The Big Lap at the Nürburgring: Nordschleife and Grand Prix Circuit in One Track Day

On 21 July, our participants got to experience something truly special at the Nürburgring: the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit combined into one continuous track layout. At just under 28 kilometres in total length, it was an opportunity that had not been available in this form for around 15 years.

For many, this had been a long-held wish – and the feedback after the event showed that the effort was absolutely worth it.

An exclusive driving experience instead of a crowded track

As with all our track days, the priority on this day was not the maximum number of participants, but the best possible driving experience.

A total of 120 cars were admitted, split into two groups: Starters and Experts. As a result, only around 60 cars were on the almost 28 kilometres of track at any one time.

The result: plenty of space, hardly any traffic and ideal conditions to focus entirely on driving – a genuine highlight for any track day enthusiast.

“Incredible – I drove several laps over the course of the day and never had a single car in front of me or behind me!”
— Participant, Nürburgring, 21 July

Starters and Experts – the right group for every level of experience

The split into Starters and Experts has nothing to do with “beginner” or “professional”. It exists purely to give every participant the right environment.

Our Starter group is aimed at drivers who want to build more confidence on the Nordschleife or extend their experience step by step. Many already have plenty of Nordschleife laps under their belt, but benefit from the structured guidance and from driving as a group.

Our CarForGo groups also run within this Starter window – in cars from our fleet.

Coaching at the highest level

Coaching is a core part of our events. A total of 21 professional coaches were on site at the Nürburgring and available to our participants throughout the entire day.

Within the CarForGo groups, participants were accompanied by Pierre Kaffer and Wolfgang Kaufmann, among others. Numerous further experienced instructors were also on duty, including Celina Martin, Luca Ludwig, Christer Jöns and many more coaches from our team.

Each group consisted of just four to five cars behind a coach car. Over the radio, participants received continuous input on the racing line, braking points, where to look, and the particular characteristics of each section of the track.

The groups were additionally put together according to individual experience levels, so that everyone could train at a pace that suited them.

As a general rule at our events: both Starters and Experts can book a coach at any time or drive together with an instructor.

Our recommendation is always to let the coach drive your own car first. That way, participants immediately experience the potential in their own vehicle and see how a professional racing driver takes it around the Nordschleife. Time and again, this proves to be a genuine eye-opener and helps drivers develop their own skills considerably.

How the day unfolded

The day started with structured turns for the Starter groups. In the first sessions, participants were sorted and led onto the track together with the coaches, so that the groups were well balanced right from the start. This is exactly the kind of experience that sets ESC and our coaches apart – because for participants there is hardly anything more disruptive than a group in which the pace levels do not match. Further guided turns followed, each with around 30 to 35 minutes of driving time, alternating throughout.

In the Expert window, by contrast, open lapping was the focus from the outset.

From 2:30 p.m. the event switched to open pit lane. From that point on, all participants could use the track flexibly and enjoy the exceptional Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit layout at their own rhythm.

Strong partners right in the pit lane

Another highlight was the support of our partners.

With Manthey, we had one of the leading Porsche specialists on site. Since more than 40 Porsche 992 GT3 RS took part in our event, there was immediate strong interest in the car's wide range of adjustment options.

Manthey talked participants through the various setup options on the GT3 RS steering wheel as well as the key baseline settings for running on the Nordschleife. Interest was enormous and participants embraced the exchange enthusiastically.

MSK Versicherungen was also on site as a partner, informing participants about topics such as participant liability and comprehensive cover solutions for track days. Many drivers took the opportunity to get individual advice directly in the pit lane.

In addition, Sebastian Becker, our project manager for Grand Touring, was available for personal conversations throughout the day. He advised numerous customers on our Grand Touring offerings, answered individual questions and gave insights into our exclusive tour concepts for sporting driving experiences on the most beautiful roads in Europe.

Conclusion

The combination of Nordschleife and Grand Prix circuit at the Nürburgring, the low number of cars on almost 28 kilometres of track, a support ratio with 21 professional coaches and strong partners made this track day a very special experience.

The consistently positive feedback from our participants confirms our standard once again: track days with maximum quality rather than maximum participant numbers.

That is exactly what defines the European Speed Club – exclusive driving experiences, plenty of track time, professional support and an atmosphere in which newcomers feel just as at home as experienced Nordschleife drivers. We are already looking forward to the next lap together.

Want to join us next time? You will find all upcoming dates on our track day overview – and our track day FAQs answer the most common questions.