A lap of the Nurburgring circuit with MS


By Lorenzo Gotti
June 17 2002

Michael Schumacher is well on his way to securing his fifth world title and the German driver will be out to cement that massive lead even more this weekend at the Nurburgring. So let the current world champion take you round a lap of the German circuit.

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"Coming over the start/finish line, accelerating up to top gear, the first corner of the Nurburgring is just like the first turn at Melbourne. On the brakes, down to third gear and about 140kph, turning right and then left. Fast as you can out of the left hander and balance the throttle in fourth or fifth gear around turn three. Slowing for turn four, the Ford Kurve, in second gear at 115kph and then blast down the hill for the Dunlop Kurve, the hairpin. Coming out of there and getting back on the power as quickly as possible, coming back up the hill and accelerating out of second gear, taking Turn Six and Turn Seven at over 250kph in fifth and sixth gear respectively."

"The next corner, the RTL Kurve is difficult, especially in the wet, but it is also one of the best on the circuit. Braking from top gear to third and slowing from 290kph to 150kph as you turn left, it's easy to let the car snap away as you set it up for the slightly slower right-hander, Bit Kurve. This is very important, as any mistake here will be punished at the chicane a bit further down the road. More importantly, if you want to overtake the car in front, then these turns have to be perfect.”

”Down the hill, either on the tail of the car in front or in the lead, you sweep around the very fast Turn Ten flat out in top gear, arrive at the Veedol Chicane and slow the car as quickly as possible, dropping through five gears for the right-left shuffle. If you got RTL and Bit right, then you can get alongside cars on the left and try and outbrake them into the corner. Out of the chicane and around the Coca Cola Kurve as smoothly as possible; and you are back at the start/ finish line for another lap."

"I remember passing Jean Alesi's Ferrari at the Veedol Chicane for the lead in 1995, with a handful of laps to go. It was a great feeling then, but let's hope that nobody passes the Ferrari there this weekend!"

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