Circuit Challenge Nürburgring
The Nürburgring circuit challenge , formerly the Castrol Haugg Cup , is Germany's oldest series for touring car motorsport. It has been held since the early 1960s, primarily on the Nürburgring - Nordschleife , and each over a total distance of more than 300 km.
It is a performance test . Similar to rallies , sprint laps involve driving against the clock and not fighting for positions on the track, which reduces the risk of collisions and lowers costs. In addition, pit stops for changing drivers or tires in the maximum time laps can be made with almost no time pressure, which means that fewer support staff are required. In addition to the laps on the best time, there are also laps on the target time, in which a lap time previously determined as a setting time must be adhered to ("confirmed"). Deviations outside of the tolerance are counted as penalty seconds with a factor of ten, which can strongly influence the rating in the event of irregular driving style or, for example, in rain.
The eight races of the season are organized by various motorsport clubs that participate in the Nürburgring circuit challenge. V. (RCN) have merged. One of the races each season traditionally takes place in the framework of the 24-hour race .
history
For many years the racing series was sponsored by the Castrol and AVA-HAUGG companies and was therefore also called the Castrol-HAUGG Cup (CHC) until 2006. Since then, the sponsorship activities have shifted, so that the series has had its current name since 2007. The main sponsor since 2007 has been the BMW Driving Experience, a GmbH that conducts driver training courses within the BMW Group.
Sporting regulations
Most of the races of the RCN will be held on the 20.83 km long Nürburgring - Nordschleife . At the same time, another event can take place on the neighboring Grand Prix track (if this is not Formula 1), so that the track rental and thus the entry fee (approx. 600 euros) is lower. However, only the small pit lane at grandstand 13 is available. These events almost always take place on a Saturday afternoon, mostly after the regularity test (GLP) organized by the same organizer. Usually one run per year is held on the Grand Prix version of the Nürburgring, and if possible, one is held in Spa-Francorchamps ( Belgium ). For the first time in the 2012 season there was a run on the EuroSpeedway Lausitz . The season highlight is the run on Thursday (a public holiday in some German federal states) before the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring . A final race has been held since 2012, lasting three hours (four hours for the first time in 2017). The final race does not count as a race. The race consists of timed practice, the starting grid, an introductory lap and the actual race.
The event is defined by the DMSB as a performance test 200 km (LP200), which means that not all vehicles start at the same time, but that the vehicles start individually at an interval of 5 seconds and not fought for positions, but against the clock. This reduces the risk of accidents and there is no need for timed practice to determine the starting grid. The total distance is 312.45 km (15 laps of 20.83 km each), which is greater than that of a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The 15 rounds are divided into two types of rounds:
- 9 sprint laps on the best time
- 3 laps on target time (with +/- 10 seconds grace period)
- 3 laps at maximum time, for refueling break and run-out
If a participant exceeds or falls below the time limit, 10 penalty seconds will be charged per second. Clumsy or undisciplined drivers can easily spoil their chances of winning. Over the past few years, the focus has shifted from the earlier regularity test (GLP) with a few sprint laps to the current racing event with few and generous target times. Starting with the 2012 season, there will also be a pure race with a flying start and no target time laps. A pure GLP is now carried out separately by the same organizer.
In the RCN-Light (formerly Michaela-Lochmann-Trophy) the racing vehicles are started individually and do not drive for positions, but against the clock. Here, however, the distance is 8 laps:
- 2 laps on target time (with +/- 1.5 seconds grace period)
- 1 lap as setting time
- 4 laps for the best time
- 1 lap at maximum time for run-out
In the Michaele-Lochmann-Trophy there was more consistency.
Points are distributed within the class, with the winner receiving almost 10 points, depending on the number of starters, according to the usual distribution formula in popular sports , a middle-ranked person approx. 5 points, a backbencher approx. 1 point, those who are eliminated no points. With five participants, for example: 9 points for the winner, then 7, 5, 3, 1. In this way, the winners of the heavily occupied classes achieve the most points, which means that the master is often on the road against many others in an inexpensive vehicle. Using a top-class Porsche can make the day's overall victory possible, but due to the lack of competition, it can hardly score any points for the championship.
Technical regulations
A vehicle is required that is at least equipped with a roll cage , fire extinguisher, emergency stop switch and splinter protection for the windows. In addition to street-legal vehicles or vehicles that are still eligible for registration, pure racing cars will also take part. The vehicles are divided into the following groups: VLN series cars, group F, group N / DN, GT-2, 24h special, group H. From the 2018 season, a standard tire from the tire manufacturer Hankook is mandatory.
All masters since 1990 at a glance
| year | Team / vehicle | Team / vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | RCN: Ludger Henrich (Schmitten), Opel Astra GSi | RCN light: Andrea Heim (Gronau), Renault Clio |
| 2016 | RCN: Alexander Fielenbach (Lohmar), Toyota GT86 / BMW | RCN light: Volker Geburek (Rommerskirchen), BMW 318is |
| 2015 | RCN: Christian Büllesbach (Königswinter), BMW Z4 | RCN light: Daniel Havermans (Prümzurlay), Honda Integra |
| 2014 | RCN: Christian Büllesbach (Königswinter), BMW Z4 | RCN light: Daniel Havermans / Michael Schnatmeyer (Prümzurlay / Hiddenhausen), VW Golf I. |
| 2013 | RCN: Stefan Schmickler / Christian Scherer (Bad Neuenahr / Bad Neuenahr), BMW E36 318is | RCN light: Dominik Raubuch (Castrop-Rauxel), MSC Ruhr-Blitz Bochum, BMW E36 318ti Compact |
| 2012 | RCN: Claudius Karch (Mannheim), Mathol Racing, Porsche Cayman R | RCN light: Marc Roitzheim, Ahrtal-Motorsport, BMW E36 3.25i |
| 2011 | RCN: Guido Schuchert (Dorsten), Orange Green Racing Team, BMW M3 | RCN light: Andreas Greineder (Fürstenzell), Honda Civic Type-R |
| 2010 | RCN: Ludger Henrich (Schmitten) Opel Astra F | RCN light: Andrea Heim (Gronau) Renault Clio A |
| 2009 | RCN: Ludger Henrich / Jürgen Schulten (Schmitten / Hamminkeln) Opel Astra F | RCN light: Rainer Geppert (Reichshof) Opel Kadett |
| 2008 | RCN: Hans-Rolf Salzer (Alpenrod) BMW M3 | MLT: Holger Träger / Karl-Heinz Zammert (Bochum / Düsseldorf) VW Golf GTi |
| 2007 | RCN: Ludger Henrich / Jürgen Schulten (Schmitten / Hamminkeln) Honda Civic Type-R | MLT: Gerhard Diel (Wermelskirchen) Opel Astra GSi |
| 2006 | RCN: Hans-Rolf Salzer (Alpenrod) BMW M3 | MLT: Holger Träger / Karl-Heinz Zammert (Bochum / Düsseldorf) VW Golf GTi |
| 2005 | RCN: Ludger Henrich / Jürgen Schulten (Schmitten / Hamminkeln) Opel Corsa Sport | MLT: Christof Degener / Dirk Kehrberg (Hattingen / Bochum) VW Golf GTi |
| 2004 | RCN: Jörg Weber (Kehrig) Ford Escort RS2000 | MLT: Holger Träger (Bochum) VW Golf GTi |
| 2003 | RCN: Ulrich Ehret (Buchen) BMW 318iS | MLT: Christof Degener (Hattingen) VW Golf GTi |
| 2002 | RCN: Thomas Imig / Petra Dams (Mönchengladbach / Düsseldorf) VW Golf GTi | Light: Jörg Kosmalla / Kerstin Kosmalla (Cologne) Opel Corsa |
| 2001 | Maic Winter (Dingden) Opel Astra GSi | |
| 2000 | Jürgen Schulten (Hamminkeln) Opel Astra / Opel Calibra | |
| 1999 | Frank-Dieter Lohmann (Freudenberg) Ford Escort Cosworth | |
| 1998 | RCN: Mark-Oliver Burghardt / Jens Kolodzey (Duisburg) Opel Manta 16V | MLT: Jochen Kaiser / Oliver Koppitz (Hürth) Opel Calibra 16V |
| 1997 | RCN: Mark-Oliver Burghardt / Jens Kolodzey (Duisburg) Opel Manta 16V | MLT: Thorsten Birawsky / Marco Birawsky (Plochingen) Ford Capri |
| 1996 | RCN: Mark-Oliver Burghardt / Jens Kolodzey (Duisburg) Opel Manta 16V | Nat .: Carsten Burmeister / Oliver Heise (Krummesee) Opel Astra GSi |
| 1995 | Int .: Walter Schneider (Herschbroich) VW Golf GTi | Nat .: Günter Kalsdorf / Günter Deus (Wülfrath / Wuppertal) Toyota Celica |
| 1994 | Int .: Robert Güntzel (Herscheid) VW Golf GTi | Nat .: Wilfried Thal / Horst Wippersteg (Wülfrath) Porsche 911 Carrera |
| 1993 | Int .: Franz Claer (Eschweiler) Suzuki Swift | Nat .: Frank Aistermann / Jürgen Langkau (Gütersloh) Opel Kadett E |
| 1992 | Int .: Walter Schneider (Herschbroich) VW Golf GTi | Nat .: Frank Aistermann / Jürgen Langkau (Gütersloh) Opel Kadett E |
| 1991 | Int .: Walter Schneider (Herschbroich) VW Golf GTi | Nat. Herbert Schilling / Erich Löhrer (Bornheim) Audi 80 |
| 1990 | Int .: Walter Schneider (Herschbroich) VW Golf GTi | Nat. Herbert Schilling / Erich Löhrer (Bornheim) Audi 80 |