Norisring

Norisring
LocationNuremberg, Germany
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates49°25′53″N 11°07′30″E / 49.43139°N 11.12500°E / 49.43139; 11.12500
FIA Grade2[a]
Opened18 May 1948; 76 years ago (1948-05-18)
Major eventsCurrent:
DTM
Norisring Nürnberg 200 Speedweekend (1984, 1987–1996, 2000–2019, 2021–present)
ADAC GT4 Germany (2024)
Former:
TCR Europe (2022)
W Series (2019)
F3 European Championship (2012–2018)
Super Tourenwagen Cup (1997–1999)
Porsche Supercup (1993)
World Sportscar Championship (1986–1987)
BMW M1 Procar Championship (1980)
Formula Two (1973)
Websitehttp://www.norisring.de
Street Circuit (1972–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.300 km (1.429 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record0:46.618 (Switzerland Nico Müller, Audi RS5 Turbo DTM 2019, 2019, Class 1)
Street Circuit (1948, 1952–1957, 1961–1971)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.940 km (2.448 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record1.13.800 (United Kingdom Peter Gethin, McLaren M8E, 1971, Group 7)
Short Street Circuit (1960–1968)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.620 km (1.007 miles)
Turns6
Street Circuit (1949–1951)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.000 km (2.485 miles)
Turns10
Street Circuit (1947)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.000 km (1.243 miles)
Turns7

The Norisring is a street circuit in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany. Originally established as a motorcycle racing venue in 1947 and named in a 1950 competition to win a light motorcycle, the track became known as a sports car racing venue in the 1970s.[1][2] Since 2000, it has been annually used by the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, the premier Germany-based touring car racing series. The length of the simple track with two hairpin turns and a chicane has been set to 2.300 km (1.429 mi) since 1972, after various lengths were used in its early years.

History

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On 18 May 1947, the first motorcycle racing event took place at the Nuremberg street circuit that ran around a 360 m (390 yd) long grandstand, called the Zeppelinhaupttribüne or simply the Steintribüne. In 1950, the name Norisring was chosen for the venue in a competition to win a light motorcycle.[1] Motorcycle racing events remained central to the circuit until 1957, as six motorcycle manufacturers were based in Nuremberg at the time, but a crisis in the industry led to no racing events taking place in 1958 and 1959.[1][2]

Although automobile racing events were held at the circuit as early as 1948 and on its revival in 1960, they would only become the venue's primary focus after the Norisring Trophy was introduced in 1967. During the 1970s and 1980s, sports prototype racing was popular at the Norisring and motorcycle racing events were abandoned after 1976.[1][2] The World Sportscar Championship events that took place in 1986 and 1987 each attracted more than 100,000 spectators to the circuit.[2] After the 1980s, the venue switched its primary focus to touring car racing. In 2000, the premier Germany-based touring car series was revived under the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters moniker and the annual Norisringrennen became the circuit's most important event.

The Norisringrennen traditionally takes place halfway through the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season in late June or early July. The race, which regularly attracts between 100,000 and 140,000 spectators to the circuit, is considered a highlight of the touring car series, as fans get closer to the action and the drivers than on modern venues.[3] Since 2015, there has been one race on Saturday and one race on Sunday.[3]

After the beginning of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Norisringrennen was planned to take place in mid-July as the season opener, but it was eventually cancelled in accordance with the restrictions on public events in Nuremberg.[4] As the 2021 season began in late June, it was known that the Norisringrennen would not take place during the summer, but by the end of July the circuit was confirmed as the venue for the season finale in October for the first time in its history.[5] In 2022, the Norisringrennen returned to its traditional spot in the race calendar, and a round of the TCR Europe Touring Car Series was run in support of the main event for the first time.[6][7]

Due to its proximity to the Dutzendteich lake and its location inside a large city, the Norisring has been compared to the Circuit de Monaco.[8]

Layout

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Different configurations were used in the early years of the circuit, including figure-8 layouts. Until 1972, the track length varied between 2 km (1.2 mi) and 4 km (2.5 mi), before being permanently set to 2.300 km (1.429 mi). The start-finish straight in front of the central grandstand, the Steintribüne, leads to a right-hand sweeper, followed by a left-hand U-turn that is located near the Grundig tower and called the Grundigkehre. After the U-turn, the track heads back to the Steintribüne via a left-hand sweeper, with the Schöller-S right-left chicane placed between the sweeper and the back straight. This is the place where cars often touch the outside wall. After a right-hand kink, a left-hand U-turn called the Dutzendteichkehre leads back to the main straight via a flat-out left-hand kink.

The Norisring is laid out on streets that are otherwise used for public traffic. The construction of the circuit begins two weeks before the race weekend. It includes installing 7 km (4.3 mi) of crash barriers, 6 km (3.7 mi) of catch fencing and several temporary stands. After the race weekend, the equipment is removed from the area within a week.[8]

Fatalities

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Mexican racing driver Pedro Rodríguez died at the Norisring in 1971 when the Ferrari 512 he was hired to drive (in championship events, he used to race a Gulf Racing-Porsche 917) hit the bridge wall before the Schöller-S and burst into flames. Afterwards, the track was shortened by moving the Grundigkehre U-turn closer in order to reduce corner speeds. In 2006, a memorial plaque was inaugurated at the site of the crash.

In 1988, Hungarian racing driver Csaba Kesjár died after crashing into the barriers at the Dutzendteichkehre during a practice session in the German Formula Three Championship.

Events

[edit]
Current
Future
Former

Lap records

[edit]

As of July 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Norisring are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Street Circuit: 2.300 km (1972–present)
Class 1 Touring Cars 0:46.618[9] Nico Müller Audi RS5 Turbo DTM 2019 2019 Norisring DTM round
Group C 0:47.070[10] Hans-Joachim Stuck Porsche 962C 1987 200 Miles of Norisring
DTM 0.47.846[11] Bruno Spengler BMW M4 DTM 2017 Norisring DTM round
Formula Three 0:47.949[12] Callum Ilott Dallara F314 2017 Norisring F3 European Championship round
GT3 0:49.048[13] Nick Cassidy Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 2021 Norisring DTM round
LMP3 0:49.097[14] Laurents Hörr Duqueine D-08 2023 Norisring Prototype Cup Germany round
ITC 0.49.686[15] Uwe Alzen Opel Calibra V6 4x4 1996 Norisring ITC round
Group 5 0:49.820[16] Rolf Stommelen Porsche 935J 1979 Norisring DRM round
Formula Regional 0:50.975 Emma Kimiläinen Tatuus F3 T-318 2019 Norisring W Series round
Porsche Carrera Cup 0:51.123[17] Dennis Olsen Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 2017 Norisring Porsche Carrera Cup Germany round
Formula Two 0.51.900[18] Jean-Pierre Jarier March 732 1973 Norisring F2 round
GT4 0:53.618[19] Finn Zulauf Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport 2024 Norisring ADAC GT4 Germany round
Group A 0.53.650[20] Emanuele Pirro BMW M3 Sport Evolution 1992 Norisring DTM round
BMW M1 Procar 0.54.080[21] Marc Surer BMW M1 Procar 1980 Norisring BMW M1 Procar round
Super Touring 0.54.351[22] Laurent Aïello Peugeot 406 1997 Norisring STW Cup round
Formula BMW 0:54.698[23] Átila Abreu Mygale FB02 2004 Norisring Formula BMW ADAC round
TCR Touring Car 0.54.819[24] Marco Butti Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021) 2022 Norisring TCR Europe round
Group 4 0.56.400[25] Toine Hezemans Porsche 934 1976 Norisring European GT round
NXT Gen Cup 1:04.525[26] Enzo Hallman LRT NXT1 2024 Norisring NXT Gen Cup round
Street Circuit: 3.940 km (1948, 1952–1957, 1961–1971)
Group 7 (Can-Am) 1.13.800[27] Peter Gethin McLaren M8E 1971 Norisring Interserie round
Group 5 1.17.300[28] Brian Redman Lola T70 Mk III 1969 Norisringrennen
Formula Junior 1.37.900[29] Kurt Ahrens Jr. Cooper T67 1963 Norisringrennen

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Norisring's Grade 2 licences expired 11 July 2024.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Eine Strecke mit Tradition und Zukunft". Norisring.de (in German). MCN GmbH / e.V. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Voigt, Alexandra. "Ein Neustart auf vier Rädern". Norisring.de (in German). MCN GmbH / e.V. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "2000 – 2019". Norisring.de (in German). MCN GmbH / e.V. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  4. ^ Haidinger, Sven (4 June 2020). "Nach neuem DTM-Kalender: Norisring-Auftakt abgesagt!". Motorsport.com (in German). Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Offiziell bestätigt: Norisring trägt DTM-Saisonfinale 2021 aus". Motorsport.com (in German). 28 July 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Six countries, nine events, 18 races: DTM announces 2022 race calendar". DTM.com. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  7. ^ "TCR Europe to join DTM platform for three events in 2022". TCR Europe. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b Friese, Rebecca (16 February 2019). "10.000 Arbeitsstunden pro Saison: So entsteht der Kultkurs Norisring". Motorsport-Total.com (in German). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  9. ^ "DTM 2019 » Norisring Round 8 Results". 7 July 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Norisring 200 Miles 1987". 28 June 1987. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  11. ^ "DTM 2017 » Norisring Round 8 Results". 2 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  12. ^ "2017 Norisring European F3 - Round 15". Motor Sport Magazine. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  13. ^ "DTM Norisring 2021". 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  14. ^ "2023 DTM Norisring Prototype Cup Germany Race 2" (PDF). 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  15. ^ "ITC 1996 » Norisring Round 10 Results". 23 June 1996. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  16. ^ "DRM Norisring 1979". 24 June 1979. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  17. ^ "2017 Porsche Cup Deutschland Norisring (Race 1)". 1 July 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  18. ^ "1973 Norisring F2". Motor Sport Magazine. 9 September 1973. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  19. ^ "2024 DTM Norisring - ADAC GT4 Germany - Race 2 - Result List" (PDF). 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft 1992 » Norisring Round 13 Results". 28 June 1992. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  21. ^ "1980 Norisring BMW Procar". Motor Sport Magazine. 22 June 1980. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  22. ^ "STW Cup 1997 » Norisring Round 9 Results". 29 June 1997. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  23. ^ "2004 Formula BMW ADAC Norisring (Race 2)". 27 June 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  24. ^ "TCR EU 2022 » Norisring Round 8 Results". 3 July 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  25. ^ "1976 European GT Norisring". 27 June 1976. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  26. ^ "2024 DTM Norisring - NXT Gen Cup - Race 3 - Result List" (PDF). 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  27. ^ "II 200 Meilen von Nürnberg". 11 June 1971. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  28. ^ "1969 200 Meilen von Norisring". 29 June 1969. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  29. ^ "XVII ADAC Norisringrennen". 21 July 1963. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
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