I haven’t been for a few years, and I’d quite like to take the Exige for a go.
What are peoples current views on going there for general ‘open to the public’ touristenfahrten days? I’ve had a couple of great social trips there, with a dozen or so laps when I felt like it, but it was more for the social / spectating / eating steak on a hot stone element than anything.
Would there be any interest in an Exigers trip? Perhaps on the back of a Spa track event?
I have not been since 2008 when it was getting pretty scary on tourist days then. I know some people that still go I will check in with them and report back.
Dunno about touristenfahrten, i’d be $hitting (not fahrten) myself round that place. Exclusive day or not. No run off, no marshalls, no quick emergency response, nowt.
Oh, and no insurance either 
We stopped off and did a couple of laps on the way back home from Italy in the summer.
It was one of the 5-7pm evening sessions which was far more relaxed than any of the weekend days I been to before.
26 euro a lap!!
Went after Spa a few years ago with Markyb, it’s a little scary on tourist days tbh but bloody awesome on a private event like what BaT sometimes offer. Totally gutted I missed last year, as the only time I have done a full private day it has to be the single most bestest brilliant track day ever. You’d be surprise Tim, private day is the way to go. Driving briskly around the circuit can almost be as much fun a ragging it I should imagine. Followed by Steak of course 
I did both 2 days Spa and The Ring that year… Twas a good Summer 
I last went in 2008 to take the Exige there for its only visit.
Prior to that I had been going for 3 years in my RS6 but mainly in the CSL. I ensured I had insurance that would cover me via a friend who owns a brokerage.
I have spoken to him and things have changed a lot since then. Due to the increase in popularity and therefore claims some rejected claims were taken to the insurance ombudsman and unfortunately the cases where settled in favour of the insurance companies.
So it is now extremely unlikely you’ll have any cover and public day cover can be as high as £1,500/day.
A quote from a friend…
Just remember, unlike 2008 where it was a grey area the insurance rules are simple you are not insured and if you have any incident your insurance is legally obliged to pay for the third party however they will chase you for costs after they’ve paid out.
I’ve not done TF since my incident in 2009 where I not only lost the CSL, cost of barriers and recovery I also had to pay a large chunk to my insurance company
People who still go say the traffic levels are about the same as 2008, but there are far more inexperienced drivers chasing times so they perceive the risk level in taking part now higher.
Most of them have now moved on to trackdays only there.
Some now take another approach which sounds like a good approach:
Go for the days when the circuit is only open for the evening, there are spaces in car park, no queuing and only a handful of cars out at one time.
Means you can have a skin full the night before and not feel pressured to get up and get on it early as you’ve got all day till it opens, so take in some German twistys and visit some towns on a road trip is what we did, and headed back mid pm to hit the track when it opened for a few hours of non closure, and constant laps.
Was about 2008 when I last went also, where has the time gone
A quick evening session wouldn’t be a bad thing actually, and I agree that the local areas twistys are great fun.
I’m viewing the 'ring as somewhere to head to and visit/spectate - a kind of petrolhead mecca, rather than somewhere to drive to in order to go for a proper drive when you get there - if you see what I mean?!
If people are intending to do Spa with BAT this year, then I’d suggest tagging it on it that trip if the dates work
Personally I would avoid the Ring fullstop - did 1 terrifying lap in 2011 - never again, given the “insurance situation etc”. An interesting alternative is to drive the nearby F1 circuit - in 2011 it was (I think) 24 Euros for a 20 minute session. Each session was limited to 15 participants, which could well include motorbikes too!
What about the Nordschleife though Rob?
Haha 
The 20min GP circuit is brilliant!!!
Recent thread on Seloc with videos worth watching!
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=378992&page=1#pid6430229
PS PMSL at Tim’s comment re “The Ring”
I went three times last year and about the same the year before. I love the place, and it is relativity safe if you give it its due respect. Drive it like you would an English B road, i.e. if you cant see round the corner, slow down to a speed that is appropriate. You can do that and still get around there at a fair old pace. I took my S2, but more recently I have gone down the hire route. I fly from Birmingham to Düsseldorf, hire a car to drive to the ring (all in this costs me about £180, so less than the cost of fuel and the train) and then hire a track car to whizz round in. All fully insured and no worries of breaking anything or wearing anything out.
I am touching wood as I say this, but in all my visits, I have never come close to having any big incidents or had any crazy nutter do anything too dangerous.
That is interesting, what kind of cars can you hire? And How much?
Suzuki Swifts are popular and good fun. Lots of Megan and Clio Cups, and in between the Ring and the famous PistenKlause (steak on a stone ) there is place where you can hire lots of S2 Exige.
The name has just come to me, take your choice.
http://www.rsrnurburg.com/car-rentals--services/race-car-rentals
I hired a Swift a good few years ago, the hire price wasn’t to bad but the excess was massive and you had to keep the revs limited as they download your laps then charge you lots of money if you have been playing. Still good fun though.
I would be interested in an exiges trip, be it hire car or in the exige.
Would be good to meet up with everyone.
Not been for a few years and was looking into one of the organised days/trips for this year.
That or a non weekend TF day to avoid the potential chaos.