Sometimes changes become necessary to keep up then and now as times also change. This applies also, or in particular, for the VLN endurance racing championship Nürburgring. So there will be a number of regulation changes for the year 2016 which aim to ensure the continuation of the popular grassroots series and to react onto the current problems at and around the Nürburgring. VLN chief representative Karl Mauer clarifies: „I think that we are well on the right track. Changes from year to year, this is finally also an ongoing process. I do, however, currently not see any point which would put us in danger to stumble or even to crash.” In the season 2016, the unloved slow-zones as well as some classes will for example be cancelled. One cup will be added (see page 52) and the entry fees will be reordered.

“Last year we had 27 different classes in the VLN. However, we realised that in some of these classes there were no participants at all or only one or two cars”, says Mauer. This applies for example for class SP1 which is deleted for 2016. All cars which are not running on petrol will be classified in class AT. Changes will also be applied in group H which figures four different classes. Whilst cars built up to the year 2005 were so far eligible in this category, the now admitted cars may have been built up to the year 2008. However, group H which is designed as a pool for vehicles which are no longer eligible in other classes due to their expired homologation, remains under consideration. Mauer: “From 2017, this category will be divided into only two classes, cars up to two litres and cars over two litres.” The fact that classes have to be deleted at all is an inevitable necessity for Mauer: “We will do our best to provide everybody who wishes to take part on a low cost level this possibility. But we cannot add an endless number of classes without deleting others. It is to be reminded that we declare winners and award trophies in each class. The prizegiving ceremony would become an infinite event. The sporting challenge in the VLN, too, would not be increased by so many classes.”

Regarding cost level, amongst others the entry fees play quite a significant role. The scale of fees has been reorganised for the season 2016. The entry fees for the lowest category, the newcomer level, has for example been reduced from 650 euro to 600 euro. And the fee for vehicles in the two litres turbo class comes down from 1,000 euro to only 600 euro. Mauer: “It is our goal to express herewith: You are most welcome. And within the scope of our possibilities, we thus try to facilitate you to join the VLN.” And this message shall even be intensified for races four, five and six. These are the races after the 24h Race which, by experience, always figure less entries. For these races, the entry fees will be half for newcomers in the categories 600 euro and 1,000 euro. Mauer: “Moreover, we offer a kind of starter package in which for example the GPS system can be rented instead of the obligation to purchase it.”

In order to equalize the lower revenues generated in the smaller classes, the participants in the categories with higher entry fees will have to pay a little more. But in an overall view, the new regulations are fair. Mauer: “We have spoken with many team managers and asked them how much they are paying for the participation in a four hour race. At a rough estimate and based on this investigation, we can say that in all categories the entry fees will in future come up to approximately ten percent of the total costs.” The entry fee category of 1,200 euro for example will for the year 2016 be increased to 1,500 euro. The participation of a Porsche 911 in class SP7 costs about 15,000 euro. For the most expensive vehicles, the GT3 cars, the due entry fees calculated on basis of the participation costs would be about 4,000 to 5,000 euro. These competitors will, however, have to pay only 3,500 euro for a single entry. Mauer: “Anything else would simply be too much. We must furthermore consider our regular clients in this case separately.” Regular participants will thus have the possibility to submit a block entry for all ten VLN races and pay the fee of 30,000 euro in total. These teams will moreover receive a discount of 1,000 euro for each race in which they have participated in 2015. Mauer: “If a team has competed in all races in 2015, it will hence have to pay only 20,000 euro entry fees for all the races in 2016. Any this would be only 5,000 euro in excess of the previous annual entry fees.” 

Whether newcomers or regular drivers, they all can race at full throttle again in 2016 due to the track modifications carried out at the Nürburgring. The slow-zones in which a maximum speed of 200 or 250 kph was applicable will be deleted. Each driver may freely try to get to his or her personal limits again at this most beautiful, longest and most demanding circuit of the world.