Confusing for many first timers to the Nürburgring is that there are actually 2 tracks here in the same area! Most people talk just about “The Nürburgring” as a whole, but the two circuits here are the Nürburgring Nordschleife and the Nürburgring GP Track. Both circuits are located right beside each other.

Nürburgring Nordschleife (North loop)

• This is the famous one that most people know. 99% of the time this is the one people come here to drive.
• This is the one that is open almost every day.
• This is the one features in video games (Forza, Gran Turismo, Assetto Corsa) and on Top Gear (Van challenge, Diesel Jag Challenge).
• 21km long (13 miles), around 150 corners and can take around 10 – 15 minutes a lap.
• Feels more like a Tarmac Rally stage than a “Race Track” – little to no run off on the sides before the barriers, grass on the edge of the track etc.

Nürburgring GP Track (Formula 1 track)

• This is the modern FIA standard racing track. A nice circuit, but overshadowed by it’s big brother.
• Open less often – maybe 2-3 times per month.
• This is the one they use for Formula 1, DTM, WTCC and European Le Mans series.
• Has different layouts that range from 3.6km to 5.1km long (2.2 to 3.2 miles), 4 to 17 corners and can take around 3 to 5 minutes a lap.
• This is a proper race track, with big tarmac runs offs, gravel traps and perfectly flat asphalt.

And just to confuse everything, there is technically a third  layout, which is both tracks combined:

Nürburgring Gesamtstrecke (Combined circuit)

• A combination of both the Nordschleife and GP Track.
• Open rarely for public driving, maybe 6 days in the year.
• Used for the 24 hour race, and the NLS race series.
• Two different versions, depending on which part of the GP Track is used. Can be 25 to 27km long.

WHAT CAR SHOULD I DRIVE?

It all depends on your experience, but there is no wrong choice in selecting a car. For your first visit a Porsche GT3 may be overkill and you won’t use it’s full potential – but if that’s your dream we can help put together a program so you can make that come true. However – we won’t push you into a car that we think is beyond your level – we are experts in picking the perfect car for your experience level.

More often than not, your choice will be dictated by your budget, but in short, it’s hard to go wrong with a hot hatch like a Hyundai i30N or VW Golf R, especially if it’s your first time here.

FWD or RWD? We recommend front wheel drive cars for your first visit, as they are more forgiving if you accidentally come in “too hot”, or give too much acceleration at the wrong time. If you have a lot of experience with rear wheel drive cars (especially on track) then this may be a more appropriate for you.

Manual or Automatic? Because the track is so demanding to drive coupled with managing the other cars on track, we recommend an automatic car for your first visit. This way you’re not at risk of getting the wrong gear in the middle of the corner, potentially damaging the car. If you have a lot of experience with a manual car (daily driving and especially on track), then you’re welcome to book a manual car.

Standard or modified (RSR Edition)? We recommend a standard car for your first visit. Our more track-focused “RSR Edition” car options could also be eligible for real racing. They have bucket seats, harnesses (4 or 6 point belts) and a rollover cage on the inside. They include KW Clubsport suspension and Michelin Semi-Slick tires on the outside to name the most important ‘performance-related’ modifications. This means they are more capable on track, but are less progressive and less forgiving with mistakes. Again, if you have experience with driving modified cars on track, then you can gladly book one!

IS THERE AN INSTRUCTOR WITH ME DURING TF?

Yes, it is possible for a guide to be with you in the car for your laps of the track (this is optional for entry level cars and mandatory for mid range and high end). The goal here is to familiarise you with the track, the car and the system of driving during TF. Important to note is that it is not for making you faster, it’s not driver training. During Touristenfahrten the guide/instructor is not there to slow you down but to achieve the goal of keeping you safe at all times and to blend in with sometimes very fast but also very slow traffic.

For full track training and RSRNurburg driving academy programs, this needs to be done on an exclusive private trackday.

CAN I SHARE THE CAR WITH A GROUP?

If you want to come with a group, that’s great, and an excellent way to keep costs lower. We allow up to two drivers per car, so the best is to hire a few cars for your group! Get in contact with us directly and we will do our best to put together a nice package for you.

• RSR requires a full drivers licence from your country of nationality. If your licence isn’t in the English or German language, or a European licence, then please provide an international drivers licence translation.
• Bring comfortable, loose fitting clothes for driving and sensible driving shoes with flat, narrow soles. (Race suits are unnecessary)
• We can provide helmets, or you can bring your own.
• Most of our cars have normal seatbelts, so a HANS device is unnecessary and not required for Touristenfahrten. (Our RSR Edition cars have race harnesses that can support a HANS device if you want to bring one to use).
• Bring a credit card for incidentals, or in case we ask for a deposit.
• Travellers in Germany must have ID on them at all times, so bring your passport or official ID with you.

You don’t need to have experience with driving on track to enjoy the Nürburgring! If you want to hire a car, then you will need some experience with driving a car and basic car control skills. If you’re a brand new driver with no experience, then a taxi lap might be the right choice for you!

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE TO RENT A CAR?

Our car rentals start from 18 years of age and over. Generally, the renters age is not key but a drivers license and the right attitude is! It also depends on the sort of day (weather, traffic levels, trackday, road tour or touristenfahrten) and experience. What we need to be assured of first however is that you are up to the job. We can do this by organising some private instruction or by starting you off driving in the lower powered cars first.

Passengers need to be a minimum of 16 years of age. Younger passengers will not be allowed to ride along in the cars. On trackdays, the minimum ages can vary, and each will need to be checked with the organiser, but generally it is also a minimum age of 16.

Taxi Laps have a minimum age of 18 years old.

For Road Tours there is no minimum age, but those small enough to require car booster seats will need to use them. RSR does not have any child or booster seats available, so you will need to bring your own. Keep in mind that not all cars are compatible with these systems. Please ask!

DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT?

Most of our cars do not require a deposit up front. A deposit is a sum of money paid before the rental, that is returned to the client upon a safe return of the car. While many of the companies who hire out cars at the Nürburgring ask for a deposit while hiring a car, for most of our cars under normal circumstances we do not require this. Exceptions to this rule may apply in certain cases:

• Driver age / driver behaviour or attitude
• Customers that have difficulty with any of the languages we speak
• Customers from non-European countries
• If you book a top end supercar (required)

The deposits we ask for can range from 1.000€ to 15.000€.

When we take a deposit, it is normally in the form of a hold on your credit card, which is released after the car is returned safely at the end of driving. We also accept cash or bank transfers as other options. Please make sure to have ability to provide a deposit if we request it.

You can drive the track in one of two ways:

• A. On a Touristenfahrten (Public Driving) session (TF)
• B. On a Trackday (TD).

Most people (90% of our clients) drive the track during TF. The reason is mainly because there’s only a handful (about 20 to 25) of TD’s available each year. Then many of these TD’s sell out within 1 month after release. Also TD’s are more expensive and not everyone wants to drive a full day.

TF has the reputation of a dangerous environment which is a bit unfair. There are great TF sessions and horrible TD’s and vice versa. On TF there’s no buses and few motorbikes these days (already since 2019). The level of driving has gone up every year since a few years. Here at RSR we can tell you what the good TF days and periods are. There’s never a guarantee but we can advise you the best we can because of 25 years of local knowledge.

This part of Germany has very distinctive seasons. This means in winter it snows, and in summer it gets reasonably warm (up to 40 degrees c / 104 degrees F). The driving season is from the middle of March until the middle of November, and the track is closed for driving outside of this.

PLEASE NOTE: NÜRBURGRING DATES ARE TYPICALLY RELEASED IN FEBRUARY. You can book with an open/TBC date in our online booking system, but specific dates and times cannot be confirmed until after the schedule is released.

• March – April: Shoulder season
• May – September: Main season
• October – November: Shoulder season
• December – February: Off season (No, the track doesn’t open for driving in the snow!)

The other thing to consider is: as the weather gets warmer during the main season, more people visit the ring. It can get very busy during the main season, and it’s not unusual to have a line of traffic on the track itself!

Insider secret #1 is to join our newsletter and social media pages, so you can get info about the opening times for next year. You can also check our online booking system for the latest dates.

Insider secret #2 is to schedule your visit for the shoulder seasons, as the weather can still be very good, with a lot less cars on the track.

Insider secret #3 is to come and drive during the evening sessions on the weekdays (Monday – Thursday) as the track is quieter since most people work during the week.

Insider secret #4  is to visit for multiple days in a row – that way, if the weather is a bit undesirable, or the track closes early due to an accident, you can continue driving on the next day.

HOW IS THE WEATHER?

The hint is in the name: The Green Hell is green, because it rains quite often here. The track is in the middle of the Eifel mountain range, and has it’s own micro-climate, so it is possible to get all 4 seasons in one day!

During the main season the weather is more consistently warm, but you will still get rainy days, in the main season, and nice, dry days in the shoulder and off seasons.

The track still opens when it rains. It closes when it’s too foggy to see, or if the track is icy or slippery from snow.

Driving the circuit in the rain can be a good thing too! It means that there is much less traffic on the circuit, there are no motorcycles and the experienced guys won’t pass you at insane speeds. It’s a great way to learn the circuit better.

Accidents happen. We’re not here to sugar coat it. The Nürburgring is considered to be the most difficult track in the world, and motorsport is inherently risky by nature. Even though there are crashes every day on the track, accidents with our rental cars happen very infrequently, since we have a very strict safety procedure and do everything we can to best prepare you for driving on the track. If you have the right attitude and approach to driving, with support from RSR you do not need to be scared!

In short, in the case of an accident – if you cause damage to the car, you pay to repair only the damage you caused. However, in the (very rare) case where a car is written off you are normally not required to pay for the whole value of the car. Instead, up to a fixed excess level that is generally set at around half of the cars replacement value (different from the current market value).

If there is any damage to the track (Barriers) or towing costs, you will need to pay these directly to the Nürburgring. If there is damage to another car, we may require a deposit for damages until fault can be established.

For a full run down of the processes and steps you can take if you want to reduce the risk, please visit the following page of our website:

• Track insurance and accidents overview

You’re of course welcome to bring your own car to drive the Nürburgring! Any road registered, motorway capable vehicle or motorcycle is allowed to go on the track. There are some important things to be aware of, your car may be stopped from going on track if:

• You have an overly large rear wing, that extends past the sides of the car
• You have full racing seats where the head restraints “wings” intrude into your side view
• You have a temporary plate (Red Plates in Germany)
• If you have any other potentially dangerous external additions, or loose fixtures.
• If your car is leaking oil or fluids.
• If you have non-road legal tyres (Slicks, Full wet tyres)

Also important to note is that the police do make random control checks, and checkpoints around the area, especially on busy days. There has been an increase in frequency in police presence over the recent years.

HOW CAN RSR HELP ME WITH MY OWN CAR AT THE NÜRBURGRING?

In most cases if you’re driving your own car, you simply need to purchase your own tickets (from the Kiosk at the entrance, at the petrol station or online through the app) and then go and drive. If you’re looking for some extra support then we’d be happy to hear from you for any of the following services:

• Driver and track safety briefings – help us get you prepared
• Questions and support in English, Spanish, French or Italian.
• On track instruction for you in your own car
• Tuning or modifying your car for the Nürburgring.
• Car repairs or servicing
• Car rental if your own car is broken

CAN I DRIVE MY =WEIRD OBSCURE VEHICLE= ON THE NÜRBURGRING?

If you vehicle isn’t capable of highway speeds (130kmh / 80mph), then it will most likely be refused to go on the track. So your mini scooter, modified lawnmower or Tuk-tuk/Rickshaw will not be allowed. Same with overly large vehicles like campervans or buses will be refused. Vehicles towing trailers will also be refused entry.

Hardcore race cars or anything not road registered will also not be allowed during the public Touristenfahrten sessions. However, they may be allowed on select Trackdays where race cars are allowed. The noise limit of the circuit needs to be observed, which is set normally at around 130dB.

In short, you will need to contact the Nürburgring directly if you want to ask about the validity of using your car on the track. They will not close the track for you to drive by yourself, or open it specially for you.

The best way to get to the Nürburgring is to fly into either Frankfurt Airport, or Cologne/Bonn airport, hire a rental car and drive across. It takes between 2 and 3 hours to drive, depending on conditions. Alternatively you can hire a taxi. Public transport is very difficult to use to get to the Nürburgring and is therefore not recommended, as then you’ll have an even more difficult time getting around once you’re here! There is no train station in Nürburg, and buses run infrequently!

Do not mix up the Nürburgring with Nuremberg – they are about 5 hours drive apart!

Best is to use our street address (and check the post code!):

RSRNurburg
Antoniusweg 1a
53520 Nürburg (Also can be written as Nuerburg)
GERMANY

Link to RSRNurburg on Google Maps

To be sure you stay in Germany will be as comfortable as can be, we have put together a list of recommended restaurants and Hotels. We know from our own experience what the best place are to eat or sleep. If you still need advice, don’t hesitate to give us a ring.

In the local area the reality is there isn’t much more available for families to do aside from drive the track. There are shopping options available in Koblenz (45min) or Cologne (1hour 30min) and Adenau (15min). There are also few activities within a reasonable drive, see in the list below.