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 | Nurburgring driver training | |
TAXI! TAXI!
For the ride of your life!
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Jackie
Stewart, three times World Champion with 27 Grand Prix wins to his
credit, famously described it the “green hell”, Each
time he left his house to race at the Nurburgring, he would stop on his
tree lined driveway and take a long look, as it could be the last time
he might see it. Such was the attrition rate for drivers, at one time
the circuit was lined with Beech hedging (before Armco) and it was not
unknown for cars to pass through the hedging, the hedging
then springing back to disguise the point of exit. Yet he won three Grand
Prix at the ‘Nordschleiffe’, the infamous racing circuit
set in the Eiffel mountains in North West Germany.
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For all Jackie
Stewart’s undoubted skill and courage behind the
wheel, were you his doctor (who might personally confirm ‘enlarged
dimensions’), but instead let me tell you about an attractive German
lass who, raised in the locality of what is the outstanding natural beauty
of the Eiffel mountains, most definitely lacks what our American cousins
might describe as “cojones”.
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No, she is
5’4”, pretty, fair-haired, tied back in pig tails,
suitably proportioned, this day dressed in shorts and white blouse. A
transmitter of cool skill, sublime feel and gritty determination. They
don’t come any more eye-catching than Sabine, the fast becoming ‘famous
pilot’ of an innocent-looking white E39 M5. There are two such
vehicles housed at the ringside BMW Motorsport Centre, each aptly called
the ‘Ring Taxi’ with modified brakes, suspension and no roll
over bars.
Whilst on the subject of this delightful pilot, let me tell you that
unofficially from the age of 13 she has been driving the circuit. Starting
in a Fiesta, she then graduated to racing a Sierra Cosworth at 19 and
has won three 24 hour races in front of 450 no doubt crestfallen male
contestants.
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BMW were so impressed they offered her the 33-day a year job of humbling anyone
who is prepared to pay £65 for the 3 vacant seats in the
M5 for one terrifying - and at the same time exhilarating - circulation
of ‘The Ring’
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Her enjoyment in all of this is no doubt to
observe the change of expressions in her passengers. She certainly received
full satisfaction from me - how do you disguise your feelings when facing
imminent destruction for a full 8 minutes of your life? (that is an average
speed, incidentally, of 104mph). What is more, she held the lap record
until Hans ‘Streitzel’ Stuck managed to better the time in
the X5 fitted with the V12 engine from the 1999 Le Mans winning car.
I wonder what his doctor would say….?
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With a year’s fully booked waiting list, I lucked the third seat
by waiting around the start (launching pad) before joining a ride booked
by a couple who were prepared to sell me the third seat for about £23.
It’s all about to happen……….
We join the
circuit after crossing the barrier and thread our way through the
cones, catching a gaggle of motorcyclists who are “going for
it” through Tiergarten.
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These are despatched with consummate ease
and we filter through a single lane between the old and new circuit.
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As we
turn into the start of Hatzenbach Sabines control and the cars response
cause my muscles to tighten. This is not to be a casual drive: “Is
the traction control on?” I ask “No” comes the reply, “Only
sometimes in very wet conditions” – this day was very hot
and dry so it was to be an 8 minute circulation (8.30 in the wet) with
four people! Not a further word was uttered - can you speak with lockjaw?
We arrive at Schweden Kreuz (without, I recall, a lift in power) and
wondered how a set of road standard Michelins can provide such a level
of grip as found at Arenberg (I was to discover later).
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Let me tell
you, my brain short-circuited – for
when you have been driving for 30 years sub-consciously your senses
react to your own points of reference: when to brake, to accelerate,
to turn in, to balance the car - and you realize very quickly that
your personal survival data can be consigned to the bin.
All the while
the circuit twists and kinks with turns to the left, to the right,
apparently 80 major corners, I wasn’t counting innumerable
humps, bumps and blind brows dipping and diving over mountainous tree
covered terrain; then there’s the car, never short of power, it’s
there on tap, deep, gruff, spontaneous so while you’re hoping for
some respite from the constant onslaught, there’s none - just
relentless energy.
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From Bergwerk
one welcomes what feels like a straight to recover one’s
composure only to be faced with more speed, then comes the question:
how and when is this to be reduced? So far brakes do not seem to
have been used and you long for the corners to be closer, so that speed
cannot be gained, only to be confronted with the physical assault
of G force at Eschbach and Brunnchen, then to marvel and fear in equal
measure as the seemingly impossible happens again and again.
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At Phlanzgarten,
a point on the circuit made photographically famous for cars launching
themselves into the air, we arrive mid-air to find around the bend
a stationary people carrier and car on the racing line (protecting
a fallen motor cyclist, one of 3 that day that temporary closed the
circuit). In a nanosecond the car lands and momentarily brakes while
still heading for the obstacles, to gain composure before being deftly
steered around the obstruction. In the same moment my now heroine is
dialling a number on her mobile summoning assistance, and we’re
on the most technical part of the circuit still continuing at the
same breathtaking pace but now with only one hand (as the call is dealt
with), the only difference during these moments being the gear remaining
unchanged.
On the run-up to Schwalbenschwanz cars and motorcyclists are grouped
together with seemingly no track available: we pass through without lifting,
like Moses and the parting of the Red Sea.
All the while,
so full of contained energy, the M5 is endeavouring to launch itself
into the stratosphere, but the gentle hand and depth of Sabrina’s
experience are not allowing that to happen - even though I signed away
all responsibility for my life before taking the spare seat.
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I don’t remember the brakes being used, or the tyres squealing,
(no point to waste built-up speed), just the interplay of ‘power
controlled’ steering. I don’t recall any understeer, just
power, position and gear changing. The car was not so much being driven,
more launched from one point to another, all the while, rumble stacatto
patter from the suspension, the tyres submitting to constant torture
against kerb edgings, rippled tarmac and 5 litres / 400 bhp of unbridled
power, straining to provide some small contact with this earth – the
abuse! We finally storm down the finishing straight from Gaigon Kopt,
I with a heady mixture of relief, elation, thankfulness and wonderment!
Dear Lord……..
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Prelude
In a cooler analysis, her situation is unique – a new, modern,
powerful car to do as she will, new sets of no doubt ‘free’ tyres
and - depending on temperature - these VR rated Michelins last between
6-10 laps, Yes, that’s 80-130 miles before being replaced! Does
this help to create a context? It’s not the tread that has worn
down; just blocks of rubber around the edge ripped off, exposing the
tyre carcass. This demand on tyres is not a cost option for most / all
of us; however there is a responsibility to the passengers. It would
not do for BMW’s publicity to be leaving the circuit. However the
finer points remain with me: Sabine’s undoubted skill and her exceptional
knowledge of each millimetre of the most enthralling ride on earth, a
heady mixture of fear, anticipation, adrenalin and wonderment!
Do try
it………
To book Ring Tel: 0049 2691 302178
Facts from the Nurburgring
- Circuit constructed 1925 to 1927.
- Cost: 15 Million Reichmarks
- Employed 2,000 for two years
- 1937 – Pole Position 9:46.2 Rosemeyer-Auto Union 6 litre 520 bhp
- 1957 – Pole Position 9:25.6 Fangio-Maserati 250F
- 1965 – Pole Position 8:22.7 Clark-Lotus 32 Valve V8 Climax
- FI Boycotted circuit in 1970 and returned following year once Armco was installed.
- 1976 – Following Niki Laudas accident GP racing stopped.
- 1984 – Circuit altered and reduced in length from 22.835km to 20,800 km – Bends 33 to left – 40 to right.
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