Nurburgring 24 Is this Weekend, Don’t Miss It!
This is one of 2021’s greatest motorsport events. Here is what sets it apart from any other race this whole year.
Another year, another vicious battle for supremacy at the infamous Green Hell. Yes, this year’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring is finally back and this one is sure to be wild! Here are a couple reasons you should take some time out of your weekend to tune into the free live stream!
GT Rain on YouTube provided us with a great video breaking down what makes this event standout amongst major events like the Le Mans 24 and Monaco GP.
More Cars, More Fun
“No where else on earth will you find a race of this scale with a car line up this diverse..It’s something that adds multitudes of character to the event”
There is no other single event in motorsport that features the vehicle line up that the Nurburgring 24 does. Over 122 cars and 25 different classes featured makes for spectacular racing. Twice as many entries as Le Mans for comparison.
Standout amongst the field of these vehicles is the largest class by far with 34 entries: SP9. SP9 is the equivalent of the recognizable GT3 class. Being the largest German motorsport event of the year, this race has maintained a lofty title as a must win race for all the German manufactures.
As such, it is a all out shootout between Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche for the top spot in the highest class in the field. However, there will still be serious competition from Lamborghini and Ferrari in their GT3 racers.
Each of the German manufacturers have claimed a podium at least once in the past 5 years. Without a doubt, each will seek to add another trophy to their catalog.
However, this is just one of 24 featured classes, which range from the Cayman GT4 Trophy, the M240i Racing Cup, and the KTM XBOW Cup. Quirkier classes also exist, such as AT, which features a GT3-homologated Dodge Viper and alternative fuel vehicles.
Each single one of these 122 cars is fighting for the exact same spot of pavement for 24 hours straight, all while managing some of the trickiest conditions in racing.
Track Still Crazy & Dangerous
A full rotation of the 13 mile layout of the Nurburgring circuit should be considered more of an adventure than a lap around a race track . Covering over 8 to 10 times the average distance of a lap compared to most professional race tracks, there is a lot to consider when facing the Green Hell.
1,000 feet of elevation change per lap along with dozens upon dozens of corners to memorize, even the best and most experienced pros don’t always get it right. Due to the gargantuan size of the race track, many times it can be unpredictable from corner to corner.
The carried terrain and elevation mean that dramatic weather changes, sometimes from snowing to bone-dry, can happen in the same lap. That is terrifying when you are expected to fight for mere seconds on the clock over the course of 24 hours.
This year’s event has already seen a complete stoppage after extremely foggy weather and poor visibility lead to massive crashes six hours into the race. It truly is a race of survival of the fittest.
No Championships, Just Racing
Popular races such as the Monaco GP, the Bathurst 1000, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans are all points scoring events for their respective series championships. The Nurburgring 24 Hour is different. It is a completely stand alone event, not tied to any other series.
“While winning remains the obvious goal, it is sometimes just as beneficial to play it safe and think bigger picture if you are trying to win the championship…that’s what really sets it apart, no points on the line, no championship scenario, just a pure 24 hr battle for the top step of the podium and nothing else.”
This means that the teams that participate really give it 110% when competing for this event. Definitely more old school than other races, there is no safety car periods or stoppages, in case of accidents. Instead, there is just localized yellow flag zones with imposed speed limits.
The full race stoppage seen during this year’s event due crashes caused poor weather conditions has been the first of its kind since 2016.
Convinced to give it a gander? The best part is that this year’s event can be streamed completely free (inside the US will require a VPN) along with several live on-board streams from some major competitors in the field.
If you can’t catch the live race, check of the official Nurburgring 24 Hour YouTube for the best highlights and coverage. Happy racing!
Join the 6SpeedOnline forums now!
