Opened on May 12, 1984, the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Today, it is a diverse home for motorsport events, festivals and sporting events - it was created in response to pressing questions about safety in motorsport.

The exciting history of its origins is accompanied by legendary names and still provides the basis for the most diverse Nürburgring of all time, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans from all over the world every year.

A chronological journey through time - to which we add a new chapter every day:

Safety discussions in the 1970s lead to the redesign of the Nürburgring
The world of motorsport in the 1970s: race car technology was changing, and drivers and organizers were moving towards shorter race tracks that met the latest safety requirements - requirements that the 22-kilometer Nordschleife could no longer meet at the time. Hardly solvable safety problems and high organizational costs made the legendary track increasingly uneconomical for the racing series. After the prestigious Formula 1 also moved away in 1976, many questions arose about the future of the world-famous Nürburgring, which had formed the economic basis of an entire region since 1927. Various options were discussed - in the end, the only option was to build a new arena circuit that would offer drivers, organizers and spectators the best conditions.

From a natural track to the most diverse Nürburgring of all time
In the late 1970s, the world's leading experts in race track construction set about redesigning the Nürburgring. They quickly developed innovative designs for a modern and safe Grand Prix circuit that would coexist with the historic Nordschleife. An originally proposed track layout of almost seven kilometers with two pit lanes was rejected for cost reasons.

The decision-makers finally agreed on a new construction costing around 80 million DM, which was built on the site of the previous start and finish area and the old south loop. The final design envisaged a 4.542-kilometer Grand Prix circuit that could be used both on its own and in combination with the Nordschleife. Several citizens' initiatives were formed to preserve this economically and culturally important track, including the "Yes to the Nürburgring" association, founded by Otto Flimm. This played a decisive role in securing funding for the construction project.

The first spade was turned for a construction period of 30 months
In November 1981, Dr. Bernhard Vogel, the former Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, performed the groundbreaking ceremony, signaling the start of construction for the new circuit at the Nürburgring. Over the next 30 months, a modern track was built, meeting high standards of landscape and environmental protection from the outset. The Südschleife (South Loop) as well as the Start and Finish loops, integral parts of the Nürburgring from its inception, were replaced in favor of the new track.

Despite extensive construction work, motorsport in the Eifel region remained vibrant. To continue hosting races, the Nordschleife (North Loop) was shortened and received its own pit lane at Tribune 13, along with additional facilities for race control.

Grand opening in 1984 and surprise at the opening race
On May 12, 1984, the new Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit was officially opened. The newly inaugurated facilities also included a press center, a motorsport museum and improved facilities for teams and event organizers. The highlight of the opening celebrations was a race with identical Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 cars. The field of drivers consisted of selected, renowned motorsport legends such as Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, Alain Prost and Jack Brabham.

The race, which lasted twelve laps, ended with a surprising winner: Ayrton Senna, still an up-and-coming, relatively unknown driver at the time, stepped in at short notice for Emmerson Fittipaldi and won the race impressively. With this success, Senna wrote himself into the annals of the "new Nürburgring" as the first winner ever.

New opportunities, new events, big victories
Since the opening of the Nürburgring's new Grand Prix circuit in 1984, the staging of motorsport, music and sporting events has established itself in the Eifel region. The modernized track also brought back Formula 1 in October 1984 and served as the stage for the season finale of the newly founded German Touring Car Championship (DTM). 

In the following years, the Nürburgring expanded its event portfolio considerably. In 1985, the now legendary "Rock am Ring" music festival was launched. One year later, the Truck Grand Prix made its debut, attracting further streams of visitors to the Eifel. Over the following four decades, the Nürburgring enriched the event and motorsport world with a variety of other events, including international guest appearances such as the FIA WEC and the EDM festival New Horizons.

A special moment in the history of the circuit was Michael Schumacher's victory in the 1995 Formula 1 race, when he became the first German F1 driver to triumph at the Nürburgring. Schumacher, the seven-time world champion, recorded a total of five victories at the Nürburgring, which he affectionately called "his living room". The deep connection between Schumacher and the Nürburgring was honored in 2007 by naming a section of the track after him, the Michael-Schumacher-S.

The new Nürburgring in the course of time
Since its reopening, the Nürburgring has continuously improved its infrastructure to meet the ever-increasing demands placed on a race track and event location. In the 1990s, medical care was significantly improved and raised to a new level with the establishment of a new Medical Center.

In 2001, the facility underwent a significant modernization when the existing pit facilities and the race management building were replaced by a comprehensive new building. These new facilities still meet the high standards of modern motorsport today. Further significant progress was made in 2020 with the construction of the new Race Control. Equipped with a 30 square meter video wall consisting of 35 screens, it ensures optimal monitoring and control of the races, but also serves as a control center for other events.

In 2002, the track was extended to include the AMG Arena, adding a challenging section to the Grand Prix circuit and extending it from the original 4.542 kilometers to 5.148 kilometers. Another milestone was the completion of the extensive new building in 2009, which still offers a versatile infrastructure for public and corporate events as well as for day visitors. This includes the Nürburgring hotels and restaurants as well as a boulevard with various stores, an event arena, a kart track and a museum as well as the new BMW M Power main grandstand, directly on the start and finish straight.

The Nürburgring today: event location for motorsport and events of all kinds
In its anniversary year, the Nürburgring will once again attract hundreds of thousands of spectators to a wide range of events with its modern Grand Prix circuit and versatile infrastructure. In 2024, racing series such as the DTM, the ADAC GT Masters, the GT World Challenge and the IDM, as well as established events such as the International ADAC Truck Grand Prix, the Nürburgring Classic, the Ferrari Racing Days and the BELMOT Oldtimer Grand Prix will thrill spectators. 

The highlight of the endurance calendar, the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring, will once again attract fans from all over the world who want to experience the unique atmosphere of the combination of the Grand Prix circuit and the Nordschleife. Just one week after the motorsport marathon, Rock am Ring transforms the paddock into a vibrant festival arena, followed by Rad am Ring, a challenging cycling event that makes the participants sweat. The infrastructure of the Grand Prix circuit is also the focal point of this event.

This year, the fascination of the Nürburgring is once again fed by the combination of tradition and modernity. From the Grand Prix circuit and the Nordschleife. The latter still has its big anniversary ahead of it when the Nürburgring turns 100 in just three years' time and is successfully preparing for the next century thanks to the Grand Prix circuit.

September 1984
The DTM hosts its season finale on the new Grand Prix track. Known at the time as the German Production Car Championship (DPM), the race is held as part of the Super Sprint Weekend.

Participants include drivers such as Olaf Manthey, Harald Grohs, and Volker Strycek, who gets to celebrate winning the championship in its inaugural year. The race at the Nürburgring is won by Peter John in a Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

This year, the DTM – just like the Grand Prix track – is celebrating its 40th anniversary. From August 16 to 18, important championship points will be contested over the 3.6 kilometers of the sprint track. 

May 1985
Just one year after the opening of the Grand Prix circuit, a now legendary festival also celebrates its premiere: "Rock am Ring". 17 bands thrill the 75,000 visitors - all performing on a single stage. Big names such as U2, Joe Cocker, Chris de Burgh and Marius Müller-Westernhagen perform at the first edition.

In the following years, "Rock am Ring", whose distinctive letters RAR become a real trademark on the rear windows of arriving cars, will repeatedly bring the highlights of the music scene to the Eifel. The Nürburgring transforms itself into a vibrant festival area, as this aerial photo from 1999 shows.

This year, fans can also look forward to some real hits - the line-up for June 7 to 9 has been confirmed. The bands around the headliners Die Ärzte, Green Day and Måneskin will once again heat things up on stage. 

All information and tickets are available here.

1986
A thunderous start in XXL: the 1st International ADAC Truck Grand Prix brings a new racing format to Germany. With "Power, Action, Fun, Music" and perfect summer weather, the premiere attracts over 70,000 spectators. 51 drivers from eight nations duel it out on the track - the atmosphere in the stands is impressive.

To this day, fans get up close to the action: in the paddock and on the Grid Walk, visitors experience the PS giants up close.

The successful concept continues - thousands are expected again this year. They can look forward to thrilling motorsport and an entertaining mix of music, trade fair and festival. The supporting program offers something for everyone, from the trucker parade to the fan village and the children's area.

The 37th edition of the International ADAC Truck Grand Prix will be held this year from July 11 to 14, 2024.

All information and tickets are available here.

1995
In 1995, Michael Schumacher became the first German driver in Formula 1 to secure victory at the Nürburgring. It was one of his most emotional victories of the season on the way to his second world championship title. He would go on to stand at the top of the podium at the Ring four more times. In 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006, he was the first to cross the finish line at the same place, in his "living room".

A very special honor followed in 2007. He was the only racing driver ever to have his own section of the Grand Prix circuit dedicated to him: the Michael Schumacher S. To this day, it commemorates his extraordinary achievements and his special connection to the Ring, which will always remain an important part of Schumacher's history.

At the same time, Michael Schumacher is an integral part of the history of the Nürburgring. Visitors to the ring°werk motorsport experience museum can admire a life-size figure of the Kerpen-born driver up close - in his unique jubilant pose, of course.