Catsburg: Eau Rouge has got nothing on the Nordschleife

FIA World Touring Car Championship driver Nicky Catsburg says the daunting Eau Rouge corner at Spa-Francorchamps has got nothing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and its 64 heart-stopping turns.

And the Dutchman should know having won the Belgian track’s 24-hour race last season and become something of a Nordschelife expert through his participation in several long-distance races at the legendary German venue.

Speaking ahead of WTCC Race of Germany, which takes place at the Nürburgring Nordschleife from 26-28 May, LADA Sport Roseneft ace Catsburg said: “To set the comparison with other tracks, Eau Rouge, the fast corner at Spa, is always a challenge and always a corner people speak about but it’s so easy. You go out on your fast lap, you try to take it flat but if it’s not possible you take the run-off and you have found the limit. On the Nordschleife you cannot do that anywhere. If you go off, you are in the wall or the trees.

“What makes it even more difficult is that you have so many of these high-speed turns where you really have to take risks and you only see those turns once every eight minutes so it’s really difficult to be on the limit immediately. But I just love it, it’s such a cool track. I’m always a big fan of high-speed corners and this track has it all. And the atmosphere with the fans, I always look forward to going there.”

While Catsburg has plenty of Nürburgring Nordschleife experience to call on, last year’s WTCC races were held prior to him joining LADA Sport Rosneft.