Prototypes return to the Green Hell

This weekend, the fabled Nürburgring 1000 Km race is making a comeback. On the legendary Nordschleife ‘Green Hell’ no less. Prior to the race, prototypes like the Porsche 917 or the Group 5 Kremer Porsche 935 K2 will do demolaps, a unique chance to see them in action on the world’s hardest race track.

Wheels off the ground, the original Nürburgring is where the legend was created for many cars. Remember Hans Stuck putting some air under the BMW CSL? Or the famous Kremer Vaillant Porsche 935 seemingly on a take-off trajectory? All images that were taken during the 1000 Km race at the Nürburgring. Especially the prototypes and Group 5 cars were always finding the battle against gravity on the Eifel rollercoaster, one they would occasionally lose.

VLN and WEC

The stuff of legends, but eventually, the old, 20-km Nordschleife loop became too dangerous and racing moved to the new Grand Prix layout. In the meantime, racing is back on the Nordschleife, with the highly popular Langstrecken series, with the Nürburgring 24 Hours the series’ annual highlight.

The 1000 Km races on the Nürburgring started in 1953 and ran until 1988. Later, the Group C race format evolved towards sprint races of around 480 km. In 2000, the 1000-km distance was back, in the form of the 6-hour race which counted for the ALMS first, the Le Mans series next until it became a WEC event once more, right up to 2017.

The cars

This weekend, the Nürburgring 1000 Km celebrates a big comeback. As a historic race no less. 82 cars will take the start, mostly touring cars and GTs. Just prior to the big race, prototypes and Group 5 cars from the sixties and seventies will make a very welcome return to the legendary track. Want to see a Porsche 917 through the Karussel once more? This is your chance. We see Alpines (A210 and A220), Lola (T 210), McLaren (MB6), and of course: Porsches. From the 904, 908, 917 right up to the Kremer 935 variants (K1 and K2). And two KMW Porsche prototypes will make a rare appearance as well in the hands of Johannes Huber and Tobias Aichele.

Jochen Mass tribute

After the lunch break on Saturday, a tribute to Jochen Mass will take place, with appearances by people like Klaus Ludwig, Kurt Ahrens, Roland Asch and ‘Jägermeister’ Eckhard Schimpf.

Program and tickets here.