Probably the fastest lap ever

Was set in 1983 by Stefan Bellof, a German born in 1957. The lap-time, 6 minutes and 11,13 seconds was set during qualifying for the 1000km race driving the factory Porsche 956 . The average speed of the lap was over 200 kph.

The lap however was not set on the full lenght of the Nordschleife track, since work on the 'new' Nürburgring had begun the year before. The track turned right just before the old start/finish-area (wich now was a construction-area) and passed temporary pits that had been built on the right hand side of the track, before rejoining the old track again, just before the left-hand turn starting the downhill leg towards Hatzenbach. The track was about 2 km shorter then the 'real' lap.

The race, wich was the last ever World Championship race to be held on the old Nordschleife track, did not end well for Bellof and his team-mate Derek Bell. After starting from pole, Stefan lost the lead in the early parts of the first lap, but got it back before the second lap began. Then, in his second stint in the car, while in a comfortable lead, Stefan lost it at Pflanzgarten, beliving he got air under the car. The other works Porsche, driven by Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass, took over the lead and won the race.

Stefan Bellof was sadly lost in an accident (again driving a Porsche 956, but this time for the Brun team) at the 1000km race at Spa in 1985. Bellof is by many considered to be one of the greatest talents ever lost to the racing world, before coming to his full potential.