Ever since my first visit to the Nürburgring in 2019, I’ve become hooked on the excitement that comes with a spirited lap around the Nordschleife. And when I picked up my own car in 2021, I immediately bought a set of semi-slicks and became a ‘Ring regular.
What some people might not know is that the Nürburgring hibernates over winter. Last year, it closed on November 30, which is actually well into the cold months. Given that the Eifel region experiences occasional snowfall at that time of the year, attending the last Touristenfahrten day of 2025 was going to be a bit of a gamble, but one I was happy to take.
The day began with rain, meaning the cold Nordschleife was very slippery. Thankfully, the tarmac does dry out as people make their way around the circuit. But while the track is where the action is at – especially when there’s a lack of grip – the Devil’s Diner parking lot at the Nordschleife’s entrance is where the culture lives. Here, friends and strangers connect over their shared passion for cars.
There’s a constant flow of vehicles coming and going, and on this particular morning, I saw everything from the expected Porsche 911 GT3 RSs to a group of modified Mazda MX-5s on a mission to form a train on track. Unlike in summer, when the Nürburgring is heaving, and everybody is driving like they’re on a sub-seven-minute record run, this time of year sees more locals and regular visitors celebrating one last session for the season. There’s definitely a relaxed vibe.
The main event, however, was a parade lap at the end of the day. At 3:30 pm, the T13 pit was overflowing with cars, everyone eager to take one final drive around the Green Hell for the year. After checking out the vibe, I decided to finish my last lap ahead of the parade so I could stand at the exit and capture the spectacle. As the final rental Volkswagen Golf R drove in, the sun broke through the clouds.
After a brief period of serenity at the entrance, a sea of headlights appeared from the Audi gantry. The first car to arrive back and exit the track was a yellow NA Mazda MX-5. With everyone’s lights flashing and horns honking, the atmosphere was electric. As the final car came off the track – a Mk2 Ford Focus ST – the clouds closed in again. It was rather poetic; a brief spell of sunshine followed by overcast skies, symbolizing the end of another adrenaline-filled year on the world’s most exciting 20.8km stretch of asphalt.
I stayed at the parking lot for a little while afterwards, soaking up the Nürburgiring atmosphere one last time before saying goodbye to some friends and heading home. While I was sad to leave, I knew I’d be back soon.
With the track set to reopen this month for the 2026 season, I’m counting down the days to put some more Nürburgiring miles on my clock.
