We arrived nice and early, so we wouldn't get lost and miss our slot. We sign our disclaimer, then wait for an hour or so. The Ring Taxi finally arrives and takes a few passengers. The cars are immaculate, like they have just had a valet clean. After a few laps, they are already beginning to look dirty. The track surface is obviously wet.
The entry to the circuit to drive one lap is easily accessible, via the carpark. As the track surface is still wet, and visibility very poor, the Ring Taxi is the only car going out. The carpark is filling up with cars, many track ready with roll cages, mostly Porsches, and in particular a Gumpert Apollo turns heads as he burbles in and parks up. These drivers are obviously here hoping the day will improve, before paying their toll to get on the track.
Finally its our turn. Once we hop in, we're through the toll gate, and we're off! The visibility is very poor, we cannot see the end of straights and can only see the corner we're on. This does not put our driver off, he's driven in Nürburgring 24 hour races and therefore not only knows the track by heart, but he has experience driving with only his headlights to see. So we're in good hands.
The BMW M5 does a fine job of powering us around, it's comfortable and quick and the driver occasionally drifts us through corners for fun. I could do this all day long, but sadly one lap is all we get and before we know it, we're back in the pits. The lap was around 10 minutes, plenty quick for us, especially given the low visibility. We had the track to ourselves, with nobody to pass (or slow us down) and also nobody coming up behind wanting to overtake.
This was a great "once in a lifetime" experience and well worth it.
A heads up to all back in Wellington- we will have a Nürburgring sticker on our car when we return - tacky or not (just google "Nürburgring sticker" and see the debates on forums about what "earns the right" to wear such a sticker, quite amusing).
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