Nürburgring 2026

The history of the Nürburgring begins on September 27, 1925, when construction of a racing circuit began in the Eifel region, one that would soon become a legend. Over the following years, the legendary Nordschleife was built around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg, with its first race weekend taking place on June 18, 1927. The opening featured motorcycle races as part of the so-called Eifelrennen, which is still regarded today as the ring’s founding moment. After World War II, motorsport returned to the ring in 1947 with a race on the Südschleife, before the circuit solidified its role as one of the most important stages in international motorsport.

From 1951 to 1976, the Nürburgring hosted the German Grand Prix 22 times and thus wrote a central chapter in Formula 1 history. However, the challenges of the Nordschleife with its numerous turns and elevation changes led to growing safety concerns, which eventually prompted a fundamental reorientation. The Nürburgring’s board of directors decided to build a new, shorter, and more modern racing circuit. After tough negotiations, in which former Minister-President Bernhard Vogel was involved, among others, the way was paved for this major project, which would sustainably change the character of the ring.

The result of this development was the Grand Prix circuit, which opened in 1984 and has since been driven clockwise, existing as an independent course alongside the still-existing Nordschleife. The modern circuit is classified by the FIA as a Grade 1 circuit and offers a varied layout that ranges from the tight, stadium-like Mercedes Arena to flowing corner combinations and long straights. This combination of technical sections and high-speed sections makes the track a challenging test for drivers and vehicles and explains why it continues to be a regular fixture on the international racing calendar today.

The adjacent Nordschleife remains a fixed point in motorsport history in its own right: at approximately 21 kilometers and between 154 and 170 turns depending on how you count them, it is considered the longest permanent race track in the world and is respected and feared equally by fans and drivers alike. While the Grand Prix circuit today is home to series such as the DTM, GT Masters, and Oldtimer Grand Prix, the Nürburgring’s reputation is significantly shaped by this dual legacy of modern racing technology and the raw, original challenge of the Nordschleife, which has made the ring one of the most important places in motorsport worldwide.