The Nurburgring Speed Limit Rule May Be Overturned

The decision to put a stop to lap records on the Nurburgring by way of speed limits caused a wave of disappointment among car enthusiasts. Even more so for the PR departments of the manufacturers who wish to go after bragging rights. Seems that the unpopular ruling might be overturned.

According to Road and Track magazine, a senior auto industry source has told them that the current owner and operator of the circuit, Capricorn Nurburgring GmbH, is planning on retracting the speed limit restriction on manufacturer testing.

As we’ve already explained when the speed limit ruling was imposed last month and confirmed by Nurburgring CEO Carsten Schumacher, the decision was triggered after a March 2015 VLN endurance racing accident that led to the death of a spectator when a Nissan GT-R Nismo piloted by Jann Mardenborough went airborne on the Flugplatz section of the circuit. The driver was uninjured. 

The restrictions were applied to certain areas of the track that might result in a similar occurrence, including the portion where the March accident transpired, quashing any future manufacturer-backed record lap runs. Should the speed limit ruling persist, the Porsche 918 Spyder would remain the fastest production street car to officially set a time. 

Video from Grid Media.