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Message: <blockquote data-quote="OSFlanker" data-source="post: 51558" data-attributes="member: 12">Myth Nordschleife    “The Nürburgring is the most beautiful and the most difficult circuit in the world," said one Hans Stuck - father of BMW driver Hans-Joachim Stuck, one of the seven BMW drivers in this year's 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring.25.359 kilometres (in 2005, again, a slightly shortened version will be used), 33 left and 40 right-hand corners, opened on 27th September 1925, raced on for the first time on 19th June 1927 - impressive facts. But it’s not only the facts that add to the fascination of the lond, undulating track, it’s also the emotion.Any driver that has won on the track has earned himself a place in motorsport’s history books. Drivers such as Jacky Ickx and Jackie Stewart have won on the Nordschleife, wins that helped them to achieve almost legendary status.“I am happy and proud that my name is engraved on the winners list of the Nürburgring. It is one of the most beautiful memories I have from my time as a racing driver,” explained three-time Formula One World Champion, Jackie Stewart, as he recalled his win in 1968.It was Jackie Stewart who first named it the 'Green Hell', a name still used today as a mark of respect. The name is fitting for a circuit which will provide a driver with a fist full of challenges. Up to 17 percent steep uphill passages, eleven percent downhill sections, jumps, long straights, fast passages full of corners - the old Nürburgring takes a driver from one extreme to the other, it is the ultimate challenge as far as racing circuits are concerned.The characteristics and length of the track even earned the respect of Formula One legend, Juan Manuel Fangio, “For me the Nürburgring is the circuit, on which a racing driver can achieve amazing things, as long as he knows the circuit like the back of his hand.”The Nordschleife, however, wouldn’t be known as the 'Green Hell', if it wasn’t dangerous. In the 76-year history of the circuit, 78 drivers have lost their lives. Therefore, the circuit has undergone various modifications over the years.The first big rebuild took place after the Formula One drivers boycotted the 1970 Grand Prix. Consequently, with the changes made, the circuit was not only made safer but also a lot faster.Formula One finally bade good bye to the Nordschleife after the fiery inferno of Niki Lauda’s accident in 1976, it was only as a result of luck and the bravery of his colleagues that the Austrian lived to tell the tale.In 1984, the Nürburgring GmbH opened a completely new Grand Prix track, measuring 4.556 kilometres in length. It was an ultra-modern circuit boasting the latest safety standards; unfortunately it didn’t reflect the flair and emotion of the old track and was removed from the Formula One calendar a year later. Formula One didn’t return until 1995.The Nordschleife didn’t disappear from motorsport, the circuit is far too demanding for that to happen. The Nürburgring has been a permanent fixture on the long-distance racing calendar for over 30 years.In 2005, BMW will make up part of the grid for the 24 Hour Race with two BMW M3 GTRs. BMW will do everything possible, at what BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen, calls “one of the most demanding circuits in the whole world,” to win in front of the expected 200,000 spectators.</blockquote>

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