Fahren auf dem Nurburgring im Schnee

That's German for "Driving on the Nürburgring in snow."  There are some things that you just don't imagine happening.  Like American football (excuse me, Hand-Egg) becoming popular in Europe, or McDonalds selling malt liquor (actually, that might work.)  Taking on the world's most complicated, difficult road course at speed in the snow?  That's retarded, who would do that?

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dkys6csRws

Apparently Andy Gülden would, and in a Formula car no less.  Gülden is the Nurburgring Driving Academy's chief instructor, and evidently a quite talented one.  Watching him pilot this open-wheeled car shod with wicked snow tires on the Nordschliefe and Grand Prix track is a trip.  I have to wonder though, when it's -16°C out (3°F) how cold do you get driving the snot out of an open wheeled race car?  I bet he's got some high tech handwarmers going on.

Turns out Gülden's not the only one who's done the whole Nürburgring in the snow thing, though.  Which blows my mind.  Why don't these people stay home and keep warm?

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue0DLFWpjQQ

Here we have a German motoring show taking a Mitsubishi Evo 8 on the Nürburgring in snow.  The snow's considerably deeper here, but the car's certainly better suited to it in the first place.  Still, more than a little weird to see an Evo going around the 'ring... in a few inches of powder.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcVXP3Z5Dk4

This one's interesting.  Although the description doesn't say it, the car is a 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA - the lairy version with that vocal 3.2L 24v V6 shunting too much power to the front wheels.  It starts off with the track mostly dry, but as the lap goes on it gets... interesting.  The rain starts at about 4:30, and the snow shows up around 7:15.  While the GTA looks quick on the quasi-dry track, you can tell how much it's struggling from the contant motion of the traction control the snow.  Must have been a white-knuckler.  Apparently they got stuck...

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zirXvjxXqzw

You may have seen this one before.  It's a 911 (996) Carrera 4 on snow tires drifting it's (engine filled) ass off on the Nordschliefe.  The rooster-tails this thing throws up are impressive - a great piece of driving, almost artistic.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twjp2VlCK7c

An R35-GTR on the Nordschliefe with Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires - despite an overabundance of power, Nissan's ATTESSA AWD system makes the most of the available grip here, and it looks relatively controlled and tidy for a 500+ horsepower car in the snow!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1CagjF3uxY

This one's a little more slow and sensible - perhaps preservation of life and limb came to mind, this might be the slowest anyone's ever gone on the Nürburgring.  The car is a Porsche Cayenne- can't tell if it's a diesel or a Turbo S, but it's going so slow it doesn't quite matter.  That would probably be pretty high on my list of vehicles to tackle a snow-covered N-ring in, though. I can see the Porsche add now: "A Boxster Spyder for the 'Ring in Summer, a Cayenne S for the Winter!  Why have one, when you can have two for the price of both!"

Have you seen another Nürburgring in the snow video which I haven't posted here?  Link to it in the comments section below!