The International Motorsport World Federation FIA has cleared the way for the renewal of the Nürburgring Nordschleife track licence, which now expires according to schedule, for another three years. After examination by the of the licence application submitted by capricorn Nürburgring GmbH by the FIA Safety Commission, a set of safety measures comprising seven points will be implemented until the beginning of the season 2016.
Carsten Schumacher, capricorn Nürburgring GmbH (CNG) Manager: „After having received the agreement of the FIA, we will now proceed to implement seven safety provisions in the next step. We are completely on schedule with the preparations. If weather conditions permit, we will start with the work at the Nordschleife mid-November and hope to have completed the work until beginning of March.”
On occasion of a round table on 17th August with representatives of the German motor sport association DMSB, the ADAC and the AvD, of automotive industry, organisers, teams and drivers as well as local authorities, the CNG had received wide appreciation for the set of measures presented to increase safety at the legendary Nordschleife as a consequence of the accident of 28th March during the VLN endurance racing championship Nürburgring.
The set of safety provisions comprises the following seven measures to increase safety of spectators and passive safety.
(1) Track section Döttinger Höhe / Antoniusbuche: Set-up of an additional FIA safety fence as a delimitation to the federal road 258, running in parallel to the track, over a distance of 700 metres in a high speed area.
(2) Track section Hocheichen: Set-up of a spectator retaining fence behind the existing FIA safety fence as delimitation to the farm road running in parallel.
(3) Track section Quiddelbacher Höhe / Flugplatz: Renewal of the track surface over 500 metres to eliminate bumps. An FIA safety fence and an additional spectator retaining fence had already been set up in this area in spring and the tyre chain had been extended.
(4) Track section Schwedenkreuz: Installation of a no-go area for spectators on the right side of the race track and set-up of an FIA safety fence on the left side.
(5) Track section Metzgesfeld: Set-up of additional FIA fences and spectator retaining fences to increase spectator safety and to better protect the camping area on the right side as well as relocation of the guard rails closer to the track.
(6) Track section Wippermann: Closure of the existing gap in the spectator retaining fence.
(7) Track section Stefan-Bellof-S: Set-up of an additional FIA fence close to the track behind the guard rails.
“With the implementation of the seven measures to improve safety at the Nordschleife, we will obtain the renewal of the track licence by another three years, subject to the final FIA and DMSB inspection, and the cancellation of the speed limits introduced this year as from the start of the season 2016”, says Nürburgring Manager Carsten Schumacher and he adds: “The unique characteristic of the Nordschleife will continue to persist.” In addition to the current set of measures, the Nürburgring has agreed with the FIA upon a three-stage plan until 2019 to further update the Nordschleife.
