The idea of a racetrack with speed limits seems deeply strange, like a shooting range with blanks. But that’s been the case at the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife for several months, after limits were put in place following a fatal crash in March. But they won’t be around for much longer, with the track’s owners announcing the FIA has approved its plans for safety improvements that will return the 12.9-mile long circuit to de-restricted running.
The two limits didn’t actually affect that many cars, being set at 200 km/h (124 mph) and 250 km/h (155 mph), but they stayed in place during both the regular track driving and motor industry testing sessions, and also during the races that have been run on the track since they were imposed. Most of the improvements are to safety fences in higher-risk areas; from our reading of the official release (which is in German) we think the only alteration to the track itself will be resurfacing of a 500-meter stretch at Quiddelbacher Hohe to remove bumps and to try to prevent cars from getting airborne. Some ’Ring purists will doubtless complain that this is taking away some of the track’s unique character, but it seems like a sensible compromise given the risks inherent in such a high-speed circuit.
FIA approval means that engineering work can start pretty much immediately. According to Google Translate, Nürburgring CEO Carsten Schumacher said “the preparations are right on schedule. If the weather cooperates, the work will begin on the Nordschleife in mid-November and be completed by early March.”
We’re still left with the question of whether this means we can expect to see a return to record lap-time attempts at the Nordschleife; they were banned shortly after the speed limits were put in place. That prohibition sidelined Koenigsegg’s attempt to beat the Porsche 918’s time with the One:1 hypercar. (There have been reports that Pagani has already smashed the 918’s time—presumably before the speed limits and record ban were put in place.) The Green Hell needs to resume its rightful role as arbiter of the supercar—and sports car, and hot hatch, and SUV—hierarchy.
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