Ok,
There is lots and lots of information on the interweb about the 'ring and the horrors/joys it offers and lots of people offering their opinions on what to do when you are there and how to drive blah blah blah.
I recently bought a E92 M3 and two weeks after decided that I would join 30 of my mates to race across Europe (Eindhoven, Cologne, Nurburg) to spend an afternoon lapping the ring. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, in fact I'm pretty sure a 400bhp RWD car which I had only done 1000 miles in may bite my arse on a track where there is zero margin for error.
Anyway, after two nights of "partying" we arrived at the ring on a (very busy) tourist day. It was intermittent drizzle and the track was closed for an accident, car parks were rammed. I had decided I would do a PAX lap with a decent driver first to break me in, as obviously I had been wound up about the dangers all the way there
So the track reopened and with most of the others still en-route I decided to just go for it, get it over and done with, and take it steady.
So I did, nothing quick, DSC on full, got out of peoples way when I needed to, and immediately became addicted. I've driven it in XBOX millions of times (not that that counts for anything other than knowing what corners coming next) but here are the things I noticed:
1) Its a narrower than you would imagine
2) Its much much steeper than you imagine
3) Its better and more enjoyable than you expect and quickly addictive
It was raining on and off all day so it would be bone dry for first 4 miles of track and then you would just drive into a river, you needed you wits about you and to be very cautious. There were numerous accidents and track closure and a few bikers stacked it and emerged in ambulances. On my fourth lap all the way down to Flugplatz was dry and I managed to explore the handling of the M3 properly for the first time and boy does it start to make sense on track, its far far more talented than me and will take me a long while to get anywhere near it, but it will be fun learning.
So my advice for the 'ring:
1) Go, soon
2) Don't be scared off if its damp, just drive like Miss Daisy and read up on the wet line
3) Don't be bullied on your first outings, if someone is on you, I got thrashed by many 1.3 swifts on the day Exit your bend and then indicate right when safe, compromising yourself mid bend is not good.
4) Drive like your un-insured.
Awesome place, off again very soon.
There is lots and lots of information on the interweb about the 'ring and the horrors/joys it offers and lots of people offering their opinions on what to do when you are there and how to drive blah blah blah.
I recently bought a E92 M3 and two weeks after decided that I would join 30 of my mates to race across Europe (Eindhoven, Cologne, Nurburg) to spend an afternoon lapping the ring. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, in fact I'm pretty sure a 400bhp RWD car which I had only done 1000 miles in may bite my arse on a track where there is zero margin for error.
Anyway, after two nights of "partying" we arrived at the ring on a (very busy) tourist day. It was intermittent drizzle and the track was closed for an accident, car parks were rammed. I had decided I would do a PAX lap with a decent driver first to break me in, as obviously I had been wound up about the dangers all the way there
So the track reopened and with most of the others still en-route I decided to just go for it, get it over and done with, and take it steady.
So I did, nothing quick, DSC on full, got out of peoples way when I needed to, and immediately became addicted. I've driven it in XBOX millions of times (not that that counts for anything other than knowing what corners coming next) but here are the things I noticed:
1) Its a narrower than you would imagine
2) Its much much steeper than you imagine
3) Its better and more enjoyable than you expect and quickly addictive
It was raining on and off all day so it would be bone dry for first 4 miles of track and then you would just drive into a river, you needed you wits about you and to be very cautious. There were numerous accidents and track closure and a few bikers stacked it and emerged in ambulances. On my fourth lap all the way down to Flugplatz was dry and I managed to explore the handling of the M3 properly for the first time and boy does it start to make sense on track, its far far more talented than me and will take me a long while to get anywhere near it, but it will be fun learning.
So my advice for the 'ring:
1) Go, soon
2) Don't be scared off if its damp, just drive like Miss Daisy and read up on the wet line
3) Don't be bullied on your first outings, if someone is on you, I got thrashed by many 1.3 swifts on the day
Exit your bend and then indicate right when safe, compromising yourself mid bend is not good.4) Drive like your un-insured.
Awesome place, off again very soon.
)?
Can't wait to go back.
