The Nordschleife is so vast that a completely exhaustive guide of where to watch would be no easy feat. Instead, what follows is a rundown of the best the circuit has to offer. In general, once out on the Nordschleife, viewing opportunities are better than anywhere in Europe. Despite the raising of catch fencing around a large portion of the track for the start of the 2008 season there are still many places to get a good vantage point above the cars. There are a number of designated spectator areas that cover the majority of the interesting parts of the circuit. During the 24 Hours event most of the spectator areas double up as temporary camping grounds. Look for the icons at the start of each section that depict camping, spectating or both. Entry to all the spectator/camping grounds on foot will be permitted on production of an Event ticket. However, to gain access with a vehicle will require the purchase of a camping permit for every person in the vehicle. These can be purchased ‘on the gate’ and are priced according to the number of days you wish to stay.

It is worth considering that with a little endeavour it is in fact possible to walk/cycle between the various enclosures and indeed around the entire Nordschleife. The trails between the enclosures are not really meant for spectating so be prepared to move on if the marshals spot you lingering.

Grand Prix Circuit

Hatzenbach

the Hatzenbach complex

At the end of the GP circuit the cars filter onto the Nordschleife. The first test is the tight left hander of T13. The corner is, perhaps surprisingly, the highest point on the circuit but at the turn in point the track begins a steady decline down to Hatzenbach. A fast right kink precedes the Hatzenbach complex, a series of sweeping bends that offer little in the way of overtaking. Traffic and ‘racing incidents’ are common here! Exiting the final Hatzenbach turn, the track follows a short incline up to the right-left of Hocheichen. The gradient falls away sharply through Hocheichen, underlining it as one of the more visually impressive corners on the circuit.

Hocheichen shot through the slot in the catch fencing

The infield viewing enclosure follows the circuit all the way from T13 down to the exit of Hochechein. Favoured spots include the exit of the final Hatzenbach turn (unimpeded views of the four corner complex) and also the bottom of the hill at the exit of Hocheichen. The latter benefits from a scaffold tower that rises up above the catch fencing and 15 m further down the hill can be found a cut out in the fencing for the purpose of taking photographs. It provides a clear line of sight to the cars rolling off the Hocheichen turn.

During the 24 Hours event the Hatzenbach campsite can be accessed by vehicle from a track that runs down to Hatzenbachstraße in Nürburg. The track can be found just up the hill from the BMW test centre. Well maintained tracks run throughout the campsite and follow the circuit down to the Quiddlebacher Hohe bridge and car park.

Flugplatz

Quiddelbacher Hohe

After Hoheichen, there follows a flat out section that takes the cars over the B257 at Quiddelbacher and then up to Flugplatz. Preceding the corner there is a pronounced crest (Quiddelbacher Hohe) where some cars get airborne! The Flugplatz curve itself is one of the fastest on the circuit. Spectating is permissible from an outfield enclosure located at the entry to the Flugplatz corner. There are good views back down the circuit to the crest.

During the 24 Hours there is no camping at Flugplatz but a well maintained track runs from the corner all the way down to the B257, some 50 m west of the Quiddelbacher Hohe bridge. Access to the road is usually restricted so it will have to be traversed on foot or by bike. As an alternative, there is a footpath that begins behind a derelict building adjacent to the bridge and hugs the circuit all the way up to the enclosure at Flugplatz. The track can be followed beyond Flugplatz to the bridge at Aremberg.

Aremberg

On the run out of Flugplatz the track speed increases because the circuit drops away whilst curving gradually to the left. The subsequent dip is one of the fastest places on the circuit and it propels the cars on to Scwedenkreuz, an ultra fast left handed kink with a dangerous crest on the approach. Next up is a heavy braking zone and the Aremberg corner, characterised by its relatively large gravel run off, a rarity on the Nordschleife. There is no designated viewing area at Aremberg but a track runs along the infield from the car park at Quiddelbacher Hohe (on the B257) all the way up to Aremberg. Trees obscure the view through Flugplatz, hence viewing is only really possible at Scwedenkreuz and Aremberg.

the dip before Scwedenkreuz

Scwedenkreuz with Aremberg in the background

During the 24 Hours, access to the road is restricted so it will have to be traversed on foot or by bike. From Aremberg footpaths lead to a bridge over the circuit and onto an outfield track that leads back down to Flugplatz or up to Adenauer Forst. Alternatively it is possible to follow the infield footpath all the way to Metzgesfeld but the track becomes broken through Adenauer Forst and it is not easily passable.

Adenauer Forst

the climb after Fuchsröhre

Between Aremberg and Adenauer Forst lies one of the most picturesque and remote parts of the circuit, the descent into Fuchsröhre. A series of gradual, alternating curves lead into a big compression where the circuit hugs the natural terrain. The ensuing climb up to Adenauer Forst is punctuated by a left and then a right turn as the circuit finds a way through the surrounding forest. Then comes the Adenauer Forst chicane. A deceptively tight left right that catches many a driver out, sending them barrelling over the steep curbs and the small grass infield. The viewing enclosure predominantly covers the Adenauer Forst chicane but a footpath does follow the circuit back down the hill almost as far as Fuchsröhre. Ignoring the path down to Fuchsröhre, a well maintained track leads back down the circuit to the bridge at Aremberg.

 

Adenauer Forst

During the 24 Hours event the Adenauer Forst campsite can be accessed by car via a track off Kallenbachstraße in Adenau. Kallenbachstraße runs into Altes Poststraße before joining the B257 in the centre of Adenau. If you are intending on walking/cycling this track bear in mind that it is long and steep!

 

 

Metzgesfeld

Metzgesfeld apex

There is a short straight after Adenauer Forst and the ground here plateaus briefly. Two shallow left handers follow and then the cars plunge down into the Metzgesfeld complex. The infield spectator area at Metzgesfeld follows the circuit all the way along the downhill approach and through the sweeping left hander. There is a small run off area on the outside of the corner that is often scarred with tyre marks leading into the tyre wall! The area behind the catch fencing affords a good spectating opportunity of the cars clipping the apex with the long approach and the Nürburg castle in the background. There is also another handy gap in the fence here for photography purposes.

During the 24 Hours event the Metzgesfeld campsite can be accessed by car via a steep track that runs all the way down to Brunnenstraße and the B257, approximately 400 m south of the Breidscheid bridge. From Metzgesfeld there is a rough trail that leads back to Adenauer Forst and a well maintained trail down to Wehrseifen.

Wehrseifen

the descent between Kallenhard and Wehrseifen

After Metzgesfeld the track drops steeply through Kallenhard and Miss-Hit-Miss. The dreaded catch fencing hasn’t made it up here and as a result this remote section of circuit ranks highly from a spectator point of view. Further down the hill is the popular Wehrseifen hairpin. The left hander is a technically demanding corner because the braking begins on the right handed approach and there is no room for error on the exit as the track once again bends to the right. As a result a number of different lines are adopted through the hairpin. Viewing from the trail that leads up to Metzgesfeld will highlight this. Follow the trail round to the apex of the corner and and you will get a view of the cars well below you at the bottom of the steep embankment that borders the circuit.

During the 24 Hours event the Wehresifen campsite can be accessed by car via the Breidscheid campsite (see below). From Wehrseifen there are well maintained trails leading up to Metzgesfeld and down to Breidscheid.

apex and right handed exit of Wehrseifen (Exmuhle in the background)

Wehrseifen apex from the top of the embankment

Breidscheid

Breidscheid approach

A short downhill straight follows the Wehrseifen hairpin. At the bottom awaits the Breidscheid curve where the circuit crosses the B257. The daunting left hander is bordered by concrete walls on either side where it bridges the road. The graffiti covered section of track always attracts a big crowd, perhaps due to the numerous bars and restaurants only a stone throw away in Breidscheid and Adenau. The viewing enclosure stretches all the way from Wehrseifen down to Breidscheid and the B257. Across the road, can be found a small car park and one of the two Nordschleife entrances used on Tourist Days.

During the 24 Hours event the Breidscheid campsite can be accessed by vehicle from a track that runs off the B257, just south of the Breidscheid bridge. From Breidscheid the track continues up the hill to Wehrseifen.

Bergwerk

Safely over the Breidscheid bridge, the cars face a short but very steep climb up to Exmuhle. The track curves to the right and plateaus though exmuhle then descends gradually all the way down to Bergwerk via the Lauda kink. The Bergwerk corner turns sharply to the right, altering the direction of the course by almost 180 degrees. The corner is notable for its complete lack of run off. Behind the barriers, a rock face rises up to the inside of the corner and on the outside the land drops away some 5 or 6 metres to a dirt track below. There isn’t much room for spectating and photographs are difficult due to the low light but the corner is impressive none the less.

Bergwerk is not a designated viewing enclosure and can be accessed at any time from the L10. A dirt road runs down from the L10 to Bergwerk corner and the start of a well maintained track that follows the circuit up the hill towards Steilstreken via Kesselchen and Klostertal.

Caracciola Karussel

a 911 tiptoes around the Karussel (taken before the erection of the catch fencing)

After the long climb from Bergwerk the cars arrive at Steilstreken Curve, a tight right hander with a down hill approach. The track then kinks its way up the hill towards the icon of the Nordschleife; the Karussel. The daunting corner offers a transition from smooth tarmac to banked bumpy concrete and back again. The catch fencing has had a big impact here but walking towards the inside of the corner is still spectacular due to the fact that the circuit surrounds you on three sides leaving only a narrow corridor to pass through. Once there, watch as the cars bump and scrape their way through the corner before getting on the power as they climb up to Hohe Acht. From the Karussel there are well maintained paths leading back towards Steilstreken Curve and up towards Hohe Acht.

Hohe Acht

coming over the crest at Hohe Acht

After the Karussel the track continues its relentless climb up towards the summit. There are two left kinks followed by a fast left/right before the cars arrive at Hohe Acht, an open right handed curve that starts to descend at its exit. There are good photography opportunities at the entry to the corner where the catch fencing is broken to allow emergency vehicles onto the circuit. The same is true of the exit of the corner where there can be found one of the handy slots in the fence to poke your camera through. This spot presents a convenient panoramic of the corner below as well as a view of the cars getting light over the crest on the approach. From Hohe Acht there is a well maintained path that follows the circuit back down to the Karussel or alternatively there is the original cobbled road of the Steilstreken that cuts through to the Steilstreken Curve. In the other direction the path hugs the circuit as it continues on towards Wipperman.

Wipperman

the descent through Wipperman

From the summit of Hohe Acht the track twists and turns through a rollercoaster of a descent, the heart of it being the Wipperman S, an ultra quick right/left/right with shifting cambers and predictable lack of run off. The Wipperman S is a technically difficult section of the circuit and you will notice the differing lines and speeds on the exit. All this makes Wipperman a particularly interesting spot to watch from. A camera slot can be found at the exit of the last turn that offers a view of the cars snaking their way down the hill towards you.

Brünnchen

The exit of the Wipperman S is followed by a short straight that dips then climbs up to Eschbach, a fast right hander with a blind exit. The dip before the corner provides a nice view of the cars disappearing over the crest. Next is a long down hill left hander before the scenery opens up for the complex of Brünnchen. The first Brünnchen turn is a fast sweeping right with a nasty off camber. Then the track climbs steeply to Brünnchen 2, a slightly slower right hander with a tightening exit. The viewing enclosure sprawls across the outfield of the Brünnchen complex and all the available space makes this a favoured viewing spot.

During Touristenfahren this spot doubles up as a spectator car park but during the 24 Hours it turns into one of the bigger campsites. Access by car is from the B412. From Brünnchen there are well maintained trails leading back up the track towards Wipperman and on towards Pflanzgarten.

Pflanzgarten

Pflanzgarten looking back up the hill towards Eiskurve

The track continues to rise out of Brünnchen, all the way to the crest at Eiskurve, so called because it is the first corner to freeze in cold weather. The left handed curve is marked by the prominent crest at the exit and a slight change in direction to the right. The following down hill section increases the speed of the cars dramatically, taking them though a quick left kink and then propelling them to the ski jump at Pflanzgarten. Look out for airborne cars here! Traffic is the cause of many an incident on this section of circuit because there is only one real line, especially over the unsettling jump that requires a straight line approach to get the car lined up for the ensuing right handed curve.

The viewing enclosure at Pflanzgarten is not very spacious. It is more open going up the hill towards Eiskurve but at the Pflanzgarten jump and below spectating is restricted to the footpath that hugs the circuit. Once the crowds get to 3 or 4 deep at the catch fencing, navigating the path becomes tricky and spectating is pretty much out of the question. However, it is worth noting that when it’s quiet you can make use of another one of the slots in the catch fencing to take some photos. It is located just after the Pflanzgarten curve where the footpath rises up above the gravel trap. From Pflanzgarten the footpath continues on through the trees towards Schwalbenschwanz and in the other direction it follows the circuit all the way back to Brünnchen.

Schwalbenschwanz