A beginner's guide to the fearsome Nürburgring 24hr race

The Nürburgring 24 Hours is an incredible race full of thrills, heartbreak, aggressive techno, and parties long into the night. For a first timer it can pretty overwhelming, so TG sent a hapless newbie to learn their way around one of the most intense races on earth (and that’s just for the spectators) and get the skinny…

No matter whether you’re driving from the next town over, or another country, the ‘Ring can be a challenge to get to. If you’re a masochist you’ll drive in something with rock hard springs, a buzzy motor, and a herculean thirst. We took a MINI JCW hatch. There was enough space for a weekend’s worth of stuff, it managed a decent 43mpg (ish), it was quiet on the motorway, and didn’t disappoint on country lanes. Oh, and if you’re using the Channel Tunnel you need to take a picture of your car on the train and post it to every social network you’re on, else no one will believe you were ever there.

The amount of access you get from your N24 ticket is wonderful. You have freedom to travel around the circuit and watch race cars do their thing without the need to fork out for any extras. You can also go and have a proper nose in the paddock. Definitely do this. It’s a hive of activity pre-race, with trollies of tyres being hurriedly wheeled around, engineers looking nervous, and race cars simply… there. Chances are you’ll bump into a driver or two as well. If you can sneak your way in to a pit garage, more power to your elbow. Space in there is tight, with lots of cars and their teams under one roof. Stay out of the way, and you should be golden. Maybe.

The glory of the ‘Ring is that you can find plenty of places to watch the race from. When start time rolls around you can head to the start/finish straight if you want, but now’s probably a good time to go exploring. With lots and lots of corners to choose from, you shouldn’t be too hard pressed to find a decent vantage point. However, get there early. The N24 is HUGE, with people setting up intricate, complex camps long before race day, so the prime spots will likely be filled with makeshift plywood cities. Of course, your fellow race fans are generally wonderful people and will likely move up to let you in, but it’s worth being early anyway – race cars are about to fly by.

With well over 100 cars taking part, each in different classes competing for different things, the soundscape as they fly by is a special thing. From the Dacia Logan whipping round, all the way up to the GTs, your ears will be pleased. However, cars aren’t the only thing making noise at the N24. Far from it. The makeshift cities are a hive of all kinds of noises – cheering, shouting, singing, loud techno, Schlager music (look it up, it’s… different), beer bottles clinking, and even the odd air raid siren.

You’re going to be doing lots and lots of walking. The ‘Ring is legendarily big, and you’ll want to get to a few corners to see the cars do their thing. The edge of the circuit isn’t neatly paved for your convenience, the track’s in the middle of the Eifel Forest after all. There are punishingly steep slopes, roots, ruts, and… stuff to fall over or climb around. Those in the know cruise around on bikes or mopeds, which, after walking 30km in a day, seems like a smarter way to get around. While you’re clambering about or pedalling like an Olympian you might want to grab some refreshments. Luckily there are plenty of bars dotted around, though most only take cash. It’s a bit old school, but vital if you want a beer at 04:00.

The music gets louder, the tiny plywood villages are lit by (controlled) fires, torches, or neon, the cars seem somehow faster… it’s magic. You’ll want to stumble around the forest all night soaking it up. The whole place basically turns into a rave with race cars. The raucousness has to be seen, revelled in, and embraced. There will also be an enormous quantity of hammered race fans having the time of their lives.

The Nürburgring is a savage place. Months of preparation can go to pot at a moment’s notice – another driver can take a car out, an overtake can go wrong, or the weather on one side of the track can cause a car to have a race ending accident. Pick a handful of cars to follow over the course of the race and hope Lady Luck is smiling on them. If it all goes wrong for your selection you can always embrace the German party spirit and dance away your disappointment until… Sunday.

Friends, there’s so much to see, hear… do, the temptation and desire to do everything is understandably great. Who wouldn’t want to fire themselves round the world famous Nürburgring and watch awesome cars do incredible things? Doing that risks spreading yourself a bit thin, and meaning you’ll miss having fun where you actually are because you’re busy planning the next bend. Take some time to appreciate where you are and what you’re doing. The signs, sounds, and smells are some of the best out there, so don’t rush ‘em. There’s always a livestream accessible online if you want to see what’s going on elsewhere on the track. Go, see things, enjoy the party, and you’ll have a ball.