Freelance motoring journalist Karl Peskett was recently at the Nürburgring as a guest of Jaguar. He was kind enough to pen a few thoughts for us.
The Nürburgring. It’s the name which strikes fear into the hearts of many, and awe into the minds of others. It was named Green Hell by Sir Jackie Stewart—“Green†because it’s surrounded by forest and fields, and “Hell†because, as Niki Lauda can attest, the risks can often outweigh the rewards.
It’s like the Crowded House song, “Four seasons in one dayâ€, because of its length. The Nürburgring “Nordschleife†(Northern Loop) is a track that experiences such a diverse range of weather conditions that the north end of the track is often a complete contrast to the southern end. Its elevation also affects conditions in this respect, sitting at 620 feet above sea level in the Eifel mountains. Every cloud in the Atlantic makes a path directly for the track, so you should always account for a risk of rain when you visit the track.
The Nordschleife is motoring Mecca, though, and almost all petrolheads will make a pilgrimage at some point. Before you do, though, you need to know what to expect, because often the expectations you have are shattered once you arrive.
You’ll know you’re near the ‘Ring by the amount of Porsche GT3s which congregate on the local roads. Throw in a Caterham or two, and some test mules for Jaguar, BMW and Audi, and you can sense the gravity of the ‘Ring.
There’s a small roundabout close to the entrance, and a modest metal gate. It’s not a swish entrance, or an area in which fanfare is common—this is just a track in rural Germany after all. What were to be the actual tourist attractions are further along, near the Lindner Hotel, but the rollercoaster still isn’t running, years after it was built. It’s what lies behind that gate, though, that makes this place so special.
