Erik
April 25th, 2005, 10:35
...that BMW has continued its successful history?
With 17 wins overall, thereof 7 double, and 97 victories in the classes BMW is the most successful manufacturer on the Nordschleife.
...that a new spectators record has been achieved in 2004?
220,000 fans were enjoying the hard fights on the most famous track in the world - 26,000 more than 2003!
...that another record was established by the OPC Team Phoenix?
The winner 2003, the Opel Astra V8 Coupé, with starting number 1 stopped 25 times in total at the box - there was a lot of work for the team, more than for anyone else!
...that OPC Team Phoenix achieved the fastest lap in 2004?
At least motorsport director Volker Strycek had one reason to be proud of: The OPC Team Phoenix couldn't repeat the victory overall but they catched the fastest lap in the race. With 8.26,742 minutes the Opel Astra V8 Coupé was 7 seconds faster than the winner 2004, the BMW M3 GTR with starting number 42.
...that in the second qualifying the formula "23 in 221" counted?
Because of the dirty weather only 23 in 221 teams were able to improve their times in the second qualifying. One of them was car number 43 from BMW Motorsport - Pedro Lamy had an accident in the first qualifying - which improved from 215th to 10th.
...that FALKEN MOTORSPORTS won in its class by the highest margin?
The Japanese finishing 5th overall drove with the Nissan Skyline GT-R in the class A8 27 rounds more than second in the class, Erwin Derichs, Manfred Kubik, Rolf Kienen and Helmut Undorf on their Audi V8.
...that the eldest participant at the 24h-race 2004 was 66 years old?
With 66 years Achim Schneider was young enough to drive the Weiland-Porsche in class A7.
...that 482 victory cups in total were given to the lucky winners?
After the 24h-race 2004 the organizer handed over 279 cups in the award ceremony. And 203 successful drivers in the side event races were glad about the golden trophy, too.
...that 1400 Marshalls work at 24 Hours of Nürburgring?
During the 24 Hours race-event at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife 1400 Marshalls took care of an safe and smooth race. Thereby the Marshalls worked in different shifts continuously.
...that there were 4 video screens surrounding the 24h-race track in 2004? After the premiere in 2003 of using a video screen on the circuit of the 24h-race, the event 2004 was going to be even more striking. All in all 4 video screens broadcasted race scenes from the circuit as well as impressions from the other motor sports-events of the weekend (Formula 1, Le Mans).
The program of the "Zürich RaceTV" broadcasted for the first time from the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. A fifth video screen was installed in Adenau for the "Adenauer Racing Day" on Thursday. The other screens were in the paddock, Brünnchen, Hatzenbach and the Mercedes-Arena.
...that in 2004 class A3 was the one with the most participants?
In the 24h-race 2004, the class A3 counted the most participants of all. 42 cars fighted against each other in this class. Furthermore there was a huge bandwidth of manufacturers in this class, e.g. Ford, Renault, Honda, Opel, BMW, Seat, VW, Mitsubishi or Lotus.
...that in 2004 36 tv-cameras broadcasted from the circuit?
In 2004 the WIGE MEDIA AG used 36 tv-cameras surrounding the hole circuit. Thereby WIGE planned to use the great part of the cameras in a way, that make it possible to see every part of the race track. Furthermore 6 onboard-cams and 3 helicopters were in use for the endurance event.
...that Hans-Joachim Stuck was the first 24h-race overall winner?
Cheek by jowl "Striezl" Stuck and Clemens Schickentanz won the first 24h-race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 1970 on a BMW 2002 ti.
...that three pilots share the record of most overall victories at the 24h-race?
By four victories Fritz Müller, Marc Duez and Peter Zakowski hold the record in 24h-race overall victories at the Nürburgring. An interesting note is, that all of them won their titles with two different manufactures.
...that the longest TV-cable, used for the 24h-Race 2003, had a full length of more than eight kilometres?
In 2003, the WIGE MEDIA AG, who is among others responsible for the TV-productions of the 24h-Race at the Nürburgring, installed a TV-cable, which was more than eight kilometres long. A cable of that length could be placed almost twice around the hole Grand Prix Circuit.
...that a pilot drove through 84 turns per lap in 2004?
In 2004, the 24h-Race took place on a version of the "Nordschleife" and the short version of the Grand Prix Circuit. Thereby the drivers had to go through 73 turns at the "Nordschleife" (33 left-hand and 40 right-hand curves) as well as 11 turns at the Grand Prix Circuit (4 left-hand and 7 right-hand curves).
...that a lap at the 24h-Race 2004 was 24,358 kilometres long?
In 2004, the length of the circuit according to the DMSB Track Licence was 24,358 km with the motorcycle version at the NGK chicane. The race took place on the short version of the Grand Prix Circuit connected with the "Nordschleife" and the course ran clockwise
...that about 12.000sqm roadbed were renovated during thewinter 2003?
The Nürburgring GmbH wasn't inactive at all during the winter 2003. Several kilometres racetrack got a new roadway surface until the beginning of the new season. The asphalt was restored to good condition in ten track passages. The "Schwalbenschwanz" got completely new concrete plates.
...that about 336 meters guard rail had to be restored after the season 2003?
Due to accidents and other "impacts" during the season 2003 parts of the guard rails at the "Nordschleife" were renewed till the beginning of the present season. Most of the new "fenders" were installed at the track passage between "Fuchsröhre" and "Adenauer Forst".
...that Mühlner Motorsport started with the most successful driver line?
The drivers Ulrich Andree, Heinz-Josef Bermes, Andreas Middendorf and Jörg Seidel altogether achieved 19 class wins on the Nordschleife. In 2004 Bermes fetched his 14th victory in a class and is therefore the leader in this category. Second is Johannes Scheid with 10 class wins.
...that Infineon Team Abt Sportsline arrived in the most spectacular manner at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife?
The truck of Infineon Team Abt Sportsline was involved in a serious accident on the Autobahn A7 at their journey, which was blocked for several hours afterwards. Fortunately neither the driver was injured nor the race cars were damaged, and they were able to start in the Green Hell.
With 17 wins overall, thereof 7 double, and 97 victories in the classes BMW is the most successful manufacturer on the Nordschleife.
...that a new spectators record has been achieved in 2004?
220,000 fans were enjoying the hard fights on the most famous track in the world - 26,000 more than 2003!
...that another record was established by the OPC Team Phoenix?
The winner 2003, the Opel Astra V8 Coupé, with starting number 1 stopped 25 times in total at the box - there was a lot of work for the team, more than for anyone else!
...that OPC Team Phoenix achieved the fastest lap in 2004?
At least motorsport director Volker Strycek had one reason to be proud of: The OPC Team Phoenix couldn't repeat the victory overall but they catched the fastest lap in the race. With 8.26,742 minutes the Opel Astra V8 Coupé was 7 seconds faster than the winner 2004, the BMW M3 GTR with starting number 42.
...that in the second qualifying the formula "23 in 221" counted?
Because of the dirty weather only 23 in 221 teams were able to improve their times in the second qualifying. One of them was car number 43 from BMW Motorsport - Pedro Lamy had an accident in the first qualifying - which improved from 215th to 10th.
...that FALKEN MOTORSPORTS won in its class by the highest margin?
The Japanese finishing 5th overall drove with the Nissan Skyline GT-R in the class A8 27 rounds more than second in the class, Erwin Derichs, Manfred Kubik, Rolf Kienen and Helmut Undorf on their Audi V8.
...that the eldest participant at the 24h-race 2004 was 66 years old?
With 66 years Achim Schneider was young enough to drive the Weiland-Porsche in class A7.
...that 482 victory cups in total were given to the lucky winners?
After the 24h-race 2004 the organizer handed over 279 cups in the award ceremony. And 203 successful drivers in the side event races were glad about the golden trophy, too.
...that 1400 Marshalls work at 24 Hours of Nürburgring?
During the 24 Hours race-event at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife 1400 Marshalls took care of an safe and smooth race. Thereby the Marshalls worked in different shifts continuously.
...that there were 4 video screens surrounding the 24h-race track in 2004? After the premiere in 2003 of using a video screen on the circuit of the 24h-race, the event 2004 was going to be even more striking. All in all 4 video screens broadcasted race scenes from the circuit as well as impressions from the other motor sports-events of the weekend (Formula 1, Le Mans).
The program of the "Zürich RaceTV" broadcasted for the first time from the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. A fifth video screen was installed in Adenau for the "Adenauer Racing Day" on Thursday. The other screens were in the paddock, Brünnchen, Hatzenbach and the Mercedes-Arena.
...that in 2004 class A3 was the one with the most participants?
In the 24h-race 2004, the class A3 counted the most participants of all. 42 cars fighted against each other in this class. Furthermore there was a huge bandwidth of manufacturers in this class, e.g. Ford, Renault, Honda, Opel, BMW, Seat, VW, Mitsubishi or Lotus.
...that in 2004 36 tv-cameras broadcasted from the circuit?
In 2004 the WIGE MEDIA AG used 36 tv-cameras surrounding the hole circuit. Thereby WIGE planned to use the great part of the cameras in a way, that make it possible to see every part of the race track. Furthermore 6 onboard-cams and 3 helicopters were in use for the endurance event.
...that Hans-Joachim Stuck was the first 24h-race overall winner?
Cheek by jowl "Striezl" Stuck and Clemens Schickentanz won the first 24h-race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 1970 on a BMW 2002 ti.
...that three pilots share the record of most overall victories at the 24h-race?
By four victories Fritz Müller, Marc Duez and Peter Zakowski hold the record in 24h-race overall victories at the Nürburgring. An interesting note is, that all of them won their titles with two different manufactures.
...that the longest TV-cable, used for the 24h-Race 2003, had a full length of more than eight kilometres?
In 2003, the WIGE MEDIA AG, who is among others responsible for the TV-productions of the 24h-Race at the Nürburgring, installed a TV-cable, which was more than eight kilometres long. A cable of that length could be placed almost twice around the hole Grand Prix Circuit.
...that a pilot drove through 84 turns per lap in 2004?
In 2004, the 24h-Race took place on a version of the "Nordschleife" and the short version of the Grand Prix Circuit. Thereby the drivers had to go through 73 turns at the "Nordschleife" (33 left-hand and 40 right-hand curves) as well as 11 turns at the Grand Prix Circuit (4 left-hand and 7 right-hand curves).
...that a lap at the 24h-Race 2004 was 24,358 kilometres long?
In 2004, the length of the circuit according to the DMSB Track Licence was 24,358 km with the motorcycle version at the NGK chicane. The race took place on the short version of the Grand Prix Circuit connected with the "Nordschleife" and the course ran clockwise
...that about 12.000sqm roadbed were renovated during thewinter 2003?
The Nürburgring GmbH wasn't inactive at all during the winter 2003. Several kilometres racetrack got a new roadway surface until the beginning of the new season. The asphalt was restored to good condition in ten track passages. The "Schwalbenschwanz" got completely new concrete plates.
...that about 336 meters guard rail had to be restored after the season 2003?
Due to accidents and other "impacts" during the season 2003 parts of the guard rails at the "Nordschleife" were renewed till the beginning of the present season. Most of the new "fenders" were installed at the track passage between "Fuchsröhre" and "Adenauer Forst".
...that Mühlner Motorsport started with the most successful driver line?
The drivers Ulrich Andree, Heinz-Josef Bermes, Andreas Middendorf and Jörg Seidel altogether achieved 19 class wins on the Nordschleife. In 2004 Bermes fetched his 14th victory in a class and is therefore the leader in this category. Second is Johannes Scheid with 10 class wins.
...that Infineon Team Abt Sportsline arrived in the most spectacular manner at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife?
The truck of Infineon Team Abt Sportsline was involved in a serious accident on the Autobahn A7 at their journey, which was blocked for several hours afterwards. Fortunately neither the driver was injured nor the race cars were damaged, and they were able to start in the Green Hell.