Photo: fastcar.co.uk
After a Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 racecar killed a spectator and injured many more back in March, speed limits were imposed on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. But these limits are to be lifted in 2016 after no less than seven alterations will be made to the track known as the Green Hell.
According to Capricorn Nürburgring GmbH, the company that owns the circuit, seven measures are enough to make the Nurburgring Nordschleife a much safer motorsport complex for both racing drivers and spectators. One of these changes will modify the layout of the track. The rest is aimed at spectator safety, as you can read below.
Change #1 – Yes, the five bumps stretched across the 1,640-foot area around Flugplatz will be smoothed down. That means less air for drivers at Quiddelbacher Hohe and no jumps at Brunnchen or Dottinger Hohe. But this is where the horrific Nissan GT-R crash happened, so we have to accept this change whether we motorsport enthusiasts like it or not.
Change #2 – The stretch of tarmac from Dottinger Hohe to Antoniusbuche is a fan favorite. Better known as Gantry to Bridge, this section is right next to the B258 public road. This is the place where 700 meters of safety fencing will be built, to protect the traffic.
Change #3 – Unfortunately, the exclusion zone on the right-hand side of the area known as Schwedenkreuz will be made permanent.
Change #4 – A spectator fence will be erected at Hocheichen, parallel to a gravel-laden road that runs there. As it seems, it'll be placed right behind the existing FIA fence.
Change #5 – The FIA fence protecting the Metzgesfeld campsite will be double for increased spectator protection and better protection of the camping pitch. The crash barrier will be moved closer to the track.
Change #6 – Wippermann stretch will see the addition of more catch fencing on the right-hand side of the track. At the present moment, there's only one layer of guardrail and a massive drop. An existing gap in the audience retention fence will be closed.
Change #7 – At Stefan-Bellof-S there'll be an additional FIA-grade fence on the right side of the track. Currently, S-B-S only has a guardrail and a huge drop on the right-hand side. The deliberate gap on the left side of the circuit will be left as is.
UPDATE: The FIA gave the green light for the presented safety measures at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Change #1 – Yes, the five bumps stretched across the 1,640-foot area around Flugplatz will be smoothed down. That means less air for drivers at Quiddelbacher Hohe and no jumps at Brunnchen or Dottinger Hohe. But this is where the horrific Nissan GT-R crash happened, so we have to accept this change whether we motorsport enthusiasts like it or not.
Change #2 – The stretch of tarmac from Dottinger Hohe to Antoniusbuche is a fan favorite. Better known as Gantry to Bridge, this section is right next to the B258 public road. This is the place where 700 meters of safety fencing will be built, to protect the traffic.
Change #3 – Unfortunately, the exclusion zone on the right-hand side of the area known as Schwedenkreuz will be made permanent.
Change #4 – A spectator fence will be erected at Hocheichen, parallel to a gravel-laden road that runs there. As it seems, it'll be placed right behind the existing FIA fence.
Change #5 – The FIA fence protecting the Metzgesfeld campsite will be double for increased spectator protection and better protection of the camping pitch. The crash barrier will be moved closer to the track.
Change #6 – Wippermann stretch will see the addition of more catch fencing on the right-hand side of the track. At the present moment, there's only one layer of guardrail and a massive drop. An existing gap in the audience retention fence will be closed.
Change #7 – At Stefan-Bellof-S there'll be an additional FIA-grade fence on the right side of the track. Currently, S-B-S only has a guardrail and a huge drop on the right-hand side. The deliberate gap on the left side of the circuit will be left as is.
UPDATE: The FIA gave the green light for the presented safety measures at the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
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