Having permission to race on the Nordschleife is of utmost importance for Simon Reicher‘s future career in motorsports. This required the Austrian to return to school last weekend. He participated in a certificate course, training and ultimately permitting him to race the Nordschleife for events like 24-hour races with GT3 cars. Simon reports: “I had no expectations and no real idea regarding the rundown of the course. I just let it come at me and there ended up being no surprises. It was very interesting to personally experience that the Nordschleife Permit is an absolutely justified requirement.”

After intense theory sessions, hands-on practice was on next day’s schedule. Visibly impressed, the 19-year-old shares his impressions: “The race drove the point home. It is very important to complete the Permit on a less powerful car. To attempt one’s first-ever laps with a GT3 car would be irresponsible. The Nordschleife is nicknamed “Green Hell” for a reason, and not just because there are trees left and right. This can’t really be grasped from the outside. I’ve been studying every Nordschleife YouTube video for years, but they are nothing like reality. It’s not quite what I expected, and I learned a lot from this new experience.”

To qualify for Permit A, which would grant the youngster permission to drive a GT3 vehicle during a 24-hour race, each participant must complete a total of 18 laps during two VLN endurance races. To make things more challenging, the German Motorsport Federation requires those 18 laps to have been completed among the top 75% of entrants in the appropriate vehicle classification.“ During the four-hour race, we completed 22 laps of the 25,950 meter long Nordschleife. Racing circumstances led to my two teammates driving 15 laps, while I completed 7 rounds. I am happy to have arrived safely, gained new experiences with the car, and to have approached my dream-come-true a little more. In two weeks we hope to pass the Permit A and sign off for good. We would then be free in our choice of car for next year’s 24-hour race on the Nürburgring. Speaking of this mega event, I still have a lot of work ahead of me. The Nordschleife is quite something. 18 laps for the permit are a bit sparse. The Nordschleife can’t be compared to any normal circuits,” explains Simon Reicher.

The Manheller Racing driver was particularly impressed when he turned onto the Nordschleife for the first time. He recalls his emotions: “Turning from the Grand Prix circuit onto the Nordschleife is like entering a new world. It is incredibly impressive; you have to experience that feeling at least once in life.”