The Nürburgring is a motorsport racing track (Von rebaixfotografie - Adobe Stock)
In the immortal words of Ricky Bobby, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” Since 1927, people have been racing for first place at this iconic German racetrack.
In 1925, the Nürburgring groundbreaking ceremony was held, and it took two years and 14 million Reichsmark, which would be over 100 million dollars today (based on my rough inflation conversions and calculations) to get to the first race going on its 28 kilometers of track.
During World War II, racing had to stop, the on-site hotel was converted to a military hospital and a division headquarters, and in 1943, the fencing around the Ring was taken down and had to be handed over to the arms industry. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, racing grew in popularity and the drivers themselves were treated like pop stars. However, the rise in popularity also brought attention to the dangers of the sport.
In the late 1960s and early 70s, drivers demanded that changes be made to the most treacherous of tracks and safety features such as fences, crash barriers and emergency lanes were installed. Throughout the years motorcycle, truck, Formula One and Grand Prix racing were all added to the list of spectacles, and today, the racetrack serves not only as a place to view racing but one to partake in the driving yourself.
2020 A green Porsche 911 GT3 RS MR on the Nordschleife (Von David - Adobe Stock)
There is so much to see at the Nürburgring racetrack. Here are just a few races I recommend for summer and fall of 2025.
June 13-15: Nürburgring Classic: For the ultimate nostalgic event, this race mimics the inaugural race from 1927. No roll bars or special racing equipment is allowed.
July 11-13: International ADAC Truck Grand Prix: The semi-trucks start their engines and race it out all weekend long and compete for European Championship points.
Aug. 1-3: 51st BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix: Vehicles up to 100 years old duke it out on the track. This race also features a variety of vehicles and drivers, from first timers to current and retired drivers.
Sept. 20-21: ADAC 1000km Race: This historic long-distance race was first held in 1953 and revived in 2021.
Oct. 26: Nürburgring Family Day: Okay, so this one is less about racing and more about just bringing out the kids for a day of fun which includes the “ring°kids Grand Prix”, test sitting in racing cars, a surf simulator and other interactive stations.
If just sitting in the stands isn’t for you, fret not, the Nürburgring racetrack has different opportunities to let you race on the track too.
BYO Vehicle: Drive your own car or motorcycle on the legendary Grand Prix or Nordschleife Track. You must register online and book credits or a season ticket to do this. Keep in mind that these “tourist drives” are closed periodically. Book your tickets and view the open dates at nuerburgring.de/driving/touristdrives.
Driving Academy: Learn how to drive from actual professional drivers! There are a variety of trainings to suit your interest: Formula Training, Sports Driver Training and, for those not quite ready to get in the driver’s seat, the co-pilot ride in the Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO. Learn more at nuerburgring.de/driving#drivingacademy.
Special Events: These include the After Work Classics for older cars, the Caterham Drift Experience as well as safety and drifting trainings and much more. Find what suits you best at nuerburgring.de/driving.
