27 May 2009 - 12:00
The ‘other’ 24hr race
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Another week, another Nurburgring story, and this time it's Volkswagen and Aston doing the shouting - both celebrating class wins at the 24hr race this weekend.
Yes, an actual race. Not the usual 'Ring chassis development story or vanity lap time (James May has some words to say about this in the latest issue of Top Gear magazine) but real, proper competition.
VW scored two victories in petrol- and gas-powered cars, finishing 15th and 17th overall, while Aston brought its new V12 Vantage home top in its field, 21st overall.
Lexus, meanwhile, kept ominously quiet about the two LF-A prototype racers it lined up - without doubt the most awesome-sounding cars on the Nordschliefe, but they finished 87th and, er, nowhere.
The overall race winner was a Porsche 911 GT3 - in fact, almost the entire top 10 was made up by teams using 911s, joined by a couple of Audi R8 LMs and a solitary BMW Z4 M Coupe.
Overshadowed a bit by the Le Mans, the Nurburgring 24hrs is arguably the most gruelling of the endurance races. It uses all 14-odd miles of the Nordschleife and is geared more towards production cars and, relatively at least, amateur drivers.
But, is it better than Le Mans? Been to either? Let us know.
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Hello. Why, yes... This IS a lot better than LeMans. Just spend a weekend there and you will know why.
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In terms of personal interest, i'd say it is. Also I don't get why all 24 hour races don't use the Nurburgring. The mulsanne straight at Le Mans is a bit too boring unless someone ploughs through the barriers that lie half way down it at 200mph...
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In terms of personal interest, i'd say it is. Also I don't get why all 24 hour races don't use the Nurburgring. The mulsanne straight at Le Mans is a bit too boring unless someone ploughs through the barriers that lie half way down it at 200mph...
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In terms of personal interest, i'd say it is. Also I don't get why all 24 hour races don't use the Nurburgring. The mulsanne straight at Le Mans is a bit too boring unless someone ploughs through the barriers that lie half way down it at 200mph...
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Yes this is the greatest track. 13 miles of woopass
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the nurburgring nordschleife is better than the circuit le sarthe. The mulsanne straight is the drieriest thing in motorsport and it only has a few REAL corners! Wheras the nordschliefe is finely tuned for speed AND handling!
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id stll perfer to go to le mans
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Wait. Overall the VWs arrived before the Aston??
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the 'ring is a wayyyy cooler track and the Audi guys say the Sebring 12 hrs is tougher on the cars than Le Mans.
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Yup. They´ve been beaten by a Nissan, Audi A3 and two Sciroccos. And just four laps ahead of two BMW diesels. The best Aston Martin overall 21st position, the second one 31st.
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I wouldn't say that the Nurburgring 24 Hours is better than Le Mans but as a viewer/spectator I'd say N24 is more interesting. As a person who followed the race this year via live feeds and radio (sadly from home) I'd say there was more action in it making it much more interesting. And the Nurburgring is a very pretty track, to have some awesome cars going round it makes it a top event which should be recognised more by endurance fans.
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I find the Le Mans more interesting because of the different car classes. Although right now its quite a little boring because of LMP1s and Audi's domination. It is still the grand-daddy of all endurance races. (^_^)
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yer its rily going to win stupid golf.
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go aston! they should do well
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Having raced on both tracks in Gran Turismo 4 and done both 24hr endurance races I have to say I like them both equally. But Le Mans has the history and the glory :)
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ALL DA WAY 4 ASTON MARTIN. GO! show them wat really is POWER, BEAUTY & SOUL :) aston's my fav car!
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Ben27 commented on this article
27 May 2009
The Nurburgring is the better track, no questions asked. But Le Man's has all of the history. I'd rather drvie round the Nordschleife, but I'd rather race at Le Mans.
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