The DMSB has now finalized the regulations applicable from the coming season at the Nordschleife and published them on the DMSB website. In particular, the details on the conditions for the issue of the DMSB Permit Nordschleife (DPN), on the E-Learning platform to acquire the necessary knowledge and regarding the Code-60 regulations after an accident have been fixed. All the representatives of the Interessengemeinschaft Langstrecke Nürburgring (ILN, an association of persons representing the interests of long-distance racing), the working group Drivers, the circuit management Capricorn Nürburgring, the VLN, the ADAC Nordrhein and the DSK agreed in their discussion on the positive effect the new regulations will have.
“This finally concludes the meetings of the various working groups over several months”, says DMSB President Hans Stuck. “I wish to thank everybody involved very much for their work performed. We have achieved our goal to increase safety in racing at the Nordschleife without reducing the appeal of the races both for drivers and fans.”
New Code-60-Regulations
The Code-60-Regulation have been largely modified compared to previous practice. The following will apply in the future for all top events in which only drivers holding a Nordschleife Permit may participate: To indicate a hazard, the double yellow flag will be waved and a speed limit of 120 km/h will be enforced. For cases in which the safety car would be deployed at other race tracks, the yellow flag and in addition a Code-60 flag will be shown which signifies that a maximum speed of 60 km/h applies. The green flag indicates the end of the speed limit and of the ban of overtaking. This speed limit applied in two stages shall reduce the danger of rear-end collisions; the number of Code-60-Zones is at the same time considerably reduced as they will only be activated in cases when for example marshals are working on the track or when the circuit is physically blocked.
Nordschleife Permit accompanied by E-Learning
Last year, the worldwide unique conditions in long-distance racing at the Nordschleife had resulted in the introduction of the “DMSB Permit Nordschleife” (DPN) which is issued in different grades, depending on the type of the event. The basic principle – upgrade into a higher competition class only upon demonstration of a certain experience – has now been further refined. Exceptions for newcomer classes on the one hand and for professional drivers on the other hand have been clarified. “We have defined the requirements for drivers to obtain Permit grades A and B in much greater detail than before”, says DMSB President Stuck. “It was, however, of utmost importance for everybody involved that each race driver, whether newcomer or experienced in racing, shall comprehensively look into the special conditions at the Nordschleife. The great number of cars, the differences in performance, the special layout of the track and last but not least the signalling in dangerous situations – all drivers must be able to provide evidence on their knowledge of the particularities for competing in long-distance races at the Nordschleife.”
For this purpose, a free E-Learning-Tool provided by the DMSB Academy has been prepared which must be used by all licence holders to get prepared to racing at the most difficult circuit of the world. At events for which the DPN is mandatory, the corresponding organiser may then carry out random tests to check the knowledge. These events include the 24h Race (only for DPN grade A) and the 24h Qualification Race, all VLN races as well as the RCN Circuit Race at the end of the season (but not the other RCN events). In the preparation of the E-Learning-Tool, data and technology was amongst others provided by the Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG for which DMSB expressed its thanks. “At first view, the very detailed regulations may appear to be quite complicated to one or another”, says Hans-Joachim Stuck. “But we have now tried to lay down binding some of the exemptions that were already applied in 2015. Moreover, a great number of the long-distance drivers hold a DMSB Permit already since 2015 so that only one thing will change for them, the obligation for the E-Learning. And I think that these few minutes which they will have to spend at home in front of their computer for the preparatory training should be worth it, considering that it is for their own safety.”
All the detailed regulations are now available on the DMSB website in the area http://www.dmsb.de/active/automobilsport/rundstrecke/ (Bulletins and Information for Participants).
