Is this the end of the Nürburgring/Nordschleife?

[mnmracer]

Michael Schumacher will drive a 2011 Mercedes Formula 1 car around the Nurburgring Nordschleife on May 19.

The demonstration run will take place as part of the build-up to this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours.

"I have a lot of fond memories of the Nurburgring and am really looking forward to giving fans and friends from my home town of Kerpen, which is quite close to the Nurburgring, something to remember as they see me drive by," said Schumacher.

"But it will be a fantastic experience for me too, driving along the Nordschleife in a state-of-the-art Formula 1 Silver Arrow, particularly in view of the fact that the Silver Arrow's legend began here.

"Posting a lap in a modern Silver Arrow on the most beautiful and most testing circuit in the world, what a brilliant mix - it's every motor racing driver's dream."

Schumacher has taken on an ambassadorial role with Mercedes after stepping down from its F1 line-up at the end of 2012.

The famous 14-mile Nordschleife layout was F1's German home until 1976.

The last time a contemporary F1 car tackled the track was when Nick Heidfeld demonstrated a BMW there in 2007.

Did you know?

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is famous for holding the Nordschleife lap record at one point, before having a big accident in 2009.

Hope he goes for a lap record.

The Pirellis wouldn't last a full lap plus its pretty much impossible to set up a modern F1 car for this circuit.
Anyway I hope he pushes it more than Heidfeld did back in '07.

Length of ~4 laps around Spa.
If he starts from the customer car area, he'll have like 1.5 mile to warm up or so.
Should be doable.

[bhall]

He'll no doubt be on ultra-hard "show" tires anyway.

[turbof1]

Length of ~4 laps around Spa.
If he starts from the customer car area, he'll have like 1.5 mile to warm up or so.
Should be doable.

It's not your average circuit. It is very bumpy, alot elevation changes, wide variety of corners... . I don't think pirelli tyres can hold that.
They should get their hands on 2010 bridgestone potenza's. They should be the ideal tyres for it.

[FW17]

Length of ~4 laps around Spa.
If he starts from the customer car area, he'll have like 1.5 mile to warm up or so.
Should be doable.

It's not your average circuit. It is very bumpy, alot elevation changes, wide variety of corners... . I don't think pirelli tyres can hold that.
They should get their hands on 2010 bridgestone potenza's. They should be the ideal tyres for it.

As long as we are wishing, prefer it to be 2009 bridgestones which were wider and had a lot more front end grip.

[turbof1]

Length of ~4 laps around Spa.
If he starts from the customer car area, he'll have like 1.5 mile to warm up or so.
Should be doable.

It's not your average circuit. It is very bumpy, alot elevation changes, wide variety of corners... . I don't think pirelli tyres can hold that.
They should get their hands on 2010 bridgestone potenza's. They should be the ideal tyres for it.

As long as we are wishing, prefer it to be 2009 bridgestones which were wider and had a lot more front end grip.

Too much front grip actually. It upsets the balance of the cars.

[FW17]

Too much front grip actually. It upsets the balance of the cars.

That is true, but schumi hated those 2010 tyres

[FW17]

As a prelude to the Nurburgring 24 Hours race that kicks off May 19th, Michael Schumacher will be racing his Mercedes Formula One car against four of the latest Mercedes AMG cars around the Nordschleife circuit of the Nurburgring.
For those of you who don’t recognize the Nordschleife name, it’s one of two circuits that comprise the Nurburgring.
Which four cars will Schumacher’s W02 F1 car be racing against? An A45 AMG, E63 AMG S-Model, SLS AMG Black Series, and an SLS AMG GT3 (above), according to Motor Authority.
Don’t worry, the cars will be given staggered start times to make the race at least a bit fairer. If it all goes according to plan, though, the high-powered Mercedes cars should all hit the finish at the same time.
“Driving around the Nordschleife in a Formula One car will be an unforgettable experience both for me and for the motor racing fans,” Schumacher said in a prepared statement. “The legendary Nordschleife, famous throughout the world, is the perfect place for this demo, and the Mercedes-Benz vehicles taking part are all fascinating, powerful cars, a unique parade for all the spectators and car enthusiasts gathered there as they hurtle past.”
We sort of wish we could join the Germans for a beer or two in the woods to watch the Nurburgring 24 Hours race. Hopefully some good videos will be posted. Should one catch our attention, we’ll bring it to you along with our coverage of the 24-hour race later this month.


Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/schum ... z2TNSknZOD

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Dont think MS's lap is going to be faster than 6:30 through the Nordschleife.

[zorog]

He'll no doubt be on ultra-hard "show" tires anyway.

DC said the show tires he had on the RB7 for his ultimate speed comparison in Melbourne this year were better then the current race tire.

[waynes]

so much hate for Pirelli doing what they were asked to do

knowing MS and his luck with Mercedes the car will break down anyway so the tyre "problem" wont matter

[Spore F1]

Good riddens to both the nurburgring and hockenheim if u ask me, never been a fan of any of those 2 circuits. Shame germany has to be the country with no tracks i like ffs.

Except the all might Nordschleife of course...

[Pierce89]

He'll no doubt be on ultra-hard "show" tires anyway.

DC said the show tires he had on the RB7 for his ultimate speed comparison in Melbourne this year were better then the current race tire.

How would DC know anything about the current race tires?

[marcush.]

There are of course some areas not suitable for a formula 1 car -namely Karrussell and of course the famous jumps and maybe Schwalbenschwanz and yes it is a bit bumpy and twisted surfaces .
But Nordschleife is a very fluent track and not very demanding on the tyre or brakes side..you need to take some unusual lines in some areas to navigate the track without bottoming too heavily but a Monaco setup would be a good starting point methinks ....

[Pierce89]

There are of course some areas not suitable for a formula 1 car -namely Karrussell and of course the famous jumps and maybe Schwalbenschwanz and yes it is a bit bumpy and twisted surfaces .
But Nordschleife is a very fluent track and not very demanding on the tyre or brakes side..you need to take some unusual lines in some areas to navigate the track without bottoming too heavily but a Monaco setup would be a good starting point methinks ....

I agree with these remarks ,but I also think a modern f1 car without too much pitch sensitivity would be fine over the "jumps". Though I doubt Mike will test this hypothesis.

[marcush.]

http://www.swr.de/nachrichten/rp/-/id=1 ... index.html

so now it is going ahead -the whole lot is going to be sold -in parts or as an entitity...

A big issue for the Nordschleife -no question the track is VERY important to all OEMs -Toyota,BMW,Porsche ,Jaguar,Daimler ,ALFA etc etc are not only testing there but are organised in a industrial pool ,have facilities nearby and will not let this go ...
So either one of them is prepared to fork out a horrendous sum or car manufacturers use the industry pool and buy shares..
But are they interested in Tourists driving around ,or VLN ,or 24h racing? Big questionmarks there..

You also got some non Racing activity -with classic car meetingss and rockfestivals (Rock am Ring ) which are lucrative..
but is the Grandprix track sustainable? Frankly it´s the first of all the modern "mickeymouse"tracks even though most drivers actually like the Track as I understand.

Let´s see what will come out of this -I see the Nordschleife being entirely closed to the public and possibly the end for racing there as OEMs will need more testing opportunities .

edit -the government of Rheinland Pfalz has stated publicly they want to see the new owner go on with Nordschleife,Rockconcerts VLN and so on ..but I think they are a bit naive .
to run a track like nordschleife to international standards is quite costly and it remains to be seen if someone is even prepared to buy into all the crap up there..

[FW17]

Any clips yet?