The Nürburgring is 99 years old today!

      One of the most famous tracks in the world, the legendary Nürburgring, is celebrating its 99th anniversary today. Located near the castle in the German town of Nürburg, the racetrack was designed by the architectural firm of Gustav Eichler and has undergone numerous changes since then. The official opening took place on June 18, 1927 – on the same day, a motorcycle race was held there, followed by the first car race the next day. In 1951, the North Loop hosted the German Grand Prix of the new Formula 1 championship. The configuration of the Nordschleife has changed several times, with efforts made to enhance safety, but even in its revised form, Jackie Stewart called it the "Green Hell" after his victory in 1968. In 1970, drivers refused to race on the dangerous track, and the Nordschleife was significantly modified, after which the German Grand Prix was held there for another six years, but racing there was too risky – due to its great length, it was impossible to ensure marshals along its entire length, and fire and medical vehicles often took a long time to reach the accident site. In 1984, a new Grand Prix track was introduced at the Nürburgring – specifically for Formula 1, meeting all safety standards, but many drivers found it boring, although it hosted several events, including the European Grand Prix, the Luxembourg Grand Prix, and the Eifel Grand Prix. According to unofficial estimates, over the 99 years, the Nürburgring has claimed the lives of more than two hundred drivers, most of whom were amateurs who decided to drive on the North Loop in their cars or motorcycles. This opportunity still exists today – you just need to have a regular driver's license and buy a ticket. The Nürburgring hosts numerous competitions, including endurance races – and in May of this year, Max Verstappen participated in the "24 Hours of Nürburgring," where he led for a long time, but then his team retired from the race due to a technical problem.