Learn to drive the Ring

It’s about this time of year that we start to feel that strange, inevitable pull to the Eiffel region of Germany. It’s Nürburgring season, and if you haven’t ever been there before you owe it to yourself to make the pilgrimage in 2007. Whether you drive a Peugeot 106 GTi or a Ferrari F430 you’ll have an unforgettable time on the most beautiful and challenging circuit in the world.

However, the public hours are getting scarcer as manufacturers greedily gobble up track time to hone their latest and greatest sportscars, and they’re getting busier, too. Your first laps at the ‘Ring are always intimidating so this increase in traffic is a concern.

There is an answer, though. In the late summer of ’06 we attended the ‘Motorsport Akademie Nürburgring’, essentially a training session for everyone from seasoned ‘Ring fans to nervous novices. The programme is simple, in the morning you have 2-hours of ‘guided’ driving, following host Jaco Velders or one of his experienced instructors around the circuit, learning the perfect lines and gradually building up your pace. Then in the afternoon there’s a whopping 4-hours of free lapping. This is a fantastic opportunity to drive on the circuit with very little traffic and to enjoy continuous full laps – including the awesome Döttinger-Höhe straight.

You also have the option to gain a German National A race licence if you attend a theory session the day before the practical training. The cost of the programme, including the theory classes, one night accommodation with breakfast and dinner and the 6-hours of track time is £595. In 2007 there are three Motorsport Akademie Nürburgring events, running between 26 – 27 April, 26 – 27 July and 13 – 14 September. For more information or to book please call Amy at RMA on 0845 260 4545 or email amy@rmatrackdays.com