You Only Need 68 Horsepower for Nürburgring Fun
Driving a French sports car with oversteer on a slippery Nordschleife circuit is every thrill-seeker's fantasy.
I'll continue to preach the gospel of "slow car fast" for as long as I live. To me, true joy comes from driving a car with limited power, minimal grip, and an unapologetic, aggressive attitude. Even on a challenging track like the Nürburgring, this approach seems to yield the best results.
The comparison demonstrates this well in a video of the circuit at a wet Nordschleife track day in an old Citroën C1. The tiny French hatchback may only have 68 horsepower, but it was both stripped out and caged to take part in a 24-hour race at Spa, meanwhile it showed a tendency to oversteer mid-corner and on exit. In other words, it is perfect for this kind of use.
The key here is to conserve your speed and keep it up, whether you're driving on the Nürburgring or on a regular road. Maintain your momentum and see if you can stay ahead of the other cars. Accelerate smoothly, avoid braking, and refrain from locking up your wheels. The objective is to keep your speed steady and consistent, and with practice, you can even keep pace with cars that are significantly faster. A smooth and swift journey is particularly enjoyable when done correctly. However, if you lose your momentum, it can be frustrating, and it may take considerable time to pick up speed again.
You might be quicker in a new BMW M3, but I wonder, would you be having a more enjoyable experience? I'm not quite certain.
More from the Nürburgring
- The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 laps the Nurburgring in under 06:43 minutes.
- The Mercedes-AMG One has shattered its own record at the Nurburgring.
