The Nürburgring, located in the Eifel mountains of western Germany, has been a mecca for motorsports fans for nearly a century. Originally built in the 1920s as a way to boost tourism in the region, the track has since become one of the most iconic and challenging racing circuits in the world. Records have been broken, milestones have been achieved and heroes have been made: The 5,148 km long circuit is looking back on a history in motorsports spanning decades.
The Nürburgring is the stuff of legends. Opened in 1927, it closed during WWII, then it resumed operation until Niki Lauda crashed and was severely burned in 1976. After this accident, the old Nürburgring was no longer a part of the Grand Prix (Formula 1) circuit. The German Grand Prix is now held every other year at the new Nürburgring F1 circuit and the Hockenheim circuit.
Nowadays, the Nordschleife is open to “Touristenfahrten“ (Tourist Driving) on specific dates, which means anybody with a road legal car/motorcycle and a license can enjoy the ride.