Dortmund

Dortmund, with approximately 590,000 residents the largest city in the Ruhr region and eighth-largest city in Germany, offers motorsport enthusiasts an ideal mix of urban infrastructure and access to legendary racing circuits. The Nürburgring is approximately 180-190 km southwest – exact distance depends on chosen route – translating to about 2 to 2.5 hours of driving via A45 and A61. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium is even slightly closer, approximately 150-160 km west, reachable in about 1.5 to 2 hours via A1 and E40. This dual proximity to two of Europe's most legendary racing circuits, combined with Dortmund's excellent motorway connections as a transportation hub, makes the city an attractive base for track day enthusiasts. Weekend trips to both tracks are quite feasible, and many Dortmund drivers use the geographic position to regularly visit both the Nordschleife and the Belgian Ardennes.

The local motorsport scene in Dortmund begins with Dortmunder Motorsport-Club e.V. im ADAC, a traditional club with long history. The club regularly organizes automobile slalom events, orienteering drives, and traffic safety training. These slalom events typically take place on closed areas – often on former industrial sites or large parking lots – and cost participants between 60-80 euros per day. Your own street vehicle can be used, no special racing license is required. ADAC Westfalen, headquartered in Dortmund, also coordinates regional motorsport events and organizes several rally events in North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund MC also has historic connections to the region's automotive industry and regularly organizes classic car events and vintage car excursions through the Sauerland and Münsterland regions.

Karting in Dortmund is dominated by Highway Kart Racing, an indoor karting facility in Dortmund-Barop on Stockumer Straße. This facility offers an approximately 400-meter track with modern electric karts reaching speeds up to 60 km/h. The track layout is technically demanding with tight hairpins and fast chicanes. A 10-minute session costs approximately 20-25 euros, while group events and corporate events can be booked from about 40 euros per person. The facility is also popular with local kart racing leagues and offers regular championship races. Additionally, there's Kart Motorsport-Zentrum Dortmund, another option for karting enthusiasts. For outdoor karting, Dortmund residents must travel to surrounding cities – Bochum, Essen, and Unna all have outdoor karting tracks within 20-30 km distance.

For Nürburgring track days, Dortmund drivers have all classic options available. Public tourist driving sessions on the 20.8 km Nordschleife cost 30 euros per lap or approximately 110 euros for a 4-lap card. The track is open from March to November on most evenings and weekends, weather permitting. Exact opening times are published online at nuerburgring.de. For beginners, organized track day events from providers like RSRNurburg, Pistenclub, Nordschleife Competence Center, or Drive-in-Motion are recommended. These offer structured events with division into driver groups by experience level (beginners, advanced, experts), track briefings by experienced instructors, timing systems, and often helmet rentals. A full track day with such organizers costs between 300-600 euros, depending on track configuration (Nordschleife only, GP circuit only, or combinations), number of driving sessions, and whether additional services like personal instructor accompaniment are desired.

Spa-Francorchamps, the 7 km racing circuit in the Belgian Ardennes, is even slightly closer from Dortmund than the Nürburgring. Many Dortmund enthusiasts particularly appreciate Spa for its legendary corners like Eau Rouge/Raidillon, Pouhon, and Blanchimont, as well as the spectacular Ardennes landscape. Organized track days at Spa are offered by various providers including RSR, Apex Trackdays, Circuit Days, and Motorsport Days. Costs typically range between 350-700 euros for a day, depending on organizer and season. Many consider Spa the most beautiful racing circuit in the world – the combination of fast corners, elevation changes exceeding 100 meters, and Ardennes landscape is unique. The more modern infrastructure and more generous runoff areas compared to the Nordschleife also make Spa attractive for less experienced drivers. Many Dortmund drivers combine both tracks in an extended weekend – Saturday Nürburgring, Sunday Spa, with overnight stay in the Eifel or Ardennes.

The Sauerland, the mountainous region south of Dortmund, also offers interesting driving routes beyond racing circuits. The winding country roads between Dortmund and Winterberg, particularly the B 236 and the mountain roads around Willingen, are very popular with motorcyclists and convertible enthusiasts. These routes offer changing elevation profiles, tight corners, and light traffic during weekdays. On summer weekends they're well-trafficked, which both increases the social aspect and calls for caution – police conduct increased speed checks as some sections are accident hotspots. Dortmund MC regularly organizes touring car excursions to the Sauerland, often with stops at scenic locations like Möhnesee reservoir or historic towns like Arnsberg and Schmallenberg. These organized drives combine driving pleasure with social networking.

The Dortmund automotive enthusiast scene is closely networked through various brand clubs and umbrella organizations. Porsche Club Ruhrgebiet has an active chapter in Dortmund with monthly meetings in the Westphalia area and regular drives, both on public roads and to organized track days at Nürburgring or Spa. BMW Club Deutschland Westfalen is headquartered in Dortmund and organizes its own regular gatherings and joint motorsport events. Audi enthusiasts will find an engaged group in quattro Community Ruhr-Westfalen with regular meetings and technical seminars. Mercedes-AMG owners are organized in AMG Club Deutschland Ruhr. These clubs offer not only social networking but often group rates for track days, significantly reducing costs per person. They also enable exchange of technical knowledge and access to specialized workshops.

Dortmund is historically an industrial city – coal, steel, and beer have shaped the city. This industrial heritage has created a pragmatic, down-to-earth culture also reflected in the local automotive scene. There's less ostentation than in Düsseldorf, but more genuine enthusiasts who work on their vehicles themselves. Several specialized workshops in Dortmund and surroundings offer motorsport preparation. Costs for a complete track day inspection – including brake check, suspension review, fluids, tires, and safety equipment – typically range between 200-400 euros, depending on vehicle type. Some workshops specialize in specific brands (Porsche, BMW, VW/Audi) and offer complete track day preparation services, including rental racing equipment and track transport. The Dortmund motorsport community is large, diverse, and accessible – a reflection of the city itself.