Previewing the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2016 at the Nürburgring
Images by Marcel Hundscheid of Speed-O-Graphica
The 44th edition of the Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring will be held from 12th – 14th August 2016. During the three-day event it is possible to see the most beautiful, rarest and most fascinating race cars in the history of motorsports.
The 2016 Oldtimer Grand Prix will revive the glory days of Formula One and sports prototypes as well as touring cars and GTs. Around 500 racing cars from the ’30s until the ’80s will gather at the Nürburgring for another edition of this great event.
The pre-war cars are the oldest cars of the weekend have been sparking particularly keen interest amongst the audience. The cars can be found at the historic paddock at the entrance of the track. Around 50 of these legendary vehicles will see action on the track. One of them is a Mercedes-Benz 280S from 1927, a car that won the very first race ever held on the Nürburgring.
In keeping with tradition, on Friday there’s the AvD Historic Marathon held on the legendary Nordschleife.
The original track, also referred to as the Green Hell, was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the beautiful Eifel region. In 1984 a Grand Prix track was built in accordance with the demands of F1 drivers. Nowadays the Grand Prix track is used for the F1 Grand Prix and several other international events. The Nordschleife, however, is still used for the famous 24 hours as well as the VLN events and is open to the public.
One of the highlights of the this year’s AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix are the races of the FIA Masters Formula One, featuring Formula One cars between 1968 and 1978. The series is open to 3-litre F1 cars built between 1968 and 1978.
Fans of historic sports cars will be treated with a large field of former Le Mans Type Group 4 Prototypes, built between the mid-’60s up to 1974, such as the Lola T70, Ferrari 512 and Chevrons gathered into the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship. GT and two seat race cars from 1960/61 will see action in a race open to cars built until 1960/61.
For the delight of the spectators, the round of this race will start on Saturday with the demonstration of a classic Le Mans start.
The FIA Lurani Trophy will see a full field of historic single seaters from 1957 on. Fans of classic GTs from the golden era will be treated with the British Masters Gentlemen Drivers featuring cars such as the Ferrari 250 SWB and 275, Lotus Elan, AC Cobra, Aston Martin DP214 atc.
Popular amongst the spectators is the Deutsche Rennsportmeisterschaft Revival, featuring the legendary Porsche 935 K2 and K3.
Ticket sales for this unique event have started online. All tickets include access to the open grandstands and to the paddocks. Friday 28,00 Euro, Saturday and Sunday both 38,00 Euros, Weekend from Friday-Sunday 58,00 Euros. Further ticket information can be found here.
If you can get out to the Nürburgring, don’t miss it!
By Marcel Hundscheid
