Following a review carried out at the Nürburgring by the “Struktur- und Genehmigungsdirektion Nord (SGD Nord)” Koblenz (approving body amongst others in fields such as environmental protection, immission control and nature conservation), a modification of the ADAC Zurich 24h Race Regulations has become necessary. This amendment in the regulations affects the VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring, too, as this championship adopts the 24h Special Regulations for this most popular endurance racing series in Europe to a large extend.
Vehicles with alternative drive concepts will be admitted to the start of the races next season again: In addition to Diesel and petrol engines, for example Hybrid and gas driven cars will be admitted also in future for the races around the Nordschleife. After an extensive inspection in the year 2010, the race organisers within the ADAC Nordrhein as well as the track operator of the Nürburgring Automotive GmbH, in co-ordination with the Environmental Agency of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, managed to ensure the operation of the refuelling facilities required for this purpose also in future.
The review carried out nevertheless also resulted in the termination for single alternative refuel devices: For the currently approved, team individual dispensing devices for Bioethanol and Biodiesel, the conditions made by the authorities would require extensive construction work to be carried out. To avoid the cost explosion for all participants, the ADAC Nordrhein and the operating company Nürburgring Automotive GmbH have hence agreed not to admit vehicles driven by these fuels for the time being.
Following the review carried out recently, the SGD Nord was mainly concerned about the location of the dispensing devices, which will now be prohibited, in areas where, in the case of an unexpected discharge of bigger fuel quantities, an important pollution could be the consequence. “Even though the use of these devices under the high safety standards imposed by the organisers never resulted in any important incident, we must accept the arguments submitted by the environmental agency”, explains Peter Geishecker, Sporting Director of the ADAC Nordrhein. “We will therefore have to delete the two affected fuels from the Regulations. For all the other drive concepts, we are able to install refuel systems which comply completely with the conditions made by the authorities and with our own high standards.”
