Managers at the famous Nürburgring circuit in Germany have announced a ban on manufacturers attempting to set and record hot lap times.
According to the website Apex.com, the move comes after speed limits have been introduced on certain sections of the Nordschleife track following the death of a spectator earlier this year.
The crew from Apex, who were busy filming a documentary about hypercars, revealed that they were contacted by circuit bosses just days before they were due to film the Koenigsegg One:1 there.
Apex stated: “The decision to ban timed laps stems from an accident earlier this year at a VLN [Endurance] race, involving driver Jann Mardenborough, in which a spectator was killed.
“Track management reacted by imposing a speed limit at Flugplatz, where the crash occurred. Since then, management has imposed further restrictions in other high-speed sectors.”
Officially, Nürburgring’s management has said that the restrictions will be reviewed at the end of the year, but that manufacturers will be banned from attempting lap-time runs in the meantime.
As a result, the circuit’s decision could have a detrimental effect on sports car and hot hatch manufacturers, who often pick Nürburgring to measure the performance potential of their latest models.
“This is a particularly disappointing development for Koenigsegg,” Apex said, “since the One:1’s flat-out speed in those sectors would likely have given it a lap-time advantage.”
