24-hour race on the Nürburgring
24-hour race on the Nürburgring | |
---|---|
24-hour race on the Nürburgring 2019 | |
Vehicle type | GT3 , GT4 , touring cars ("24h Special" / VLN ) etc. |
Country or region | Nürburg , Rhineland-Palatinate , Germany |
Current name | ADAC TOTAL 24h race |
Previous names | ADAC Zurich 24h race |
First season | 1970 |
vehicles | up to 170 |
Official website | www.24h-rennen.de |
The 24-hour race on the Nürburgring (official spelling: ADAC TOTAL 24h-Rennen ) is a 24-hour race for touring cars and Gran Turismo vehicles (mainly "24h special" racing cars according to the special regulations of the DMSB ) . The race has been held on different variants of the Nürburgring since 1970 , and since 1984 on a combination of the Nordschleife and Grand Prix track, which is 25.378 km long in the variant used since 2005.
The first event in 1970 was an affordable addition to the more professional sports car race 1000 km Nürburgring for amateur athletes . In contrast to this race, which switched to the newly built GP track of the Nürburgring from 1984, the 24-hour race always took place on the Nordschleife . A comparable event is the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race , which has been held since 1924.
The RCN and other series usually run their races as part of the 24-hour race . Until 1993 the DTM was also a guest with two races. The organizer is ADAC Nordrhein , the title sponsor is the mineral oil company TOTAL , which replaces the previous title sponsor Zurich Group Germany after 19 years.
For 2020 the race was originally planned for May 21 to 24, 2020. Due to the corona pandemic, the date has been changed, the race is now to take place from September 24 to 27, 2020.
uniqueness
The race's uniqueness is primarily due to the currently 25.378 km long route, the flexible regulations and the popular sporting character. The Nordschleife of the Nürburgring , already known to be extremely demanding in terms of drivers and equipment ("Green Hell"), offers space for the enormously large starting field of up to 220 vehicles in the past, which is currently limited to 190 vehicles. Around 700 drivers take turns at the wheel of the vehicles during the 24 hours. In addition to pure amateurs on near-series touring cars, professional drivers and teams with Gran Turismo vehicles have also increasingly been taking part since the 2000s.
Since 1999, the regulations have allowed almost every vehicle to start, provided it meets the safety regulations. For example, a Dodge Viper and an Opel Corsa started in the same race, but of course in separate categories.
During the event (usually from Monday to Sunday), normal meadows or open spaces around the route are released for camping . Most of the spectators camped directly on the route, without the comfort of a conventional campsite such as electricity or running water. This situation is handled with a lot of ingenuity and a lot of improvisation. At night in particular, the camping areas are more reminiscent of a fair, which adds to the special flair of the 24-hour race.
Over the years, the number of viewers rose from around 50,000 to over 200,000.
procedure
The 24-hour race itself takes place on a weekend in May or June from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. The campsites for spectators are usually open at eight a.m. on the Monday before. The visitors can then set up cars, tents and caravans on previously defined areas, most of which are located directly on the route. In addition to the usual camping equipment, the fans set up complex constructions in order to have a better view of the track and the racing and also to protect themselves from the capricious weather in the Eifel. These consist of a wide variety of things; scaffolding , small marquee tents and sofas are very popular .
The race program then begins around the middle of the week with an opening event in Adenau . The drivers of the touring car world cup , the vehicles of the 24-hour race as well as their drivers and teams will be presented on the Adenauer Racingday .
Racing will start on Thursday. On this day, training sessions and qualification runs for the touring car world cup and for the 24-hour race take place on the entire route. Other races in the supporting program include a. the Nürburgring circuit challenge and the Audi R8 LMS Cup .
Further events of the R8 LMS Cup will take place on Friday. In the morning, the 24-hour classic race starts over three hours on the entire route. In addition, the second qualifying run and the top 30 qualifying for the 24-hour race and the first race of the World Touring Car Cup will be held. After the top qualifying, the traditional “pit walk” and a drift show will take place in the Müllenbachschleife to entertain the spectators.
Saturday begins with another race of the R8 LMS Cup on the Grand Prix circuit and two main touring car races on the entire route. The line-up of the vehicles for the 24-hour race on the start and finish straight begins at 1.30 p.m. At 3:10 p.m., the vehicles set off in three groups behind a safety car on the introductory lap around the entire course. The race starts at 3:30 p.m., and the race ends exactly 24 hours later for all racing vehicles when they reach the start and finish straight and the black and white checkered flag. It is irrelevant whether the lead vehicle is already at the destination.
The campsites for spectators will remain open until 12 noon on Monday.
Regulations
The size of the course and the starting field lead to some special features in the course of the event.
Routing and pit lane
The event will take place on the Grand Prix track of the Nürburgring in connection with the Nordschleife . The Mercedes-Arena is left out on the Grand Prix track and the motorcycle variant is used in the Veedol chicane . The lap length is 25.378 km. The route is driven clockwise. There have been five sectors on the route since 2015. However, time intervals are only measured at the end of each lap.
A speed limit of 60 km / h applies in the pit lane. A maximum of seven vehicles are accommodated per box.
Participation requirements
The prerequisite for participation is an international level C driver's license . Drivers who want to participate for the first time or have not participated for more than five years must also prove three results in VLN races in the last two years and in the compulsory course, the so-called "Nordschleife Permit ”, participate. A maximum of one race can be replaced by participation in the compulsory course. This course is also offered in the week immediately before the race, i.e. at the time of administrative and technical acceptance.
At least two and a maximum of four drivers must be named on a vehicle. A driver can start on a maximum of two vehicles.
Approved vehicles
A maximum of 170 vehicles are permitted for training and racing.
Only vehicles whose production period ended in 1996 at the earliest are permitted. It depends on the production period of the series model, not on the year of construction of the vehicle used in the race. Vehicle models from the production years 1990 to 1995 can be approved on individual application; the race director decides on exceptions in consultation with the technical committee.
The vehicles are divided into different groups according to the degree of their modification or according to their fuel. Within these groups, the vehicles are divided into different classes according to their cubic capacity. The groups and classes are as follows:
class | about cm³ | to cm³ |
---|---|---|
24h special | ||
SP 2T ( Turbo ) | 1,350 | 1,600 |
SP 3 | 1,750 | 2,000 |
SP 3T (Turbo) | 1,600 | 2,000 |
SP 4 | 2,000 | 2,500 |
SP 4T (Turbo) | 2,000 | 2,600 |
SP 5 | 2,500 | 3,000 |
SP 6 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
SP 7 | 3,500 | 4,000 |
SP 8 | 4,000 | 6,250 |
SP 8T (Turbo) | 2,500 | 4,000 |
SP 9 (FIA-GT3), corresponding to FIA-GT3 homologation | ||
SP9-LG (last generation), Group GT3 vehicles up to homologation number 036 | ||
SP 10 (SRO-GT4), corresponding to SRO-GT4 homologation | ||
SP-X, admission only on special application | ||
SP-Pro, vehicles without recognition of the engine as close to series production | ||
AT | ||
Vehicles with alternative fuels, approval only on special application | ||
VLN production car | ||
V 2 | 1,750 | 1,800 |
V 2T (Turbo) | ||
V 3 | 1,800 | 2,000 |
V 3T (Turbo) | ||
V 4 | 2,000 | 2,500 |
V 5 | 2,500 | 3,000 |
V 6 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
TCR | ||
Vehicles with TCR homologation | ||
Cup classes | ||
Cup 3, vehicles of the Cayman GT4 Trophy by Manthey Racing | ||
Cup 5, vehicles of the BMW M240i Racing Cup 2019 | ||
Cup X, vehicles of the KTM X-Bow Cup 2019 |
If less than three vehicles are named in one of the engine displacement classes advertised, the displacement class can be merged with the next higher in the same group.
Different technical regulations apply to the vehicles in the various classes.
For all vehicles of classes SP10, SP9, SP9-LG, SP-Pro and SP-X, changes will be made by the organizer until the start of the race in order to create equal opportunities. As part of the Balance of Performance , the minimum weight, the maximum permissible tank volume, the tank flow restrictor, the dimensions of the rear wing and the maximum engine power are checked and adjusted if necessary.
Qualifying / Top 30 qualifying
The connection to the GP track ( Coca-Cola curve ) may be used during qualifying so that a complete lap of the Nordschleife does not have to be driven before the time is recorded. In order to be admitted to the race, all drivers must drive at least two timed laps with each car on which they are named. Only vehicles that have achieved at least the qualification time of 120% of the respective best-in-class are admitted to the race. The fastest qualifying lap of a vehicle that did not make it to the top 30 qualifying determines the starting position in its starting group in the race.
The top 30 qualifying takes place after qualifying. The ten best-placed vehicles from qualifying and the five best-placed vehicles in the race of the 24-hour qualifying race prior to the 24-hour race are eligible to participate. In addition, the top four from the VLN races will be invited to the top 30 qualifying in the run-up to the 24h race. The remaining of the 30 places in total will be filled with the fastest vehicles from the qualifying of the 24-hour race. In the top 30 qualifying, the vehicles start the warm-up lap in a random order every 10 seconds. The connection to the GP route ( Coca-Cola curve ) may not be used. After the warm-up lap, each vehicle may complete two timed laps. The fastest lap from the top 30 qualifying determines the starting position of the respective vehicle in its starting group in the race.
run
The field starts in three starting groups with a maximum of 70 vehicles each. The start groups are each led by their own safety car over an introductory lap, which is followed by a flying start. During the race you have to install blue light-emitting diodes behind the windshield, which are used to make fast vehicles easier to see, especially at night.
Each driver can drive a maximum of three hours in the race without replacement. After the driver change, the exiting driver must take a minimum rest break of two hours.
Minimum pit times are required for all vehicles in classes SP6, SP7, SP8, SP8T, SP9 (FIA-GT3), SP9-LG, SP-Pro and SP-X. These increase with the number of laps driven in the race segment, which began with the last time you left the pit lane and ended when you entered the pit lane. The minimum pit times are measured between the pit entry line and the pit exit line. In the last 30 minutes of the race, the regulation is overridden.
Repairs to a broken-down vehicle may only be carried out off the racetrack and only by its driver and only using the tools and spare parts in the vehicle. Helpers are only allowed to work in the paddock or in the pits on the vehicle. Broken down vehicles can be transported back there and repaired there by the organizer's tow vehicle or by the team. The race can then be resumed.
In order to secure accident and danger spots, intervention cars with yellow all - round lights are sent there. If there is a yellow flag, there is a general ban on overtaking. In addition, the driver is prescribed a speed limit with double yellow (120 km / h) and Code60 (60 km / h), which is controlled by a GPS eye, but there are no safety car phases. In the event of serious incidents and bad weather, the race director can interrupt the race at the start and finish line. During an interruption, there are no parc fermé conditions, i.e. service and repair work may be carried out on the vehicles.
Rating
At the end of the 24 hours, all vehicles, regardless of their position in the race, will be waved off after crossing the finish line. They place themselves according to the number of laps driven. If the number of laps is the same, the order of the last passage across the finish line is decisive. An overall classification as well as class ratings are drawn up for the vehicles in each class.
For the ranking in the overall ranking and in the respective class ranking, the participants must have crossed the finish line within 20 minutes after the 24 hours; whether you have driven continuously in the meantime is irrelevant. In addition, participants are only rated if they have reached at least half of the number of laps covered by the overall winner.
history
Beginnings (1970 to 1982)
Even before 1970 there were several long events on the Nürburgring, including three over 24 hours, but these were more like rallies, regularity or reliability tests. The premiere event on June 27 and 28, 1970 as a real circuit race was won by Hans-Joachim Stuck together with Clemens Schickentanz . In 1971 Stuck achieved the best training time on a two-liter BMW with an average speed of 145 km / h, the racing average was 119 km / h. In the following year, the cuts increased to 148.5 km / h and 137.8 km / h.
In 1973 Niki Lauda won the 24-hour race, with an eight-hour break at night this year. His fastest race lap on a three-liter BMW was 8: 39.6 minutes, roughly the lap time of a four-liter Porsche in 2009; However, at 158 km / h, his average was almost 20 km / h lower than what is possible today on the longer route variant.
Two 24-hour races were canceled due to the oil crisis . After that, the amateurs stayed among themselves for the time being; the driving performance in 1978 was below that of 1972. It was not until the early 1980s that the factories and professionals were interested in the 24-hour race again, including Klaus Ludwig , who won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1979 .
In 1982 the Nürburgring was to be rebuilt immediately after the 24-hour race in autumn. For this farewell, the organizers tried to attract well-known drivers who, together with Nürburgring specialists and journalists such as Norbert Haug , should start on some identical Ford Capri. Niki Lauda was banned from participating by his Formula 1 team boss Ron Dennis, but the new Formula 1 world champion Keke Rosberg took part, at least during the day, and at night the reigning rally world champion Ari Vatanen drove . Manfred Winkelhock was the fastest in training. In 1983 there was no 24-hour race, because only the shortened Nordschleife was left, which was equipped with temporary pit systems at grandstand 13. This meant that the six-hour 1000 km race, which is part of the world championship, could be held with a few dozen participants, but not a 24-hour race with over 100 participants.
After the renovation (1984 to 1999)
From 1984, much more spacious garages were available as pit facilities and a new paddock directly behind them. Including the new Grand Prix track, the total lap length increased to 25.3 km. In 1989 the TV station 3sat broadcast live for 24 hours. In the mid-1990s, after the DTM no longer held any supporting races and the rules only allowed near-production Group N touring cars, the amateurs were again largely among themselves and the public interest was low. In 1996 and 1997, Sabine Reck , a woman from Nürburg , won a 24-hour race for the first time, and in 1998 also the VLN championship.
In 1998 two plants with diesel vehicles competed, the victory of the BMW 320d was a world premiere, for Stuck it was the second victory after 28 years.
1999 to 2002
There was a clear turning point in 1999. Even in the VLN, more powerful and spectacular cars were registered, in particular the Chrysler Viper GTS-R , which ORECA had developed for use in the FIA GT Championship and which now with Zakspeed at the ring dominated because the Porsche 993 had less than half as much displacement, but turbocharging was not allowed or only with restrictions, as was the case with the FIA GT2 racing car Porsche 993 GT2 . The Viper won the race in 1999 by a clear margin. In the following year, however, the Viper had to compete with a significantly higher weight, so that the new, factory-supported Porsche 996 GT3 RS could win. In 2001 and 2002 the Viper, which is now starting again with a lower weight, won again relatively safe.
At that time, a Citroën in taxi guise or a VW bus took part in the race as a spectator attraction , and a Lamborghini Diablo or an ex-DTM Calibra were driven for a few laps.
Since 2003
The victory of Zakspeed with the Viper in 2002 also meant the end of the successful private teams in the 24-hour race. Since 2003, only factory teams or teams with factory support and the appropriate financial resources have been able to win the race. Opel started in 2003, winning the race for the first and so far only time with an Opel Astra V8 Coupé from the DTM . Abt also - as a works team from Audi - used a modified DTM car and BMW reactivated the M3 GTR V8 from the American Le Mans Series of the 2001 season. The DTM teams only started in 2004, after a double success for the BMW M3 GTR 2004 and 2005, the vehicles of the GT3 group have dominated the races since 2006 . This year, Olaf Manthey's team won for the first time , who had already taken part in the race countless times without success. Manthey Racing also won for the next three years and in 2011 . In 2012 , an Audi won the 24-hour race for the first time; the vehicle was entered by Team Phoenix . The maiden win for a Mercedes-Benz vehicle followed in 2013 .
List of overall winners
Victories by drivers
Victories according to constructors
Web links
- Official website for the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring
- Information portal with a focus on 24-hour races / VLN
- 20832.com (originally founded on the occasion of the 24-hour race participation of an Audi 200)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Internet source | url = https://www.motorsport-total.com/24- hours-vom-nuerburgring/news/total-wird-neuer-hauptsponsor-der-24-stunden-auf-dem-nuerburgring-18112803% 7Ctitel = Total is the new main sponsor of the Nürburgring 24 Hours | werk = Motorsport-Total.com | author = Heiko Stritzke | date = 2018-11-28 | retrieval = 2018-12-01
- ↑ 24h-rennen-is-postponed to 24h-rennen.de, accessed on March 21, 2020
- ↑ Camping and Parking at 24h-rennen.de, accessed on June 25, 2019
- ↑ a b 24h fan schedule 2019 (pdf) on 24h-information.de, accessed on June 25, 2019
- ↑ a b c Schedule 2019 (pdf) on 24h-information.de, accessed on June 25, 2019
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen / Announcement 2019. (PDF; 1.9 MB) ADAC Nordrhein e. V., accessed December 25, 2017 .
- ↑ 41st ADAC Zurich 24h - Race 2013 ( Memento from June 12, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ 1st Int. ADAC 24-hour race Nürburgring on touringcarracing.com, accessed on January 24, 2020
- ↑ 9:15, according to Dieter Gartmann, Radio Nürburgring, June 11, 2009.