Help Remove Speed Limits On The Nürburgring With This Survey

Your opinion is important!

Contrary to popular belief, Germans actually are open to a lot of opinions when it comes to improving safety and efficiency. Management at the Nurburgring

just put out a survey on their Facebook page

earlier today (July 2, 2015) that aims to improve safety and attract motor racing at the same time. All of this bad press that the Nurburgring has received stems from them imposing speed limits on certain areas of the track to decrease the likelihood of a spectator death due to cars flying out of control and into spectator areas. Seeing as the whole point of a racetrack is to go as fast as possible around it, the decision to add speed limits has been met with a large pushback from car enthusiasts and media all around the world.

2015.7.2. Nurb 2 /

According to the official survey,

"A tragic accident occurred on the Nürburgring Nordschleife at this year’s first race of the VLN Endurance Championship. As a consequence, certain spectator areas have been equipped with additional safety measures and speed limits were introduced for several sections of the track. These speed limits were extended to other activities on the Nordschleife, which is why record drives are currently not permitted on the Nürburgring Nordschleife."

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A large part of the fact that accidents involving deaths occurred is that in order for cars to stay absolutely glued to the road, extensive amounts of aerodynamic add-ons and modifications are employed. But the instant air catches these aerodynamics the wrong way, the likelihood of a car lifting off the ground is all too possible. In the survey, they try to address this with a “Nurburgring only” aero pack that would reduce this likelihood. This would take away from the whole, “going as fast as you physically can” aspect of racing there.

In addition, they proposed changing the track layout altogether to build in chicanes to reduce speed. While on the surface, this has the best intentions, it would nullify any record attempt currently in place and would cost the track considerable amounts of money to implement.

Some of the best options they provide include secondary fences for spectators including improved crash barriers. This would allow the track to stay with its current layout and improve safety for those who decide to venture close to the action.We’re glad to see the Nurburgring responding to popular opinion and hope that those pesky speed limits are lifted soon.

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