The Nürburgring congratulates the most athletic of its 200+ employees. Volker Daniels was voted Sportsman of the Year 2024 in the Euskirchen district by readers of the Kölnische Rundschau and Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger newspapers – against strong competition and with an impressive lead of over 5,000 votes. He is also a rock in his profession: in the IT department, he and his colleagues work hard every day to ensure that the Nürburgring's digital infrastructure functions reliably – even when thousands of visitors are on site.
Volker Daniels is not a specialist in just one discipline – he is a true all-rounder: runner, racing cyclist, obstacle course conqueror, soccer player. And here, too, his passion for the Green Hell comes into play. At Rad am Ring and at the race track's cycling and running club, Daniels has often conquered the Nordschleife with pure muscle power or made his way from nearby Ripsdorf to work on his JobRad bike. In the Hotfoot Run, he has made it into the top three several times in both the 24-kilometer and 12-kilometer distances. Away from the legendary race track, his heart also beats for sport. Whether at the Berlin Marathon (3:30 hours), the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon over 227 kilometers and 5,500 (!) meters of elevation gain, the Drei-Zinnen-Lauf in South Tyrol (15th place in his age group), or the demanding trail run in the Zillertal – Volker Daniels shows time and again what is possible with commitment, discipline, and passion. This also benefits his home club, FC Dollendorf-Ripsdorf. The striker regularly plays for the second team here. Last season, he scored a total of 21 goals, making him the league's top scorer.
Prominent competition with national players and professional soccer players
Another remarkable aspect of Daniels' election as Sportsman of the Year is the strong and prominent competition he was able to leave behind. The 44-year-old had to compete against a total of 16 rivals from a wide variety of sports. Alongside the ambitious amateur athlete, the list included prominent names such as Andreas Wolff, goalkeeper for the German national handball team, Jonas Urbig, currently under contract with FC Bayern Munich, and 24-hour race winner Frank Stippler.
Right in the thick of it – in sports and at the Nürburgring
At the Nürburgring, one thing is already clear: helpful colleague Volker will not lose his down-to-earth attitude even after this award. Because although he has demonstrated his assertiveness in sports and in the Sportsman of the Year election, he is anything but a lone wolf. He “goes the distance” – but always with a team spirit. And that continues to apply to his workplace at the Nürburgring. Together with over 200 colleagues, he is ensuring that everything runs smoothly again this season – at races, festivals, and sporting events. Because whether you're a competitive athlete or not, the same applies to everyone at the Ring: “nürburgring. we make your heart race.”
About the Nürburgring as an employer:
The Nürburgring is not only one of the most legendary race tracks in the world, but also a modern, versatile workplace. Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co. KG is the operating company of the Nürburgring. It has set itself the task of managing the Nürburgring successfully and sustainably. Its responsibilities include the economic and operational management, administration, and marketing of the entire infrastructure. This includes the race tracks, the buildings, and all associated indoor and outdoor areas.
Over 200 permanent employees and more than 1,000 temporary staff ensure that public events, corporate customer events, and numerous training sessions and tourist drives run smoothly. The range of tasks extends from technology, IT, and administration to event management and driving operations. Attractive additional benefits such as flexible working hours, JobRad offers, company pension plans, and employee discounts make the Nürburgring an attractive employer even away from the track.
The Nürburgring destination also includes the Nürburgring Hotels and Holiday Park, nürburgring.tv GmbH & Co. KG, and Nürburgring eSports GmbH & Co. KG. They all offer a wide range of career opportunities for skilled workers and career changers alike.
Currently, 46 trainees are completing their training at the Nürburgring in various professions at the Nürburgring destination – from technical and commercial professions to catering and event-related activities. Dual study programs in event and hotel management are also part of the training offered by the Nürburgring destination.
All information about the Nürburgring as an employer, jobs, and training opportunities can be found here.