The Nürburgring is widely considered the toughest, most dangerous and most demanding purpose-built racing track in the world. Known as simply "the Ring" by enthusiasts, it is located about 70 kilometers (43 mi) south of Cologne, and 120 kilometers (75 mi) northwest of Frankfurt. Built in 1927 around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains produced the nickname "The Green Hell" for the thick forrest.

Originally, the track featured four track configurations: the 28.265 kilometers (17.563 miles) long Gesamtstrecke (“Whole Course”), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km (14.173 mi) Nordschleife (“Northern Loop”), and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife (“Southern Loop”). There also was a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife (“Finish Loop”) or better known as Betonschleife, around the pit area. Between 1982 and 1983 the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the shortened Nordschleife is still in use, for racing, testing and public access.

The Nordschleife lap time is the benchmark for all performance cars that manufactures use for promotional, comparison, and reporting purposes.

Below are the latest times reported:

Position	Make / Model	Time	Year
1	Radical SR8LM	06:48.0	’09
2	Radical SR8	06:55.0	’05
3	Porsche 918 Spyder "Weissach package"	06:57.0	’14
4	Gumpert Apollo Speed	07:11.6	’09
5	Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR	07:12.1	’08
6	Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package	07:14.6	’12
7	Donkervoort D8 RS	07:14.9	’05
8	Porsche 997 GT2 RS	07:18.0	’10
9	Radical SR3 Turbo	07:19.0	’03
10	Chevrolet Corvette ZR1	07:19.6	’08
11	Nissan GT-R	07:21.0	’12
12	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package	07:22.7	’11
13	Gumpert Apollo Sport	07:24.0	’07
14	Nissan GT-R	07:24.2	’11
15	Maserati MC12	07:24.3	’04
16	Pagani Zonda F Clubsport	07:24.7	’05
17	Ferrari Enzo	07:25.2	’02
18	Nissan GT-R	07:26.7	’08
19	Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0	07:27.0	’11
20	Ferrari 458 Italia	07:28.0	’09
21	McLaren MP4-12C	07:28.0	’10
22	Porsche Carrera GT	07:28.7	’03
23	Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0	07:30.0	’11
24	Porsche 997 GT2	07:31.0	’07
25	Porsche 911 Turbo S	07:32.0	’10
26	Pagani Zonda F	07:33.0	’05
27	Porsche 911 GT3 RS (facelift)	07:33.0	’10
28	Koenigsegg CCX	07:33.6	’06
29	Koenigsegg CCR	07:34.0	’04
30	Audi R8 GT	07:34.0	’10
31	Nissan GT-R Spec-V	07:34.5	’09
32	RUF RT12	07:35.0	’05
33	Porsche 997 Turbo	07:38.0	’06
34	Lexus LF-A	07:38.0	’10
35	Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera	07:38.0	’10
36	Ferrari 430 Scuderia	07:39.0	’07
37	Lamborghini Murcielago LP640	07:40.0	’06
38	McLaren Mercedes SLR	07:40.0	’03
39	Mercedes SLS AMG	07:40.0	’10
40	Porsche 997 GT3 (facelift)	07:40.0	’09
41	Porsche 911 Carrera S	07:40.0	’11
42	Porsche 997 Turbo S	07:41.2	’10
43	Chevrolet Camaro ZL1	07:41.3	’12
44	Porsche 997 GT3	07:42.0	’06
45	Radical SR3	07:42.0	’02
46	Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce	07:42.0	’09
47	Chevrolet Corvette Z06	07:42.9	’05
48	Porsche 996 GT3 RS	07:43.0	’03
49	Pagani Zonda C12 S	07:44.0	’02
50	Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI	07:44.0	’09
51	Mercedes CLK 63 Black Series	07:45.0	’07
52	Gardner Douglas GD T70 Spyder	07:45.0	’10
53	Porsche 996 GT2	07:46.0	’00
54	Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera	07:46.0	’07
55	Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Coupe Black Series	07:46.0	’11
56	Jaguar XJ220	07:46.4	’92
57	Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano	07:47.0	’06
58	Wiesmann GT MF5	07:47.0	’08
59	Porsche 997 Turbo facelift	07:47.0	’09
60	Porsche 997 GT3 RS	07:48.0	’06
61	BMW M3 GTS	07:48.0	’10
62	Porsche 997 Turbo S Cabriolet	07:48.2	’10
63	Lamborghini Murcielago	07:50.0	’02
64	BMW M3 CSL (E46)	07:50.0	’03
65	Porsche 997 Carrera S (2008 facelift)	07:50.0	’08
66	Audi R8 V10 Spyder	07:50.5	’10
67	Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series	07:51.0	’09
68	Lamborghini Gallardo	07:52.0	’03
69	Ford GT	07:52.0	’04
70	Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4	07:52.0	’08
71	Wiesmann GT MF5	07:52.4	’08
72	Ruf Turbo RT 600	07:52.8	’08
73	Mercedes CLK DTM	07:54.0	’04
74	Porsche 996 GT3 late	07:54.0	’03
75	Ferrari F430	07:55.0	’05
76	Caterham R500 1.8L K Series	07:55.0	’99
77	Porsche 996 Turbo	07:56.0	’00
78	Ferrari 360 CS	07:56.0	’03
79	Ferrari California GT	07:56.0	’09
80	Chevrolet Corvette C5Z06 ’02-’04	07:56.0	’01
81	Porsche Panamera Sport Chrono Turbo	07:56.0	’09
82	Porsche Panamera Turbo	07:56.0	’09
83	Porsche 996 GT3 early	07:56.3	’99
84	Honda NSX-R	07:56.7	’02
85	Audi RS4 (B7)	07:58.0	’05
86	Porsche Boxster S (981)	07:58.0	’12
87	Chevrolet Corvette C6	07:59.0	’04
88	Porsche 997 Carrera S	07:59.0	’04
89	Jaguar XKR-S Convertible (550 PS)	07:59.0	’12
90	Cadillac CTS-V	07:59.3	’09
91	Bugatti EB 110 SS (US market version)	08:01.0	’92
92	Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R	08:01.0	’95
93	Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe	08:01.0	’11
94	Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Performance Package	08:01.0	’11
95	Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder	08:01.8	’06
96	Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro	08:01.9	’06
97	Aston Martin DBS	08:02.0	’07
98	Aston Martin V8 Vantage (380bhp)	08:03.0	’05
99	Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Coupe Performance Package	08:03.0	’11
100	Jaguar XKR-S	08:03.0	’11
101	Honda NSX-R (3.0)	08:03.9	’05
102	Lamborghini Diablo GT	08:04.0	’99
103	Porsche 997 Carrera 4S (facelift)	08:04.5	’08
104	RUF CTR Yellow Bird	08:05.0	’87
105	Ferrari 575 Maranello	08:05.0	’02
106	BMW M3 (E92)	08:05.0	’07
107	Porsche Cayman S(facelift) PDK	08:06.0	’08
108	Mercedes SL 55 AMG (517 ps)	08:06.0	’06
109	Subaru Impreza STI Spec C MK.II	08:06.0	’05
110	Caterham Superlight R	08:06.2	’97
111	Ferrari 550 Maranello	08:07.0	’96
112	BMW Z8	08:07.0	’00
113	BMW M6	08:07.8	’05
114	Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy	08:08.0	’11
115	Porsche 964 Turbo 3.3 (320hp)	08:08.7	’91
116	Ferrari 360 Modena	08:09.0	’99
117	Lamborghini Diablo SV	08:09.0	’97
118	Audi RS6 Avant (C6)	08:09.0	’08
119	Audi TT-RS Coupe	08:09.0	’09
120	Porsche 993 GT2	08:09.3	’95
121	Donkervoort D8 180R	08:10.0	’01
122	Dodge Viper GTS	08:10.0	’97
123	Alpina B6 S	08:10.0	’08
124	KTM X-Bow	08:10.0	’08
125	Mercedes E63 AMG	08:10.0	’09
126	Porsche Cayman S	08:11.0	’05
127	Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX	08:11.0	’05
128	Porsche 993 Turbo 3.6 factory kit	08:12.0	’97
129	Mercedes SL 55 AMG	08:12.0	’02
130	Lotus Esprit Sport 350	08:13.0	’99
131	Dodge Viper SRT-10	08:13.0	’05
132	BMW M5 (E60)	08:13.0	’05
133	Ferrari F355	08:13.0	’95
134	Mercedes C 63 AMG	08:13.0	’07
135	Artega GT	08:13.0	’09
136	Mercedes SL65 AMG	08:14.0	’04
137	Mercedes SLK 55 AMG Black Series	08:14.0	’06
138	Alpina B3 Biturbo	08:14.0	’07
139	Alpina B3 Biturbo Coupe	08:14.0	’07
140	BMW 1 Series M Coupe	08:15.0	’11
141	Porsche 997 Carrera	08:15.0	’04
142	RUF BR2 EKS	08:15.0	’92
143	Alpina Z4 Roadster S	08:15.0	’03
144	RUF CTR2	08:15.0	’97
145	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR	08:15.0	’05
146	Aston Martin DB9	08:16.0	’04
147	Honda NSX 3.0	08:16.1	’91
148	BMW M6 Cabrio	08:16.5	’07
149	Renault Megane R26.R	08:16.9	’08
150	Porsche 996 Carrera	08:17.0	’97
151	Porsche 996 Carrera 320hp	08:17.0	’01
152	Aston Martin V12 Vanquish	08:17.0	’01
153	Chevrolet Corvette C5 Comm. Edition Targa	08:18.0	’04
154	Maserati Coupe GranSport	08:18.0	’04
155	Porsche 987 Boxster S (276bhp)	08:18.0	’05
156	Lexus IS F	08:18.0	’07
157	Porsche Boxster S (facelift)	08:18.0	’09
158	Audi RS6 (C5)	08:20.0	’02
159	Audi RS3 Sportback	08:20.0	’10
160	Chevrolet Camaro SS 2010	08:20.0	’10
161	BMW M3 (E46)	08:22.0	’00
162	Mercedes C 55 AMG	08:22.0	’04
163	BMW Z3 M Coupe	08:22.0	’99
164	Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R	08:22.4	’89
165	Chevrolet Cobalt SS/TC	08:22.9	’08
166	Porsche 986 Boxster S (262bhp)	08:23.0	’04
167	Aston Martin DB7 GT	08:23.0	’03
168	VW Golf R	08:23.0	’10
169	Mercedes SLK 55 AMG	08:24.0	’06
170	Subaru Impreza WRX STi	08:24.0	’05