What is Touristenfahrten?
During designated Tourist Drives (Touristenfahrten), the legendary Nordschleife opens to the general public. Anyone with a road-legal vehicle, a valid driving license, and a lap ticket can drive the circuit. It is not a track day—legally, it is a one-way German toll road without speed limits in most areas. As such, normal road laws apply, including the strict German Road Traffic Act (StVO).
Essential Driving Rules & Code of Conduct
Because the Nordschleife operates as a public toll road, there are critical regulations you must follow to avoid immediate track bans, steep fines, or liability:
- Overtaking on the Left Only: Passing on the right is strictly illegal under StVO. You must wait behind slower vehicles until they indicate right and stay right to allow you to pass on the left.
- Right Turn Indicator is Mandatory: If you see faster traffic approaching in your mirrors, activate your right turn signal and stay on the right side of the track. This indicates that you have seen them and are yielding the racing line.
- Speed Limits & Yellow Flags: While most of the Nordschleife has no speed limit, temporary limits apply in specific spots (e.g. 50 km/h or 130 km/h under yellow flags/hazard zones). Overtaking is strictly banned under a yellow flag. Violation results in immediate track bans and police involvement.
- Towing Eye Installed: Before entering the track, you must ensure your vehicle's towing eye is securely screwed in. If you break down or slide into the grass, track operators will tow you, and they require this point to secure their rig.
- No Laptops or Timing Devices: Standard stopwatch timing is banned. Operating a lap timer, stopwatch, or datalogger visible to the driver is strictly prohibited. Dash cams must be mounted inside the cabin and cannot face forward to record laps for commercial use.
- Noise Limits: The dynamic noise limit is 95 dB. Vehicles exceeding this limit will be flagged and banned from track entry without a refund.
Accident & Crash Liability
The Nordschleife has very narrow grass run-offs. If you crash, the financial consequences are entirely your responsibility:
- Guardrail Damage Approx. €150-€200 per meter, plus posts (€80/post) and assembly labor.
- Safety Car & Marshals Safety car dispatch fees start at €150. Attendance and marshal fees apply per hour.
- Towing & Recovery If your car cannot be driven off, the recovery truck tow starts at €300+.
- Emergency Hotline +49 (0) 8000 302 112 Save this number to your contacts. Do NOT call the standard 112 for track-only incidents.
Lap Ticket Pricing & Green Hell Cards
Laps must be purchased online via the official Nürburgring app or at the ticket office located at the track entrance paddock. Laps are loaded onto a digital Green Hell Card (or scanned via QR code):
- Weekday (Monday to Thursday): €30 (~£26) per lap.
- Weekend (Friday to Sunday) & German Public Holidays: €35 (~£30) per lap.
- Season Ticket (Jahreskarte): Approx. €3,000 for unlimited laps throughout the season.