Per DailySportsCar, temporary measures have been put in place by the Deutsche Motor Sport Bund to allow the banned race classes to resume racing at the Nürburgring. The bans have now been lifted, but now we have a 5% reduction in power, limits on fan access, and most peculiarly, speed limits on some sections.
Here's another phrase I never thought I'd have to write: "speed limits at the Nürburgring." The 'Ring, after all, is on bucket lists everywhere for the fact that it's a limitless road that is open to the public.
The DMSB is the governing body over much of German motorsport, including the VLN races at the Nürburgring. Given that the DMSB is running up against a short deadline to ensure that the entire entry list for next month's Nürburgring 24 Hours can race, it makes sense for them to put temporary measures in place that allow any bans on race classes to be lifted. The DMSB is clear that these aren't permanent restrictions. They are in place until both the DMSB and the prosecutors conclude their investigation of the fatal accident that occurred during VLN Race #1.
At that time, the DMSB will be able to craft a more long-term solution. As shocking as adding speed limits to the Nürburgring sounds, that combined with the other temporary measures the DMSB instated make sense.
The Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz, and Antiniusbuche sections of the track will now be limited to 200 kph (124 mph), and Döttinger Höhe will be limited to 250 kph (155 mph). Speed will be verified by GPS and stiff penalties will be in place for violating the limit in these sections.
The top classes only will get a reduction in power by 5%. None of the public statements on this change have announced which classes in particular will get this change, although it's safe to say that many of the classes that were temporarily banned were the likely target of this rule.
Furthermore, access to the spectator areas at Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz, Metzgesfeld, and Pflanzgarten will be limited until work is done there. Changes will be made to those sections to make those spectator areas more safe.
The DMSB will continue to work towards a long-term solution to the issues of spectator and competitor safety at the ring. "This could also include comprehensive regulation changes as [well as] possible construction," said DMSB President Hans-Joachim Stuck in a statement released by the group today, as reprinted by DailySportsCar.
Stuck also confirmed that an expert committee was being formed to evaluate more permanent solutions.
The full translated statement from the DMSB can be read at DailySportsCar, or you can access the original statement in German on the DMSB's website.
Photo credit: Newspress
Contact the author at stef.schrader@jalopnik.com.