Oldtimer GP – Is this Germany’s answer to Goodwood Revival?

There’s an aura to old circuits. Frequent race-goers will know what we’re talking about. And at thirteen miles long with a bewildering 154 corners, the Nürburgring is the king of race circuits, a vast asphalt henge to which thousands flock for a kind of petrolhead pilgrimage, whether it be for the infamous Touristenfahrten or the myriad events the track plays host to, like the Oldtimer GP for instance.

While it may be known among drivers as “the Green Hell”, the Ring is anything but for spectators. Besides being one of the few venues anywhere in the world where amateurs can simply turn up to test their mettle in any vehicle of their choosing, the “Ring” plays host to a packed racing calendar – with F1 now the notable omission since the days of James Hunt and his rather large proverbials…

In August 2024, the Nürburgring played host to the 52nd Oldtimer Grand Prix, a Goodwood Revival/Le Mans Classic-style historic racing event where everything from ‘50s single-seaters to DTM legends battle it out on the shorter GP circuit.

Historic motor racing is more popular than ever and we at Car & Classic couldn’t be happier. We’re huge advocates for using classic vehicles as their makers originally intended, and for old competition cars that means dusting them off and setting some lap times. Having attended Goodwood Revival and participated in Le Mans Classic last year, we were keen to find out what the Oldtimer Grand Prix had in store. We were lucky enough to get in on the action this year, in the grandstands, amidst the paddock and attending Adenau’s ‘Oldy Meets Jazz’ afterparty. Niiiice.

Upon arrival, this feels like a more intimate event than most on the historic motorsport calendar. We were able to park a mere stone’s throw from the start/finish straight and stroll into the grandstands, scanning our tickets at the automatic turnstiles. There was no shortage of seats throughout the day and unlike Goodwood’s myriad private enclosures, it seemed a basic ticket gave you access to practically all areas – including the paddock.

Racing was already well underway, so hastily we joined the small congregation in the grandstand at the end of the start/finish straight. This proved an excellent vantage point to watch the cars hurtle past the pits and dive into the braking zone for the tight right-hander of turn one. After watching several races and demo runs play out from here, we crossed under the track, venturing to the far corner of the paddock. From here, we could stand among the crews and peer through the fence as the cars climb at a great pace up the hill towards the NGK Chicane. The GP Circuit is perfect for dipping in and out of the action. It’s suitably compact that you can check out what the paddock has to offer while catching the odd glimpse of racing as you wander around. That means you also get to see the next batch of cars being warmed up in readiness to take their places on the grid – a spectacle as fascinating for us mechanically-minded as the actual racing.

Paddock access lets you get up close and personal with some very special cars. You’re treated to a smorgasbord of packed pit garages, car club displays, specialists’ stands and of course the odd bratwurst vendor. It would be rude not to grab a sausage, right?

We don’t think we’ve ever seen so many Ferrari Daytonas in one place, and certainly never so many 300 SL Gullwings as there were dotted around the paddock. There’s an eclectic mix of cars on the grid, too. It’s not every day you see Minis wheel-to-wheel with GT40s, but we can confirm the plucky little Brit more than holds its own in the tighter sections even if there is indeed “no replacement for displacement” on the straights.

We particularly enjoyed the historic Grand Prix cars. Hailing from the days when most people had experienced nothing quicker than a Morris Minor or Volkswagen Beetle, it’s no wonder the likes of Fangio, Ascari, Farina and Moss were considered driving demigods. They’re just so quick. And to see these septuagenarian machines driven in anger was a real privilege.

Of course, it just wouldn’t be right to go to the Nürburgring and not see some touring cars and if you love a period bodykit, as we do, you wouldn’t be disappointed. All eras were well-represented and a particular highlight was Leopold Prince of Bavaria and his orange 3.0 CSL E9 BMW.

Our favourites though had to be the sports cars of the ‘50s and ‘60s as this class seemed to deliver the closest racing. Air-cooled 911s did battle with Shelby Daytonas, 105 Series Alfas, Minis, Lotus (Loti?), an unusual Aston Martin DP214 prototype and just about everything in between.

It’s terrifying to think what some of these cars are worth, but to the credit of their drivers (and owners), these guys do not hold back. Much like Goodwood and Le Mans, there’s some really close racing at the Oldtimer GP and it’s clear the gloves are very much off as soon as soon as the green flag drops. As it should be.

By late afternoon, we’d had our fill of racing (and indeed sausages), but the day wasn’t over as that evening we drove to the picturesque nearby town of Adenau to attend the ‘Oldy Meets Jazz’ event which takes place in the high street. Granted, the name isn’t perhaps the most enticing in English, but the event, (which is free to attend), had a fantastic festival atmosphere and was great for us car-spotters. It’s interesting to see what the locals turn up in and it seems Italian, American and British cars are particularly popular. We saw a startling number of TVRs on German plates – possibly the least Teutonic car you could imagine – but we suppose if you’re after a Mercedes-Benz antidote, Blackpool is the place to look…

So, to answer the question posed in the title of this article: is the Oldtimer Grand Prix Germany’s Goodwood Revival?

Well, it’s actually more like a Goodwood Member’s Meeting – the main difference being that everyone’s invited. Revival is a celebration of a bygone age; a vintage fashion show with a side serving of motor racing. Whereas the Oldtimer GP feels like a regular race meet you just happened to have been invited along to. You don’t need thousands of trade stands to make the Nürburgring entertaining – the circuit does all the work and the racing is sublime.

Perhaps predictably, the Oldtimer GP lacks the chaotic atmosphere of the Le Mans Classic where the relentless stream of paddock traffic – all period-correct – is a spectator sport in itself! That’s not to say we had any real clue of what was going on – (which admittedly wasn’t helped by our lack of German). But who cares? It’s not every day you get to see priceless historic race cars driven in anger, and events like the Oldtimer GP serve to remind us just how exciting these bygone eras of motorsport were.

A mark of a good event is when you can get amongst these cars, especially with the hubbub of mechanics swarming around them tightening bolts, adjusting carburettors and warming up the engines. The Oldtimer GP isn’t merely for the eyes. Frankly, if you want to know what’s happening on track, you’re better off watching television. But that’s not what these events are about. You go to hear the engines and smell the petrol. To become immersed. Long may it continue.