held in connection with Eifelrennen F2 race |
1974 04 28 | Yamaha TZ 380 | Edmund Czihak | 1974 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner, to be held in connection with Eifelrennen car races, boycotted by top riders due to safety dispute | ||
1976 08 29 | 8:57,3 | 153,3 | Walter Villa | Harley-Davidson 350cc | 1976 German motorcycle Grand Prix first under 9min |
1978 08 20 | 8:29,5 | Suzuki 500cc | Virginio Ferrari | 1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner | |
1978 08 20 | 8:39.7 | Yamaha 350cc | Takazumi Katayama | 1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner | |
1978 08 20 | 8:49.5 | Kawasaki 250cc | Kork Ballington | 1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner | |
1978 08 20 | 9:17.0 | Minarelli 125cc | Ángel Nieto | 1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner | |
1978 08 20 | 10:15.8 | Bultaco 50cc | Ricardo Tormo | 1978 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner | |
1980 08 24 | 8:44,8 | Sidecar | Rolf Biland/Kurt Waltisperg | 1980 German motorcycle Grand Prix side car, pole and first team under 9min | |
1980 08 24 | 8:25,9 | Yamaha 350cc | Jon Ekerold | 1980 German motorcycle Grand Prix fastest 350cc motorcycle lap | |
1980 08 24 | 8:22,2 | 163,6 | Suzuki 500cc | Marco Lucchinelli | 1980 German motorcycle Grand Prix winner, fastest motorcycle lap ever on 22,835 m variant, last Moto-GP held there |
1982 06 13 | Kawasaki 1000 | Jacques Cornu/Jean-Claude Chemarin | 1982 Endurance World Championship winners, last event |
Due to safety reasons, motorcycle races moved to the modern track since 1984. Similar to the Isle of Man TT, amateur enthusiasts continued to compete on the old track in endurance events. In the 1990s, only the so-called Zuverlässigkeitsfahrt series remained, for amateurs on road legal stock bikes. The events consisted mostly of regularity laps, also on other race tracks like Hockenheimring, with a short time trial. On the Nordschleife, after a reliability run with road legal bikes and tyres, a single lap time trial from standing start covered an incomplete lap of about 20,7 km. As the event was discontinued after 1994 in which Dähne's time was not beaten, his 1993 time remains the fastest officially timed motorcycle lap ever on the 20,832 m variant.
Dähne set the first of his record there in August 1988 with a Suzuki GSX-R at 7:55.07. Then, with a 750cc Honda RC30 VFR750R, he subsequently lowered it to 7:53.08 in July 1990, to 7:50.71 in June 1992, and on 23 May 1993, using Metzeler ME Z1 tyres, set yet another record, with 7:49.71. After the 1993 event, an onboard-video was produced in which Dähne did another lap, about 10 secs slower, carrying camera equipment on his back.
Date | Time | km/h | Make model | Rider | Event, notes, source |
August 1988 | 7:55,07 | Suzuki GSX-R 1000 | Helmut Dähne | 1988 Zuverlässigkeitsfahrt | |
July 1990 | 7:53,08 | Honda VFR750R RC30 | Helmut Dähne | 1990 Zuverlässigkeitsfahrt, win and new lap record | |
June 1992 | 7:50,71 | Honda VFR750R RC30 | Helmut Dähne | 1992 Zuverlässigkeitsfahrt | |
23 May 1993 | 7:49,71 | Honda VFR750R RC30 | Helmut Dähne | 1993 Zuverlässigkeitsfahrt, VFR750R RC30 and Metzeler ME Z1 tires both road legal. | |
2 July 1994 | 7:55,78 | Herbert Mandelartz | 1994 Zuverlässigkeitsfahrt winner |