One of the major German classic car events at the Nürburgring is changing its name. After six years, the name "ADAC Eifelrennen" will be replaced by the new name "Historic Trophy Nürburgring" from 2014. This step became necessary after the rights to use the previous event title expired at the end of last year. The long-known date of May 30 to June 1, 2014 for the event remains unchanged.
"With Historic Trophy Nürburgring, this event has been given a name that does justice to the international standard," says Gerd Schmidt van Zanten, Organizing Director of the Düsseldorf Automobil- und Motorsport-Club 05 e.V. im ADAC (DAMC 05). "We would like to thank ADAC Nordrhein for their extensive support to date. As a partner and main sponsor, Mercedes-Benz will be more involved from 2014 onwards in order to make the content even more attractive and exciting for spectators and participants. Many major German and European racing series and numerous one-make clubs have already confirmed their participation."
The Nordschleife at the center
The special feature of the Historic Trophy Nürburgring is the inclusion of the Nordschleife in the program on all three days. In addition to the 3-hour race and the demonstration run of the pre-war racing cars of the FHR Vintage Nürburgring, club and regularity races will also be held on the legendary track that Jackie Stewart called the "Green Hell".
Many brand clubs and classic car enthusiasts will once again enrich the paddock and the Mercedes Arena: Fans of Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Ford, Steyr-Puch, Porsche, Triumph and many, many more are guaranteed to get their money's worth here. The special feature: The owners not only present their automotive favorites statically, but also perform them in a species-appropriate manner in the regularity runs on the Grand Prix circuit and Nordschleife.
The pre-war sports cars of the FHR Vintage Nürburgring will once again make a guest appearance in the historic paddock. The annual meeting offers participants driving time on the Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit. In between, there is plenty of atmosphere for the spectators when the cars present themselves in front of the old pits.
From the early days of motorsport at the beginning of the last century to the late 1980s, the diverse range of around 800 historic racing cars that the organizers of the DAMC 05 expect to see in the Eifel on Ascension Day weekend.
The racing series of the 2014 Historic Trophy Nürburgring at a glance
With the British HSCC Formula 2 cars, an almost forgotten era of racing is returning to the Ring. The now very rare racing cars built up to 1978 with their 1.6 or 2.0-liter engines were positioned just below Formula 1 and served as a springboard for the careers of many later world champions.
The Dunlop FHR Endurance Cup, the Youngtimer Trophy and Triumph Competition are jointly staging the 3-hour race on the Nordschleife. Once again, more than 170 GT and touring cars built between 1949 and 1988 are expected to take part.
The Historic Formula Vau Europe presents the legendary entry-level formula series of the 60s and 70s. Then as now, the formula cars powered by VW engines are a genuine entry-level series in motorsport with large starting fields.
The FHR HTGT for the Dunlop Trophy is the oldest German racing series that is held in accordance with the international FIA regulations "Appendix K". Over 50 GT, touring and racing sports cars will compete for championship points on the Grand Prix circuit.
The ADAC Graf Berghe von Trips Cup has been held for formula cars since the early 1980s. Legendary Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula Atlantic, Formula Ford and Formula Junior racing cars built between 1961 and 1980 battle it out for positions.
In the Cup and Touring Car Trophy, racing cars from former one-make cups and racing series compete for the championship. A reunion with the Renault Turbo, Porsche 944 Cup and Carrera Cup, former STW and early 24-hour special race cars.
The battle of the dwarves has long since won the hearts of spectators. The small-displacement racing cars, such as the Abarth, Mini Cooper or NSU TT, demonstrate that excitement is not dependent on size. The cylinder capacity of the dwarfs is limited to a maximum of 1300 cc.
The FHR Vintage Nürburgring is the big gathering of aged pre-war sports cars in the historic paddock. Driving on the Nordschleife is regarded as "species-appropriate husbandry" by the participants. The highlight is the "Elephant Race" on Sunday on the GP circuit with a Le Mans start.
The invitational race for motorcycles with sidecars has always been particularly exciting for spectators. When the co-driver - also known as the "Schmiermaxe" - breathtakingly hangs out of the sidecar in the bend, the spectators are sure to be amazed.
In the regularity races(GLP) for brand clubs on the Nordschleife, full concentration and hundredths of a second count for the road-legal classic cars. It is not speed that counts here, but the precise confirmation of specified lap times. As only closed vehicles are permitted on the Nordschleife for the GLPs, the same applies to the open group on the Grand Prix circuit.
Further information can be found on the event's website, which is currently under construction.
Reports on the Eifel races in 2012 and 2013 with well over 1000 photos can be found in the Zwischengas archive.
