Racing News

The ban on GT3 cars on the Nordschleife at the Nürburgring has been lifted, but restrictions have been imposed on the cars and the circuit.

GT3 cars along with race cars from other GT classes were banned from the Nordschleife in response to an accident in the March 28 VLN race in which a Nissan GT3 car became airborne in the Flugplatz section of the circuit, went over a barrier, and killed a spectator.

As it has lifted the restrictions, DMSB, the German motorsport association, has imposed a number of conditions: A five percent reduction in engine power will be imposed on the fastest classes; speed in the Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz and Antoniusbuche sections will be reduced—the reduction will be achieved by imposing a 200 kph speed limit in the areas a few hundred meters before these parts of the track and a 250 kph limit on the Döttinger Höhe straight; there will be heavy fines for breaking the speed limits; and there will be limited access to spectator areas at Flugplatz, Schwedenkreuz, Metzgesfeld and Pflanzgarten until reconstruction work is completed.

Autosport.com quotes DMSB chairman Hans Stuck as follows: “With these measures that were accepted, the events planned on the Nordschleife for the upcoming weeks can be held."

Stuck added, "All the participants agreed that everything had to be done to avoid accidents in which spectators could be harmed.

"Now we have decided to implement measures to allow these cars to race again, albeit with certain restrictions.

"At the same time, the DMSB will install an expert commission to search for mid-term solutions that can be implemented after the season.

"These could include comprehensive changes in the regulations as well as possible construction work on the track."—Brian S. Morgan