Well, we finally got to go to the Nurburgring as part of our grand tour of France, Switzerland and Germany, this summer, although it was in the Megane 225 and not the Caterham.

 

Took in some of the passes and such on the way through Switzerland, including the Grand St. Bernard Pass, where we passed into Italy for the afternoon to have a look around on top of the mountains. Also spent a lot of time in Interlaken, where you can get trains up to Jungfraujoch, the highest station in Europe. It was expensive, but definitely worth it - it's the only place I know of you can get those kinds of views without being an experienced climber/mountaneer. If you're going to the region, put some money aside for it!

 

From there we went up through Germany, the highlight being the Nurburgring! We'd timed it deliberately so that we'd be there for three days when the old Nordschliefe circuit would be open for public (Touristfahren) days. The downside was that there was a huge classic car event at the GP circuit, so for Saturday and Sunday it was crazy busy! If anyone has any photo's of these days, drop me a line, as I can't find any online. Later on Sunday, and all day Monday however were brilliant. The whole place has an incredible buzz to it and every petrolhead should make the pilgrimageat least once. The best time we managed in the Megane was 9:50, bridge to gantry with a bit slowing down for an oil spill, which is ok, but not that fast. Originally I'd aimed for 10 minutes, as I'd only ever seen the circuit on GT4, and I had to drive the car back home afterward!

 

Having done the circuit on the PS2 helped, but what you don't understand are the gradients and cambers involved. The compression through Foxhole is something else, and the sheer speeds you get up to on some of the straights is mindblowing. You really wouldn't believe you can have so much fun and it not be illegal!

 

Planning a trip for next summer already, trying to get a group together!