Pilot for a day

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IMS – travel tales

3 Photo: Carlota de Andrés

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Photo: Carlota de Andrés

by which the Nordschleife is also known is situations that one encounters when driving on the three times F1 world champion Sir Jackie the circuit, where they are reminded that they Stewart. Ruper and Emilio would discover the will circulate in a “conventional” road, with trareasons for the nickname ditional circulation standards such ‘Finally the day has come,’ said Ruper few minutes later. The ac- before getting behind the wheel as the obligation to pass cars by the cess road to the village of left side of the road, the two SpanNürburg runs parallel to iards drive their Suzuki Swift to the the long finish-line, which entrance of the track. gives drivers the first sight Everything is in their and sounds of the track. hands, nervous smiles Today is one of those and sweaty hands anknown as TouristenFahrt nounce that the time Tagen, the most exciting has come. Hoping to dates for people interestbe able to use the exed on driving in the Nordperience gained after schleife. In these special hours of YouTube vid‘There is nothing lik e Nürburgring. days, when the circuit is eos and driving laps It is a lifestyle’, says Fredy Lienhard, free of motorsport events in the game Gran TuCEO of Rent4Ring wh en he is asked Photo: Jaime Campoamor rismo for Play Station, and becomes a convenabout his job. In 20 09, he and his tional road, driving lovers can enjoy an exclusive Ruper sits behind the wheel and cousin Ralph change d Switzerland for experience impossible to find anywhere else. faces the first of the three laps Nürburg. After mor e than 1.200 laps driven in the Nürbur Since 50% of the visitors come from all over that correspond to each. Two gring during the first year with their the world, mostly Japan and North America, hours later, they return smiling own Suzuki Swifts, they built a non-profe there are two ways to do it. In one hand, using and with the car intact. Before ssional website, pr inted some flyers an their private cars, drivers have the possibility of anyone was able to ask them a d started to rent the cars to the tour completing a lap for a reasonable prize, paying question, they both said at once: ists for a reasonable price. At the en d of the first year -27€/lap- at the ticket booth and working the “It was awesome!” The nervousthey had already fiv e cars. ‘We found way around. In the other hand, it is also possible ness has disappeared from their a market niche, with co stumers who to rent cars in the various businesses located in faces and has been replaced by didn´t want to spen d th ou sands of Nürburg and neighbouring villages. Companies a look of satisfaction. The NorEuros driving Porsch es or BMWs’, with cars adapted to race, available for all types dschleife has fulfilled its role. ensures Fredy satis fied. Today, with of drivers, whether amateur or experienced.

Long live the Ring! more than 30 cars and an average beOne of those compatween 6.000-7.000 costumers per year, coming from more nies, Rent4RIng, is the than 100 different countries, the compa one Ruper and Emilio ny is still like a family. Apart from Fr decided to choose to edy and Ralph, seven other people enjoy their much-deformed the crew of Re nt4Ring. The key of sired experience. After their business er is the mouth-to-mou aimed Rup cl ’, e! th a brief speech warning om advertising. es ‘It was aw the car.

Returning costumer o getting of ili Em s d br an ing new ones. them of the possible

Rent4Ring,

Pilot for a day

The circuit of Nürburgring offers tourists experiences impossible to live elsewhere

By Jaime Campoamor

T Photo: Carlota de Andrés

One of the most important events of the year, the 24h of Nürburgring, takes place on June

he dream of every motorsport fan has name and last name, Nürburgring Nordschleife. The 174 curves of this 20,8 km German racetrack have become an obsession for cars enthusiasts since his opening in 1927, being nowadays one of the best well-known racing icons worldwide. For Ruperto Sánchez and Emilio Ruiz the Ring had turned into an obsession since they had obtained their driving licenses. These two Spanish friends knew the attraction offered by the circuit since a while, and after spending hours and hours watching videos in YouTube, they decided that it was time to live that experience for themselves. Having saved a little, and taking advantage of having a

good friend living in Bonn, they both pack their luggage and fly to the nearest airport.

Located in the Eifel Region, in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the track is not far away -just 58 kilometres by car- from the former capital city of the old West-Germany. Onehour drive through winding roads surrounded by forests is enough to reach the destination.

The morning fog and a light drizzle enhance the mysterious appearance of the racetrack, nestled in the middle of a forest. The weatherman has predicted that the sun would rise from midday, so the two friends remain hopeful. ‘Welcome to the Green Hell’, warns upon arrival a huge sign. The culprit of the nickname

IMS – travel tales

Photo: Jaime Campoamor

Much more than a racetrack

The Nürburgring is composed of two circuits: the Nordschleife -20,8 km-, which was built between 1925 and 1927 and the Grand Prix Strecke -4,542 km-, inaugurated in 1984, eight years after Niki Lauda´s accident during the F1 GP of Germany in 1976. Because of its 300 m height difference with extreme gradients and the difficulty of its 40 left-hand bends and 50 right-hand bends, the circuit has been used along the years as a perfect test track for car manufacturers. Different high-performance models are promoted here with videotaped laps competing to achieve the fastest lap. Germany’s most popular open-air festival, Rock am Ring also takes place annually at the Nürburgring racetrack.

IMS – travel tales

Photo: Carlota de Andrés

The silhouette of the track is recognizable worldwide. Remarks below aren´t required

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