The Nurburgring tests cars & drivers like no other.

Every summer since 1970, the Ring is the setting for the best 24 hour endurance race around.

▴2 It’s pretty straightforward. Register your car and team. Pay €8,500. Build your car. Be in the top 210 during the day and night qualifying sessions. Race other madmen and mad women around the Ring for 24 hours straight.

The 24 hours of Nurburgring is a hidden jewel of motorsports. Yes, Le Mans does have the history & prestige. Yes, Monaco is special, but its short and there is barely any passing. But 24 hours of non-stop racing around the most grueling track in the world; well that is something special.

▴3 Why is this race such a gem? Well, the track makes it special. First of all, it is a 15.9 mile track (the race utilizes the Grand Prix portion) compared to Le Mans’’ Sarthé which is only 8.47 miles. ▴4 The elevation change makes other tracks look like highway off-ramps. ▴5 - ▴6 Not to mention that weather patterns are bipolar there, so it could be raining at one part, and dry on another. Add to that the Ring has over 160 turns for drivers to remember.

▴7 Oh let’s not forget, drivers need to drive through these corners in pitch darkness throughout the night at full speed, relying on their memory, and the ultraviolet glow from the lights of the people who camp out to watch this madness.

▴8 - ▴9 What I love about this particular race is that as opposed to the other endurance races, this race is dominated with amateur teams composed of investors, drivers, & the hardest working team engineers & mechanics who are handed cars that are damaged, but salvageable, & have to work on these race cars in the middle of the night as fast as possible.

▴10 Cars can range from race spec Volkswagens to Porsche 911 Cup Cars. Qualifying occurs during the day as well as night, so drivers need to be fast when the sun is out and also when the sun goes down! Drivers can have 150 minute stints, but need to observe a 2 hour resting period before re-entering the race.

24 hours of proper racing on the most grueling track in the world. Can it get any better?

📷Sources: | @porsche | @mercedesbenz | @astonmartinracingofficial | wikipedia |