May 2026: When the world champion becomes an Eifel pilgrim
On May 16th and 17th, 2026, the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring will take place on the Nordschleife – and the Eifel region will experience one of the biggest motorsport events in recent years. The reason: For the first time in the race's history, a reigning Formula 1 World Champion will be on the starting grid. Max Verstappen will compete with his own team, Verstappen Racing, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3, with experienced endurance racing professional Lucas Auer at his side.
This isn't Verstappen's first foray into the Green Hell: The Dutchman already made his debut in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) in September 2025, back then in a Ferrari 296 GT3. The result of his first outing: victory. So it's no wonder he's taking the next step – 24 hours, 200,000 fans, around 160 cars on the track at the same time, rain fronts that come and go within minutes.
The impact on the race weekend in May is enormous. Tickets and camping spots sold out within hours in January. German TV channels have doubled their broadcast time. Record viewership is expected on YouTube livestreams. The 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2026 is not just a race – it's a global motorsport event.
That says it all about the Nordschleife: It's not a museum. It's the place the world's best drivers flock to when they want to know how good they really are. 20.832 kilometers, 73 corners, 300 meters of elevation change – and no other track reflects its drivers so honestly.
Why the Nordschleife remains unsurpassed to this day
There are racetracks. And then there's the Nordschleife. This loop through the Eifel region isn't just a circuit – it's a legend, a test, an obsession. Jackie Stewart dubbed it the Green Hell. Niki Lauda survived one of the worst fire crashes in Formula 1 history here in 1976. And to this day, every ambitious sports car manufacturer in the world measures itself against its lap time.
In this article you get the complete overview: hard facts, the most important corners, the biggest records, the 24-hour race in which Verstappen will start in May – and at the end you will find out why a 3D frame of the Nordschleife is more than just decoration.
The hard facts about the Nordschleife
Numbers rarely make a myth tangible. But they do in the case of the Nordschleife:
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Length: 20.832 kilometers (the pure Nordschleife without the GP circuit)
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Curves: 73 (33 left and 40 right curves)
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Elevation difference: approximately 300 meters between the lowest and highest points
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Opening: June 18, 1927
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Location: Nürburg, Eifel region, Rhineland-Palatinate
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Official lap record: 5:19.546 minutes – Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, Timo Bernhard (2018)
The number that sticks in your mind most is its length: 20.832 kilometers. For comparison, Monaco is 3.337 km, Spa-Francorchamps 7.004 km. The Nordschleife is therefore almost three times as long as the second-longest F1 track – and it has hardly a single meter that's easy.
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A brief historical overview
The Birth of a Myth (1925–1927)
The Eifel region was economically disadvantaged in the 1920s. To create jobs and put German motorsport back on the map after the First World War, the decision was made to build a race track. Within two years, 25,000 workers shaped what is now known as the Nordschleife (North Loop). The inaugural race took place on June 18, 1927 – won by Rudolf Caracciola in a Mercedes-Benz. S.
The golden age of Formula 1 (1951–1976)
From 1951 to 1976, the Nordschleife regularly hosted the German Grand Prix. Names like Fangio, Moss, Clark, and Stewart made history here. Jackie Stewart not only called it the Green Hell, but also called for its closure to Formula 1 for safety reasons. The end came in 1976 with Niki Lauda's accident at the Bergwerkskurve (Bergwerk Curve). After that, the Nordschleife was definitively deemed too dangerous for Formula 1.
The rebirth as a people's route (1977–present)
After Formula 1's departure, the Nordschleife evolved into something unique: a racetrack that almost anyone can drive. Tourist drives, the 24-hour race, and industry tests keep it vibrant to this day. Nearly every sports car in the world is fine-tuned here – from the Porsche GT2 RS to the Tesla Roadster.
The most important curves of the Nordschleife
Airfield & Schwedenkreuz
After the start, the route quickly leads to the airfield – a slight rise where the vehicles can actually briefly become airborne at high speed. The subsequent Schwedenkreuz section is traversed at speeds exceeding 280 km/h. Courage is not a bonus here, but a prerequisite.
Foxhole
The Fuchsröhre is a steep, steep corner with a strong compression at the end. Anyone who brakes too late here quickly learns why the Nordschleife has a reputation for swallowing cars. For many professionals, it's the corner they fear most – and love the most.
Karussell (Caracciola-Karussell)
The Carousel is probably the most famous curve in the world. A banked curve made of concrete, where drivers deliberately climb the outer edge to be accelerated by centrifugal force. Every fan knows the images – and anyone who has ridden it themselves understands why it was named after Rudolf Caracciola.
mine
Niki Lauda crashed here in 1976. The corner lies in a dip with little run-off area. The Bergwerk is a quiet place that demands something of every Nordschleife fan.
Plant Garden & Stefan Bellof S
Rapid changes of rhythm, two crisp compressions, and a long double right-hander. Named after Stefan Bellof, who set a legendary lap record in the Porsche 956 in 1983 – a time that wasn't beaten until 2018.
The biggest records
The hunt for the fastest lap on the Nordschleife is one of the most exciting subplots in motorsport. Some milestones:
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1983 – Stefan Bellof, Porsche 956: 6:11.13 – Record that lasted 35 years
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2017 – Lamborghini Huracán Performante: 6:52.01 (Series record for a brief moment)
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2018 – Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR: 6:40.3 (series record)
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2018 – Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo, Timo Bernhard: 5:19.546 – absolute all-time record
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2023 – Mercedes-AMG One: 6:35.183 (new production car record)
The battle for the fastest lap time for a road car has long since become a marketing Olympics. But regardless of who's currently in the lead, the Nordschleife remains the most honest benchmark known to automotive engineering.
The 24-hour race: a festival, a test of endurance, and the Verstappen effect in 2026.
Once a year, the Eifel region transforms into a gigantic tent city. Around 200,000 fans flock to the track for the 24-hour race. The race itself is a battle of attrition: GT3 cars race alongside Cup Clios, with over 160 cars on the track at any one time. Whoever wins here secures their place in the annals of motorsport history.
The 2026 edition will be special: From May 14th to 17th, the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring will take place – and for the first time, a reigning Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen, will be on the starting grid. His newly founded team, Verstappen Racing, will compete with a Mercedes-AMG GT3, alongside experienced endurance racing driver Lucas Auer. Tickets and campsites sold out within hours in January. Anyone wanting to see the race live will have to rely on the usual Eifel trick: knowing friends who have a campsite.
Tourist tours: Experience the Green Hell for yourself
The madness of the Nordschleife: You can drive it yourself. On selected days, the track opens as a public toll road. The only rule: The German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) apply. You buy a lap ticket (the famous Green Hell Credits) and off you go. No agreements, no qualifying sessions – just you, your car, and 20.832 kilometers of legend.
A tip if you're trying it for the first time: Drive the first three laps well below your limit. The track is more complex than any YouTube video can convey. Every corner changes with temperature, weather, and traffic.
The Nordschleife in sim racing
If the track is currently closed or you don't happen to have a GT3 in your garage: the Nordschleife has been a digital star in simulators for years. Assetto Corsa, iRacing, Automobilista 2, and Gran Turismo offer extremely precise versions. For true enthusiasts, there are laser-scanned mods that are accurate to the centimeter.
The Nordschleife as a design object: Why a 3D frame is more than just decoration
Once the Nordschleife has captivated you, you always want to have it with you. A poster quickly gets boring. A 3D-printed frame, on the other hand, does something no picture can: it shows the true elevation profile. The 300-meter difference in altitude between Hatzenbach and Döttinger Höhe becomes visible and tangible.
Our Nordschleife frames are made in Germany, manufactured with millimeter precision, and combine the track layout, elevation profile, and corner names into a single design object. Anyone who runs their finger over the Fuchsröhre (Foxhole) will understand the difference.
FAQ: Nordschleife in brief
How long is the Nordschleife?
The Nordschleife is 20.832 kilometers long. Combined with the Grand Prix circuit, it reaches a total length of 25.378 kilometers (the so-called total track).
What is the current lap record?
The absolute all-time record is 5:19.546 minutes, set by Timo Bernhard in the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo in June 2018. For production cars, the current best time is held by the Mercedes-AMG One with 6:35.183.
Am I allowed to drive on the Nordschleife myself?
Yes. On tourist drive days, you can take a ride in your own vehicle. A single ride currently costs around 35 euros. Alternatively, several providers offer vehicles for rent on site.
Why Green Hell?
The nickname goes back to Jackie Stewart, who coined the term Green Hell after his first victory in 1968 in pouring rain – a combination of the green Eifel landscape and the extreme difficulty of the track.
Ready to put your passion on display?
At AP10 Studios We create your favorite route as a 3D-printed frame — Made in Germany, with a true elevation profile and premium finish. More than 15,000 customers and partners already trust us. Use our Bundle Builder to create your own personalized route set and save money.
Create your own bundle now and save →
