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How to drive the Nürburgring Nordschleife: a beginner’s guide
How to book a Tourist Drive, helpful rules and expert tips to know before your first lap and about the Porsche Track Experience
September 1, 2026 | 13
min read
Anyone with a road-legal car can drive the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Here’s how it works, need-to-knows about driving on the circuit, as well as how to improve your skills with the Porsche Track Experience
Fast facts: Nürburgring Nordschleife Tourist Drives • The Nürburgring Nordschleife is considered one of the greatest race circuits and biggest challenges in world motorsport • The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a 20.832km circuit in western Germany with 73 corners and more than 300 metres of elevation change • Members of the public can drive it in a road-legal car or motorcycle during official Touristenfahrten , or Tourist Drive, sessions • No advance appointment is required. Drivers can buy credits online or at the circuit and attend during published opening hours • German road traffic rules apply. Drivers must overtake only on the left, obey displayed speed limits and carry their driving licence and vehicle registration documents • Vehicles registered outside Germany must have proof of insurance that covers driving on the Nordschleife • Discover tips and advice on how to drive the circuit from legendary Porsche race car and development drivers such as Timo Bernhard, Kévin Estre and Lars Kern • The Porsche Track Experience Nürburgring is an advanced driving programme that helps maximise your time on the circuit and helps you become a better driver on the Nürburgring and when driving on any racetrack In a mountainous area of western Germany, close to the border with Belgium, lies a place of fable. A long and winding stretch of Tarmac that snakes its way through emerald-green woodland. But this is much more than a road. The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a test of your ability, nerve and skill, whether you are a motor racing champion or willing amateur. A place universally acknowledged as one of the great tests for both car and driver. • Timo Bernhard on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife • How to drive the Nürburgring’s greatest corners • Porsche masterclass: how to drive at the Nürburgring • A Porsche track day at the Nürburgring • Become a better driver with Porsche Track Experience Master Training • A Porsche guide to Europe’s top 5 racetracks • Find out about the 911 GT3 100 Jahre Nürburgring: a tribute to the Green Hell The Nordschleife circuit at the Nürburgring is considered one of the great challenges for drivers, whether professional or amateur Photo: Porsche Often, when you read about a new Porsche sportscar, you also learn of its exploits on the Nordschleife. It’s the ultimate benchmark. And there’s good reason why stickers of the simple outline of its track layout adorn cars all over the world, stuck on windows, rear pillars or boots, by enthusiasts. Because the Nürburgring is special. But what is the Nürburgring Nordschleife, why is it seen as such a great test of skill… and how can you visit and drive on it too? What is the Nürburgring Nordschleife? The Nürburgring in Germany’s Eifel region is renowned as one of the greatest venues in motorsport. It consists of the historic 20.832 km-long Nordschleife and modern 5.148 km-long Grand Prix circuit. A mecca for drivers and fans since 1927, it’s a place whose name raises the temperature and triggers emotions. The Nürburgring Nordschleife consists of two circuits – the 20.832 km-long Nordschleife and the 5.148 km-long Grand Prix track. A lap of the Nordschleife incorporates 73 corners Map: © Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG A unique and dramatic challenge for professionals and amateurs alike, the Nürburgring actually consists of two circuits. A modern Grand Prix circuit, and the historic and monumental Nordschleife (in English, the ‘North Loop’). Back when it hosted its first race – for motorbikes – on 18 June 1927, the Nordschleife was then a 28.265 km-long (17.6 miles) track that demanded a level of focus, intensity and skill that immediately made it stand out. A few kilometres have been chopped off over the years, but these qualities endure today as the circuit fast approaches its centenary. It remains a yardstick for manufacturers like Porsche for testing and proving their road cars, still hosts races – including the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours – and trackdays as well as being a place of pilgrimage for the Porsche community, car lovers and more. Where is the Nürburgring Nordschleife? The Nürburgring Nordschleife is situated in the Eifel mountain region of western Germany. It’s approximately 60 km (around 37 miles) west of Koblenz and 60 km south west of Bonn. The Belgian border is about 50 km (around 30 miles) to the west. The Nürburgring’s address is Otto-Flimm-Straße, 53520 Nürburg/Eifel, Germany. In 2027, the Nürburgring will celebrate its 100th birthday. Porsche has been using the circuit to develop both its road cars and race cars – like this 718 RSK Spyder race car in 1957 – for many decades Photo: Porsche How long is the Nürburgring Nordschleife? When the Nürburgring opened in 1927, it combined two ‘loops’ – the Nordschleife and Südschleife (or ‘South Loop’) and measured 28.265 km. The latter hasn’t been in use for racing since 1971 and these days is a mix of public road and woodland path. However, it’s this part of the Nürburgring on which the Grand Prix Circuit was built, which was completed in 1984. Today the GP Circuit is 5.148 km long (3.2 miles), has 17 corners and hosts events like DTM touring car races as well as being part of the Nürburgring 24 Hours course. As for the Nordschleife, its length today is 20.832 km (a little under 13 miles) with 73 corners, including some of the best-known in the world of motorsport, like the sweeping, banked Karussell turn. In a further indication of the challenge that driving the Nordschleife presents drivers, the difference in elevation across the circuit is a huge 307.7 metres (well over a thousand feet). Pure concentration is required for every second of your entire lap. Why is the Nürburgring Nordschleife called the ‘Green Hell’? You may have heard of the popular nickname that’s been granted to the Nürburgring Nordschleife – the ‘Green Hell’. The man behind it just happens to be one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, the legendary Sir Jackie Stewart. The three-time former F1 world champion – himself nicknamed ‘The Flying Scot’ – coined the term when chatting with another icon of motorsport, Graham Hill, ahead of the German Grand Prix in August 1968. “It’s going to be the Green Hell this weekend,” he told Hill, as they looked out over the rainy, tree-lined track. The name – ‘die Grüne Hölle ’ in German – stuck and has been associated with the Nürburgring Nordschleife ever since. In the end, Sir Jackie ended up having the last laugh, winning the race despite driving with a broken wrist. The Grand Prix circuit at the Nürburgring is featured in many of the track’s best-known races, including the Nürburgring 24 Hours Photo: Porsche How can you drive the Nürburgring Nordschleife in your Porsche? There are so many reasons that make the Nürburgring Nordschleife a must-visit for any true enthusiast – chief among them is the ‘Touristenfahrten ’, or Tourist Drive Nürburgring There is no single circuit-wide maximum speed during a Tourist Drive, but German road traffic law applies and all displayed speed limits must be observed. Overtaking on the right is prohibited. While you’re not allowed to race other vehicles, you are sharing a hugely challenging circuit with other cars, including supercars and motorbikes with drivers and riders with a mix of experience. The Nordschleife can be unforgiving, but it’s an experience like no other. It’s important that you follow these rules for your safety: • Tourist Drives are not races or timed track sessions • Filming and photography while driving is prohibited • If your car is leaking oil, coolant or fuel you must not continue driving • Drivers must notify track staff about contamination or debris • Cars must comply with German road-legal requirements • The official 2026 emergency number for the Nürburgring is +49 (0) 2691 302 9111 Before driving at the Nürburgring, check directly with your insurer to confirm that your policy covers driving on the Nordschleife during a Tourist Drive. Carrying proof of insurance is compulsory for vehicles registered outside Germany, but this doesn’t itself guarantee that your policy covers an incident on the circuit. Before you head to the Nürburgring always: • Check the opening times for a Tourist Drive as the circuit is periodically closed for events • Confirm your insurance cover • Bring your driving licence and vehicle registration documents • Check your tyres, brakes, oil and coolant • Fill your car with fuel before entering • Check the weather and current circuit conditions • Familiarise yourself with the flag and warning-light procedures Another popular method of experiencing the Nordschleife is to book a passenger drive with a professional driver. Colloquially known as ‘Ring taxis’, a number of different companies offer this option. They can be costly but to less seasoned drivers are seen by many as the safest way to drive the circuit as it deserves to be driven. Porsche Ambassador and Porsche Motorsport legend, Timo Bernhard, holds the record for the fastest lap time ever recorded around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. In June 2018, he recorded a time of 5 minutes 19.546 seconds in the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo race car Photo: Porsche How to maximise your Nürburgring Nordschleife potential with Porsche Track Experience One of the best ways to make the most of driving on the Nordschleife is to book a session with the Porsche Track Experience Which safety tips should you consider when driving on the Nordschleife? As mentioned, the normal rules of the road in Germany apply on the Nordschleife. Safety first rather than trying to drive at outright pace is the key. Only overtake on the left, always be aware of fast-moving cars approaching from behind and speed limits, where indicated, need to be observed. You need to carry your driving licence and car registration documents with you and owners of cars not registered in Germany will need proof of insurance. And make sure you have filled up with fuel in your car before you start your lap… Five expert tips on how to drive on the Nordschleife Before you drive on the Nordschleife, a few simple pieces of advice can help you make the most of it. And who better to advise you than some of the people who know the circuit best? Here are five tips to help you on your way, including from legendary Porsche race car and development drivers. Nürburgring’s famous ‘Touristenfahrten’, or Tourist Drive, allows ordinary drivers to sample the legendary track for themselves Photo: Porsche • Always respect the track Before you embark on your Nordschleife, here’s some sage advice from a legend of Porsche Motorsport. “Never lose respect – that’s the be-all and end-all,” says Timo Bernhard of driving on the circuit outright Nordschleife lap record – knows as much as anyone about the circuit. Every lap and each corner • Take your time to work your way up to your limit “Gradually work your way up to the limit,” advises Timo. “Right when you think you have everything under control, a small shock can set you back.” The Nordschleife isn’t a place for making hasty decisions. First-time drivers in particular need to get to know both the track and what their car can do on it. Take your time, don’t panic, keep it smooth and put into practice what you’ve learned previously on every lap you make. • Be prepared to adapt to changing conditions The weather in the Eifel mountains can be unpredictable throughout the year, but especially in the period from late Autumn to early Spring. On a circuit of this length and with so many changes in elevation, you might experience pouring rain in one section and moments later be faced with bright, low sunshine – both can affect the view of the track in front of you. You’ll need to learn to adapt, quickly. The Caracciola-Karussell is the most famous of all the 73 corners on the Nordschleife. A banked hairpin, it arrives after a series of high-speed straights and tests even the most experienced drivers Photo: Porsche • Follow your instincts Porsche is one of a number of car manufacturers who use the Nordschleife to prove the performance credentials of their vehicles during their development. Porsche development driver, Lars Kern, has completed countless laps of the circuit over the years, as well as grabbing a number of headline-grabbing lap records too. The long, winding section between Hohe Acht leading up to Döttinger Höhe is one of Lars’ favourite parts of the course. “On the straights, you start to think about your speed and braking,” Lars explains. “In this section, you’re just in the flow, corner after corner, and it’s all about your positioning, how you go into the corner and then rotate the car. It’s instinctive, and that’s what I really like.” • How to take on the Nordschleife’s most famous corner – the Karussell There’s no corner in the world quite like the famous Caracciola-Karussell, says Timo Bernhard. Turn 13 on the Nordschleife, it comes after a series of high-speed sections and, with the very best drivers averaging speeds of over 190 km/h (118 mph) over the entire lap, the banked Karussell hairpin demands a dramatic change in your approach, with the potential to disrupt your rhythm. “You can take different lines and approaches there,” says Kévin Estre, Porsche Factory Driver and the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship drivers’ champion, alongside André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor. “The transitions between the concrete slabs are anything but smooth. The car and driver get really shaken up – just like on a carousel at a funfair. It’s very difficult to keep the throttle pedal constant. The car jumps, skips sideways and sometimes even bottoms out.” “Many underestimate this section and they pay the price,” warns Timo. Accomplished Porsche drivers are able to improve their driving skills and knowledge of the circuit with highly-skilled Porsche instructors by taking part in the Porsche Track Experience Nürburgring Photo: Porsche Nürburgring 24 Hours: the best way to watch the pros take on the Nordschleife There’s another way to experience the Nürburgring without driving on the circuit itself – go watch a race. There are races throughout the year, although if you’re going to choose one, nothing beats the Nürburgring 24 Hours. It debuted in 1970 and is usually held every May, taking place on both the Nordschleife and GP circuits and at the 2026 race welcomed over 350,000 spectators over the weekend. Porsche has a proud record at the event, winning it 13 times, most recently in 2021 when Matteo Cairoli, Michael Christensen and Kévin Estre triumphed in the Manthey Racing 911 GT3 R.
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