Touristenfahrt

Touristenfahrten on the GP Track: BTG Guide.

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Parent Category: Nurburgring

Created on Monday, 26 April 2010 17:56

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 22:04

Published on Monday, 26 April 2010 17:56

Written by Dale

It's easy enough to get on. The ticket price is just €30 per session, and each session lasts between 25 and 30 minutes. It's brilliant fun and easy to do. Where the Nordschleife punishes slight errors in vehicle control, the F1 circuit's gravel traps and large tarmac'd run-off areas are much more forgiving.

All manner of exotica is on display at any given moment.

How do you get out there?

1. Buy your ticket from the ticket office. Typically this is between the TüV tower and the first pit garage. Tonight it was in the TüV tower on the ground floor and clearly marked.
2. Get in your car, drive to pit box with the yellow-jacketed marshall stood outside.
3. Wait to be called forward, the marshall takes your ticket and asks if you've been here before. If you have, he waves you straight through. If you haven't he tells you about the flags and the lights, and what the chequered flag means.
4. Drive to the bottom of pitlane and wait for the marshall to release you onto the track. 'Release' comes at the top of the hour and half past. The marshall gives the thumbs up, the pit lane light goes green and you enter the track en masse.
5. When the chequered flag comes out, slow down, cool down and enter the pitlane exit.

Lotus Cup Europe will be racing here soon - tonight's TF session became an unofficial practice session!

Things to note:

• The group start is bloody dangerous, either go like the clappers to get clear, or more likely, go slow for a lap and let the nutters get in front of you (where you can see them!)
• There is no safety briefing and the driving standard ranges from pro racer to grandpa joe - with the dangerous guys somewhere in between...
• Crashes are common, and spins and slides even more so. Try and steer clear of traffic - let faster stuff through as quickly as possible.
• Lots of German's road insurance is still valid, so they'll be looking for the money if you crash into them.
• Video recording your lap is currently tolerated
• Helmets aren't compulsory (bloody stupid IMO)
• No motorcycles, only cars.
• JK for the Nordschleife does not transfer to the GP track (bah!) 

This guy span out behind us and nearly took my friend clean off the track - we saw three cars come together earlier and the carnage was extensive...

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Comments   

 

#1 MonsieurX 2010-04-26 21:14

Superb pictures Dale! Great to see you at work! :)

 

 

+1 #2 Guest 2010-04-27 14:17

Okey dokey, seems like we'll avoid that one, sounds more like bumper cars than a track session.

 

 

#3 admin 2010-04-27 14:20

The Hockenheim version of this session is what originated the phrase 'terroristenfah rten, not touristenfahrten'.

I hope this doesn't end the same way...

 

 

#4 MonsieurX 2010-04-27 14:27

I confirm, the Ring F1 or Nordschleife is for kids compared to Hockenheim... 100 cars at the start and they all floor it right off the pits... terroristenfahr ten is exactly it!

 

 

#5 MonsieurX 2010-04-27 16:40

Can i post videos?

 

 

#6 admin 2010-04-27 17:03

Yes, just add the link here!

 

 

#7 MonsieurX 2010-04-27 17:09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPi9dEOVbaM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5w7oe9ePGQ

 

 

#8 michelmk2 2010-04-27 18:01

thanks for the pics Dale :)

 

 

#9 admin 2010-04-27 18:03

I went out and drove it tonight, me and Ron in Exiges, playing with two brand-new GT3RS mk2s...

New story later...

 

 

#10 MonsieurX 2010-04-27 18:11

pilot vs machine usually bad ingredients

 

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