Motorsport returns to the Green Hell. The first race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series will open the 2021 event season on the world's most demanding race track on 27 March. Many different events await until November. Tried and tested spectator concepts will once again ensure that fans can follow the action live at the track. Together with RPR1, "Radio Nürburgring" is also being redesigned and guarantees that the racing action can be followed worldwide via internet radio for the first time. In addition, the Nürburgring can look forward to a new strong partner from this season: the performance brand BMW M is expanding its commitment at the historic race track. Despite many imponderables in Corona times, those responsible feel well positioned for the coming season.

The Nürburgring calendar is well filled in 2021. That alone would not be news. In times of the pandemic, however, this is particularly remarkable. For a year now, the Corona measures have dominated the event industry. And even though Rock am Ring has already had to be cancelled, there is good news: Motorsport can take place. This includes events like the ADAC TOTAL 24h Race, the DTM, the ADAC Truck Grand Prix or the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix. But so do the numerous trackdays or driving trainings, such as the Nürburgring Formula courses. "Despite Corona, our race track is fully booked until mid-November - seven days a week, from Monday to Sunday," explains Nürburgring Managing Director Mirco Markfort, who steers the Nürburgring through the crisis together with a team of 200 permanent employees and around 1,100 temporary staff. And yet he also admits: "You can't really guarantee anything in these times."

Although the Nürburgring is operating relatively successfully under the general conditions, the economic success cannot be compared to the years before the pandemic. And yet the Nürburgring is trying to make a lot of things possible again in order to continue to play its role as the economic engine of an entire region. "With our concepts last year, we made sure that many events and offers could take place. In doing so, we have helped to maintain jobs in the region and in the industry as a whole. We will continue to fulfil this commitment," Markfort explains.

Tried and tested concepts for spectators along the route
That's why, he says, it's important for the Nürburgring to actively build on its proven concepts and bring spectators back to the track in the long term. "The fans are the emotional framework that make every event special. In addition, ticket sales are an existential economic factor for every organiser," explains the managing director. The non-contact spectator concepts were therefore further developed with the same health experts as in 2020. The Institute for Hygiene and Public Health of the University of Bonn, the MVZ Labor Koblenz and the German Red Cross District Association Ahrweiler again played a decisive role in this. This is another reason why Markfort is optimistic about the future. "We feel well positioned and are in contact with the authorities regarding our concepts. We will now closely monitor the development of the pandemic and continue to seek dialogue - for the sake of the sport, the fans, the motorsport teams and companies, the region and of course for the Nürburgring."

BMW M - expanding the partnership at the Nürburgring
The Nürburgring already has reason to rejoice elsewhere. Starting this season, there will be an expansion of a long-standing partnership with the performance brand BMW M. Nürburgring fans are already familiar with the BMW M Power grandstand on the Grand Prix circuit and the advertising hoardings on the "old pit lane" of the Nordschleife. The BMW bridge over the start-finish straight is also an unmistakable part of the Nürburgring image. This has already been visibly redesigned in the BMW M colours. In terms of driving activities, the car manufacturer is also one of the most intensive users of the race track with its Driving Experience. Now BMW M wants to establish the Nürburgring as the home of the brand. The centrepiece of the new cooperation, which will initially last up to and including 2025, is a BMW M showroom in the ring°boulevard, which will open to visitors to the Nürburgring on selected dates. In addition, there are to be further events - for example as part of BMW M's 50th birthday in 2022.

Radio Nürburgring now receivable worldwide
In future, all fans will be able to follow the events at the Nürburgring worldwide via radio. Until now, Radio Nürburgring could only be received in the vicinity of the race track at the frequency 87.7. By expanding the partnership with the Rhineland-Palatinate radio station RPR1, the "Ring-Radio" is now making the leap to the Internet. In the future, the events at the Nürburgring will be broadcast here on the popular