2011 Nurburgring 24 Hours moves to June

[AndrewF31]

Endurance Info is reporting that the 2011 Nurburgring 24 Hours has been moved back to June, 2 weeks after Le Mans - June 25-26.

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-4514.html

I actually think this may be a great move. Normally the ALMS and LMS only return in July so there is a good possibility that even more top drivers could pop over. It probably won't change much the entry, which should already be even better than this year with Mercedes joining the party.

It also gives the RLM guys some much needed rest during May Madness.

What do you all think?

[Spyderman]

I think it's too soon after Le Mans.

[Speed-King]

As far as camping at the track is concerned that's really awesome... sleeping in a tent at 1 or 2°C is no fun at all. And I think that might be why they moved the date. People have suggested that the turnout this year was a lot worse than in previous years and that the bad weather probably made a lot of people stay at home...

[Acid09]

At least it's not clashing with Le Mans... but still, I don't think it's a wise choice to move it between Le Mans and Spa.

[Down F0rce]

Being a Uni student, moving this great race out of exam month and into the first month of the summer holidays for my last year as a student is a pretty cool thing indeed! Next summer may very well have an endurance racing theme for me...

[AndrewF31]

I can understand having the racing start about a week and a half after Le Mans might be tough but it's not something the drivers would be not used to. Plus it's not that far away from Le Mans.
For example, I can imagine ALMS re-starting a week or 2 after that and we saw this year that that didn't stop 1 or 2 drivers from competing.

Couldn't find any official release yet as I'm sure someone will eventually explain the rationale behind the change.
Most likely what Speed-king said might be one of the reasons.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Acid09

I don't think it's a wise choice to move it between Le Mans and Spa.

Me neither. Cars must get repaired and tested, drivers must rest, etc.

[ger80]

Also not sure if they have a bank holiday the Thursday before the race like the usually have

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by ger80

Also not sure if they have a bank holiday the Thursday before the race like the usually have

NO! there is no bank holiday on Thursday before race if they keep that date.
Two weeks after Le Mans aint that bad. A week after like the gt2/gt3 cup got this year is fairly worse

[Speed-King]

I think there was but one car in this year's race that will also compete at Le Mans, and that's the Farnbacher Ferrari, and with the push towards GT3 rules and away from GT2-cars this will be even less of a problem.

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I think there was but one car in this year's race that will also compete at Le Mans, and that's the Farnbacher Ferrari, and with the push towards GT3 rules and away from GT2-cars this will be even less of a problem.

Well, from the potential spectators point of view a week after Le Mans is crap. If I`d go to Le Mans I surely won`t spend next weekend travelling to Oschersleben even if it is within 150km distance. The point there is that even if people want to make it at one point they run out on money and holiday days

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I think there was but one car in this year's race that will also compete at Le Mans, and that's the Farnbacher Ferrari, and with the push towards GT3 rules and away from GT2-cars this will be even less of a problem.

What about the Audi and BMW works squads? The Porsche works drivers and so on...

Lots of people that will be in need for rest after Le Mans, I still think it's a not a wise choice.

The Nürburgring 24h race can't compete with Le Mans from an international perspective and with the climax of the sports car racing year just being completed, a lot less people will care for the race.

[cmk]

Professional drivers don't seem to have an issue with racing the weekend after a 24 hour race. It is their job. The teams will most likely be run down but as has been pointed out there aren't really many cars or teams participating in both events.

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by Acid09

What about the Audi and BMW works squads? The Porsche works drivers and so on...

Lots of people that will be in need for rest after Le Mans, I still think it's a not a wise choice.

They could make it more like the Daytona 24 in that they could have larger driver line-ups and more time between stints so rest isn't as much of an issue.

DK

[AndrewF31]

I agree that pros don't need as much rest. And if you look at what happened in May with the few examples we had:
- Farnbacher Ferrari went a week after Spa
- Jorg, Lieb, Wolf Henzler, Pedro Lamy, etc. all competed within a week of another long event they take part in

A 2 week gap and not having any other races in vicinity for another week or 2 could interest more pros (if there is the money).

I can understand that some teams might have rest issues but Farnbacher made it in a week and perhaps more didn't go because there was only 1 week between Spa/Laguna and N24. At the same time, I don't think many LM teams participate in the N24 but, if FIA GT3 cooperates, we could see even more of those cars appearing. They also had Brno a week after N24.

[Victor_RO]

And also, a couple of times in the last few years, weren't the Nurburgring 24h and Le Mans 24h about one week apart?

[R4z3rw33n]

Despite the potential effects already mentioned, I don't really see many problems with the change.

At some point in the (hopefully not-so) distant future I plan to make the trip over for both N24/LM24.
Holding the events closer together would definitely make the whole exercise easier.