In the summer, the operator of the Nürburgring race track, Capricorn, announced speed limits of 155 mph at certain sections prone to accidents. The move, one of the fallouts of a fatal crash in March involving a spectator, effectively put an end to the setting of lap records at the popular track.
By August, Capricorn said the speed limits could end up being removed by as early as 2016, following some modifications aimed at making the track safer for both competitors and those watching on. And now, motorsports governing body the FIA has approved the safety measures, thus clearing the way for the speed limits to be removed.
Work on the modifications start this month, with seven of the planned 16 measures to be completed before the start of the 2016 motorsport season. Key modifications will include the installation of additional safety fences and guardrails, new restricted zones, and repaving of the track surface at the notorious Flugplatz section where March’s fatal accident occurred.
The news means lap time attempts can continue, though it’s not clear what effects the changes to the track will mean for performance, particularly the repaving of certain sections. The fastest production car at the ‘Ring is currently the Porsche 918 Spyder, which set a time of 6:57 back in 2013.
Koenigsegg is keen to keen to set a time with its One:1 supercar, though with just seven examples built you can hardly call the 1,341-horsepower beast a production car. Rather, the car we're most interested seeing setting a ‘Ring time is Dodge’s giant-killing Viper ACR.
_______________________________________
