The 51st Belmot Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring from August 9 to 11, 2024 will once again be much more than just a race weekend for "old cars". Visitors to the Nürburgring can expect a real motorsport festival with countless classic cars, with plenty to see not only on the track. In the paddock and other areas of the traditional Eifel circuit, guests of all ages will also be amazed: there will be emotional reunions at autograph sessions, technical fascination with historic and modern works of automotive art, first-hand information and much, much more!
Many racing series with unforgettable cars
Around a dozen racing classes and historic series as well as driving events invite visitors to the Nürburgring to join in the excitement: whether historic Formula 1, impressive sports car monsters or DTM and DRM legends - there is never a dull moment on the race track. Some races stand out in particular. The Formula 1 cars of the 50s and 60s (HGPCA) will take part in separate races for front- and rear-engined vehicles on Saturday. The early evolution of the premier class - and all other formula cars - becomes visible here.
The well-attended race for touring cars from the DTM and related series also dedicates a special race on Saturday to the "Iconic Two Liters" - the speedsters from STW, BTCC & Co. that are otherwise somewhat overshadowed by the impressive DTM old stars.
It is precisely these that will be joining the field in the second race on Saturday: the "Touring Cars of the Golden Era" truly deserve this designation and will feature many stars from the past alongside the unforgotten BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG 190 Evo and Ford Sierra Cosworth.
Ex-DTM drivers Roland Asch, Kris Nissen, Harald Grohs, Kurt Thiim and many more will be back in the cockpit to sign autographs and take selfies. They can also be seen at a large autograph session in the paddock - and also highly concentrated shortly before the start: because on Saturday there will be a grid walk at the "Golden Era", where visitors will be allowed onto the starting grid.
Atmospheric highlight: sports car icons on Saturday evening
An absolute jewel in the racing program are the two-seater sports cars and GTs up to 1971, which mark the highlight of the weekend on Saturday evening.
After the popular demonstration of the classic Le Mans start, these perhaps most beautiful sports cars in motorsport history will drive for an hour into the evening twilight, exuding the flair of the great sports car classics of yesteryear. After crossing the finish line, fireworks await the participants at the finish line - and rightly so!
The Le Mans start can also be admired on Sunday: Then the participants of the pre-war race car meeting will celebrate it.
These "Vintage Sports Cars" are packed with excellent vehicles and never cease to amaze spectators when they show how beautiful motorsport was to watch in the pre-war era. It's hard to believe that the oldest models this time are from 1918 and are therefore well over 100 years old!
Partners provide exciting and informative encounters
The partners of the Belmot Oldtimer Grand Prix provide special moments during the race weekends. For example, the new name sponsor invites guests to a series of talks throughout the weekend, during which highly interesting discussion partners will be on hand to answer questions on important topics relating to classic cars.
The specialist insurance company for classic cars is thus proving to be just as suitable a (new) partner as the specialist magazine Motor Klassik, which has been involved in the classic car Grand Prix since its inception in 1984 - and is now in its 40th year! Motor Klassik will be celebrating its milestone birthday right where it all began: in the Nürburgring paddock. In addition to a vehicle exhibition to mark the anniversary, there will be the presentation of the traditional readers' award, catering with the popular annual collector's mug and the readers' parades on the Grand Prix circuit and the Nordschleife.
Junghans will once again be present as the official time-name partner: the watch brand from the Black Forest will not only be showing fine timepieces, but will also have a BMW M1 from the Steim car collection and a Schnitzer Classic BMW 3 Series from Jockel Winkelhock on its stand. New to the event are the fuel specialists from Croyton, who will be inviting visitors to the "Croyton Challenge" in the paddock and providing information about their products, which are perfectly tailored to the engines of classic cars. The list could go on and on, as the paddock is a real treasure trove in other respects too. Here you will find the popular OGP racing sweaters and other merchandising products, as well as literature and accessories and catering areas for a well-earned break.
Don't miss: Super sports cars and other eye-catchers
A new idea from the organizers is to build a direct bridge between old and new dream cars. In the middle of the Grand Prix paddock, super sports cars will be shown in their own vehicle displays, providing a contrast and complement to the high-tech cars of yesteryear from the racing program. If you want to see many more exciting vehicles, you can take a stroll through the paddock: In the historic paddock, for example, pre-war racing cars await discovery, while top brand clubs showcase their treasures in the Mercedes Arena.
Many other brand clubs are located in the visitor parking lots directly on the Grand Prix circuit. A visit to these fantastic vehicles alone is more than enough to fill a day. If you want to see them in action, you can make a detour to the legendary Nordschleife at the weekend, where there are reserved time slots for various one-make clubs and the pre-war racing cars. On Friday, you can also watch the "OGP Trackday", where old and young sports cars can be driven in the traditional manner without the pressure of competition.
Those who prefer to see the super sports cars on the Grand Prix circuit should not miss the FCD Racing Series races: The Clubsport Series of the Ferrari Club Deutschland bridges the gap between racetrack activities and one-make club meetings, between the past and the present. A prominent guest driver is one of the reasons for this: Italian ex-Formula 1 driver Arturo Merzario wants to get involved here and thus pay a visit to the Belmot Classic Car Grand Prix.
An up-to-date visitor timetable is availableon the OGP website, as is the current race program. Tickets can also be ordered on the OGP website.
