Nurburgring mandates 130 km/h top speed to enter track

The Ring officials will look at the car's original registered top speed (when it rolled out of the production line) before allowing it out on track.

The Nurburgring Nordschleife is one of the most iconic race tracks in the world. However, what makes it even more unique is its "touristenfahrten" sessions or "tourist rides", wherein anyone with a valid driving license and an appropriate road car can drive around a lap of the Nurburgring's 20 km circuit by paying just 30-35 euros.

Until now, track officials allowed almost all sorts of cars to run a lap around the circuit, making it common to see supercars share track space with old city hatchbacks. However, now, the Ring has made amendments to the rules, which mandates all vehicles participating in the touristenfahrten sessions to be able to do at least 130 km/h.

Although the tourist ride sessions aren't full-on track days, the change in the rule has been made keeping in mind the increasing speeds of today's road cars. It also offers some safety by not allowing old cars which struggle around some parts of the track, posing a danger to themselves and other cars driving past them.

The Ring officials will look at the car's original registered top speed (when it rolled out of the production line) before allowing it out on track. This means that even if owners put a large, powerful motor in an old car that didn't originally have a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h), it still won't be allowed out on track; even if it can now exceed the 80 mph limit.

Source: Road&Track