Why the Nurburgring Matters

In terms of speed and profile, no other racetrack in the world can compare.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Aug 16, 2023 | 3 min read

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The Nürburgring track boasts a storied history and a vital role in modern automotive development. Lauded for the challenges it offers to drivers and the opportunities it presents to vehicle-design teams, the 'Ring can't be rivaled by many other road courses.

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What Is the Nürburgring?

Dubbed The Green Hell by racers for the sheer challenge it presents, the Nürburgring is the catchall name for a nearly 100-year-old motorsports facility located in western Germany's Eifel region. The 'Ring consists of two primary circuits: a Grand Prix racetrack built in 1984 and the longer 12.9-mile Nordschleife (or north loop) road course. The Nordschleife is unique not only for its extended length but also for being incorporated into the country's public road system.

For a fee, any licensed vehicle can sample the 73 turns and nearly 1,000 feet of elevation change presented by the Nordschleife, regardless of whether you're piloting a high-performance sports car or a more modest daily driver. As a result, the track has become a magnet for driving enthusiasts and has been immortalized in thousands of driver-uploaded videos. Amateur pilots don't even have to travel to test their mettle against the 'Ring, as it's been painstakingly rendered in many popular video game series, including Gran Turismo and Forza.

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Why Car Companies Visit the Nürburgring

The Nürburgring's easy access and worldwide brand recognition have made it a regular stop for many automakers when they're tuning their latest sports and supercars. There are two main reasons car companies rent out the Nürburgring specifically for testing.

The first is the range of engineering challenges posed by the track's widely varied topography. With off-camber corners (where the outside edge of the road is lower than the inside edge), high-contrast ups and downs, multiple compound corners (where the car is never traveling in a straight line), and extremely high-speed sections, the Nürburgring's Nordschleife circuit presents the ultimate torture test for a vehicle's suspension and drivetrain, offering real-world feedback that can be used for tuning and design purposes. This has pushed more car brands, including Hyundai, to make the 'Ring a centerpiece of their high-performance efforts.

"Our investment in our new test center at the Nürburgring has already brought a valuable return for our business," said Allan Rushforth, senior vice president at Hyundai Motor Europe, in a press release about the test center's first year. "Every lap of this challenging track helps to enhance the quality and performance of our cars to the benefit of our customers. It's a vital part of our infrastructure that will play a key role in helping to develop our vehicles and our brand in Europe."

Then there's the publicity that comes with turning in a hot lap at the Nordschleife. Although all lap times are "unofficial" in the sense that there's no governing body overseeing record attempts, brands as varied as Tesla, Honda, and Porsche have all made attempts to achieve the fastest performance around the road course. A strong showing at the Nürburgring track can pay handsome marketing dividends in showrooms worldwide.

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The Nürburgring Enjoys Worldwide Recognition

The Nürburgring matters because it occupies an unusual niche in the automotive pantheon.

There's no other racetrack like it in terms of size and cultural relevance — particularly in the video game world. It also has an unusual connection to nonprofessional drivers, who can sample it more easily in real life than they can other racing facilities. Over and above its utility in testing the latest high-speed hardware, "unofficial" Nürburgring lap times have become a globally recognized performance yardstick.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.