It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year. Of course, I’m not talking about Christmas — it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. I’m talking about something way better. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. That’s right: it’s time for everyone to release their annual compilations of Nürburgring crashes. Enjoy!
The Nürburgring is a magical place — even better in person than you’d expect — but if you don’t approach it with respect, it will chew up your car and spit it right back out onto a flatbed.
We’ve featured several of the biggest hits throughout the year, but it’s always nice to blow through an entire afternoon watching mega-cuts of ‘ring carnage all at once. It’s also worth noting that these touristenfahrten/VLN carnage compilations never show serious injury or death.
Here are the best of the best, just in time to ruin your productivity for the day.
Lo and behold, the rental M235i I took for a lap this year became this compilation’s thumbnail — albeit with someone else behind the wheel. RIP, pretty blue car. May someone shove that glorious drivetrain into a stripped-out 924 and lay down ridiculous elevenses into Valhalla.
rallyeoberehe’s video is awesome because it often has a couple different angles and replays of big hits, including a slow-mo replay of the SCG 003 littering a straight with carbon fiber chunks at the Nürburgring 24 Hour.
You know what isn’t awesome? Passing on the grass, on the right, or catching a curb in just such a way to toss you into the barrier. I have to admit that the Renault that rally-cars an S-curve into a straight is pretty impressive, though. Anyway, this video includes a lot of spins and saves in with the outright crashes. Code Brown: activated.
We’ve featured Automobilchannel’s compilations in previous years, and they’re always an entertaining watch.
Watch with amazement as one rider lays down his bike and almost seems to spring back on two feet while tumbling from his fall. Feel the pain as lustworthy track vehicles lose it on the Nordschleife. Will they make it, or will you hear the fateful clang of the wall? (Bonus: the same guys put together a fail compilation for Hockenheim, too.)
Not every crash in these is entirely the fault of the driver, per se. Losing a wheel on the Nürburgring? Yeah, you’ll probably want to avoid that.
Repeat after me: “I am not Stefan Roser. I am not Stefan Roser. I am definitely not Stefan Roser.”
Edit: Here’s one more with some of the harder hits from the year.
Look at that windshield just pop out. Crazy.
[H/T Bridge to Gantry for the video with the Ferrari as a thumbnail; Nick Ebben for the Auto Addiction video]
Contact the author at stef.schrader@jalopnik.com.