Next weekend (11 - 13 August 2023), the Oldtimer Grand Prix will celebrate its 50th edition with a packed programme full of historic racing highlights. The event, which was first held in 1973, is now the oldest classic car racing event on the European continent and is as young as ever: In twelve historic racing classes as well as demo runs and excursions, more than 30 action-packed hours of programme will be offered on the race track on the anniversary weekend. Among them are the DTM cars of the 1980s, vehicles from the legendary German Racing Championship and demo runs with Formula 1 and Formula 2 cars. The pre-war racing cars gathered in the traditional historic paddock will take to the track for rides. The long distance icons of the 50s and early 60s set the highlight of the race weekend with their run on Saturday evening, which ends after the finish with fireworks and the party for drivers, fans and officials in the large marquee in the paddock. Tickets are available at the box offices on site for all event days. Those who can't make it to the Nürburgring can experience many highlights on Saturday and Sunday via livestream.
The schedule of the Oldtimer Grand Prix offers three days of reunions with racing legends. A total of 500 racing cars have registered for the weekend, promising a fast-paced motorsport journey through time. In the field of DTM touring cars, for example, there will be a reunion with BMW 320s, Ford Sierra Cosworths or Mercedes 190 E Evo2s, which are also often driven by real racing legends. A whole series of former DTM drivers will be guests at the Nürburgring - among them Roland Asch, Olaf Manthey and Leopold Prinz von Bayern. The DRM revival race is also full of automotive legends, with Group 5 monsters such as the Ford Capri Turbo, BMW 635 and Porsche 935 K3 competing. In the races of the rare (and precious) two-seater racing sports cars and GTs of the 1950s, the "gullwing" Mercedes 300 SLS, Porsche 356 and 904, Ferrari 246 SP and 250 chase around the Nürburgring together with other beautiful Le Mans cars. During the second race on Sunday, the male and female pilots of the race will also show the visitors a genuine Le Mans start; the evening before, the participants of the Vintage Nürburgring will also celebrate the starting procedure that is no longer practised today for safety reasons. The four dozen vintage racing cars will also take you back to the founding days of motorsport. Here, BMW 328s, supercharged Mercedes Benzes, Bentleys and Jaguars will not be competing in sporting events, but will be driving around the circuit with their motorsport hearts still beating. Even those who like it spectacular will be satisfied at the 50th Oldtimer Grand Prix: The demo runs of the Formula 1 and Formula 2 cars offer sound and performance just as much as the runs of the Can-Am and Group C racing cars. With races for the early Formula 1 cars, Formula 2 monoposti and several historic junior classes, racing "without a roof over its head" will also be strongly represented in the programme. Of course, the very well-staffed races for touring cars and GTs from the 50s to the 80s will also be a fixture of the sporting programme.
There is also a lot to experience in the paddock
For those who can tear themselves away from their seats in the grandstand, there are numerous attractions awaiting them in the paddock. Of course, there are the human and automotive protagonists of the weekend to marvel at. But the organisers have also prepared a number of real "delicacies" for visitors. In the historic paddock from the 1920s, there will be an MG exhibition alongside the pre-war racing cars. In the Grand Prix paddock, the exhibitors include the important partners of the event. Among them is the official timing partner Junghans, which has launched two limited and high-quality edition models especially for the anniversary. A new attraction is also to become a contact point for the spectators and participants: On the area next to the Medical Centre, there is a large marquee that invites people to take a break during the weekend and where there will always be space to meet the athletes. This is also where the party will take place after the conclusion of the evening race on Saturday as one of the highlights of the weekend. When strolling through the paddock, one should also not forget the AMG Arena, where top brand clubs gather with their cars. They are part of the big meeting with which the weekend also has a lot to offer in terms of road cars.