Rossen Gargolov Premiere on the Nordschleife
12.08.2018
- Auto: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
- Over 520 kilometers of the Nordschleife
- This is how the chassis works
- S chalten by PDK
' 2 km 'is on the white sign. Below this is a shock absorber pictogram plus Bilstein lettering. You aim your car at the sign. A white point is sprayed on the ground shortly afterwards - the steering impulse must come shortly before that, otherwise you won't grab it: the apex. These are two of dozens of reference points that you need to curve properly over the mountain, race and test track in the Eifel.
Guard rails, curbs, signs, asphalt colors, route markings, masts, lines and graffiti . You need them to hit turn-in and vertex points as well as corner exits. You cannot see a considerable part of the 73 curves according to the official count; many racing drivers count over 100 corners. You should also know the curve names - around 40 of them. Otherwise, when talking about the monumental 20.832 kilometers of asphalt (... and concrete) you will be immediately out. And you cannot ask the connoisseurs any precise questions.
After my first, extremely spontaneous and bumbling round, it was a matter of heart to me to remedy this situation for me. For months I meticulously hammered the line, including reference points and curve names, into my head: with an instruction video for beginners and Project CARS on my PlayStation. For this you need a high threshold for frustration to work. After 70 touring laps on the real route - some of them with an instructor in the passenger seat - it then fits: Even under the immense stress of the Nordschleife, I can reliably call up a reasonable dry line. Which doesn't mean that mistakes won't happen. And under no circumstances is that synonymous with “I know the Nordschleife”. Not even close.
It was enough to convince Porsche to take me to a driver training session on the Nordschleife. They brought Timo Kluck with them as an instructor for our small group. The Eifler was a racing driver, part of the Porsche 918 record team and is currently responsible for Porschethe tire development. A guy who can explain every inch of the Nordschleife to you - and who makes the whole group romp with his sayings. He can also drive a car. So right. So really right.
Rossen Gargolov
Porsche 911, Thomas Hellmanzik and instructor Timo Kluck park for the photo on Döttinger Höhe.
Rossen Gargolov Tire whisperer Timo Kluck drives up in the 2S, our editor Thomas Hellmanzik behind in the 4S - recognizes the all-wheel drive model one on the continuous light band.
Rossen Gargolov
Tire whisperer Timo Kluck drives up in the 2S, our editor Thomas Hellmanzik behind in the 4S - recognizes the all-wheel drive model one on the continuous light band.
Thomas Hellmanzik 1.59 g lateral - is that actually an accurate value? The grip is enormous for a road tire.
1.59 g lateral - is that actually an accurate value? The grip is enormous for a road tire.
