Gelsenkirchen

Gelsenkirchen, with approximately 260,000 residents in the northern Ruhr region and known nationwide primarily for football club FC Schalke 04, offers motorsport enthusiasts an interesting mix of industrial heritage, past motorsport history, and modern access to premier racing circuits. The Nürburgring is approximately 165-175 km southwest, translating to about 2 to 2.5 hours of driving via A2, A3, and A61. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium is approximately 125-135 km west, reachable in about 1.5 to 2 hours via A2 and E40. This position makes Gelsenkirchen a practical base for track day enthusiasts looking to regularly visit both legendary racing circuits, with Spa often preferred due to the shorter journey.

Gelsenkirchen possesses a fascinating, though today largely forgotten motorsport history: the Motodrom Gelsenkirchen, also called "Almaring." This racing track was opened in 1969 by Rheinländische Autorenn-Gemeinschaft (RAG) in the Ückendorf district on the wasteland of the former Kokerei Alma coking plant. The 750-meter long and 7.5-meter wide asphalt track was unusual for a speedway track as it wasn't a pure oval but featured a more varied track layout. Initially races were held on loose surface, but in 1977 the track received an asphalt surface. The Motodrom hosted vintage car races and later auto speedway racing until it closed in the mid-1980s. Today the area is largely forested, but the asphalt surface still exists completely, as do numerous guardrails and other relics from racing days – a lost place for motorsport historians and urban explorers.

The organized motorsport scene in Gelsenkirchen today is served by ADAC local clubs in the region. Gelsenkirchen itself no longer has its own large ADAC motorsport club with the visibility of past days, but neighboring clubs in Bochum (MSC Ruhr-Blitz), Essen, and Recklinghausen regularly organize automobile slalom events, orienteering drives, and traffic safety training that Gelsenkirchen enthusiasts can participate in. These slalom events take place on closed areas and cost participants between 60-80 euros per day. Your own street vehicle can be used, no special racing license is required. ADAC Nordrhein also coordinates regional motorsport events and rally events taking place in the wider region.

Karting opportunities in Gelsenkirchen itself are limited, but the central location in the Ruhr region means short distances to several options. In Herne, about 10 km east, are indoor karting facilities. Motodrom Hagen, about 25 km southeast, offers one of Germany's oldest permanent outdoor karting tracks with 865 meters of track length, open since 1963. In Bochum, just about 8 km south, is Battle Kart Bochum with its augmented reality karting concept. In Essen, about 15 km southwest, is Daytona-Kart Center. The Kart Masters NRW series regularly hosts races at various karting tracks in the region, including Hattingen and Gevelsberg, both within 20-30 km distance. For serious kart racers, ADAC Kart-Clubsport offers license-free events for hobby drivers with unified regulations since 2009.

For Nürburgring track days, Gelsenkirchen 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. For beginners, organized track day events from providers like RSRNurburg, Pistenclub, or Nordschleife Competence Center are recommended. These offer structured events with division into driver groups by experience level, track briefings by experienced instructors, timing systems, and often helmet rentals. A full track day costs between 300-600 euros, depending on track configuration and services. The GP circuit (5.1 km) is a less intimidating alternative for beginners with more modern safety standards.

Spa-Francorchamps, closer from Gelsenkirchen than the Nürburgring, is the preferred track for many local enthusiasts. Organized track days at Spa are offered by various providers including RSR, Apex Trackdays, and Circuit Days. Costs typically range between 350-700 euros for a day. Spa is famous for its spectacular track layout through Ardennes landscape, the legendary Eau Rouge/Raidillon combination, and long fast corners like Pouhon and Blanchimont. The more modern infrastructure with generous runoff areas makes Spa particularly attractive for less experienced drivers. Many Gelsenkirchen drivers combine track day visits with weekend trips to the Belgian Ardennes, with the region around Spa also offering scenic driving routes and good gastronomy outside the circuit.

Gelsenkirchen is primarily known as a football city – FC Schalke 04 and Veltins-Arena dominate the city's sports culture. This football passion often overshadows other sports, including motorsport. Nevertheless, there's a dedicated, though smaller community of automobile enthusiasts. Porsche Club Ruhrgebiet has members from Gelsenkirchen who attend monthly meetings and track day outings. BMW Club Deutschland Westfalen and Audi Sport Community Rhein-Ruhr also have followers in the city. These clubs offer not only social networking but often group rates for track days, significantly reducing costs per person. Exchange of technical knowledge and access to specialized workshops are additional advantages.

The history of the Almaring has developed a certain cult following among motorsport historians and urban exploration enthusiasts. The abandoned racing track, today largely overgrown with forest but with intact asphalt surface, is a symbol of the Ruhr region's industrial transformation – from coking plant to racing track to nature area. Some local enthusiasts occasionally organize unofficial meetings at the Almaring, although entering the grounds is technically not permitted. The track has also achieved digital immortality: a version of the Almaring was created for the racing simulation Assetto Corsa, allowing virtual racers today to "drive" the historic Gelsenkirchen track. This connection between real motorsport history and modern sim-racing community is a unique element of Gelsenkirchen's motorsport culture.

Gelsenkirchen has several automotive workshops offering general maintenance and repair, but specialized motorsport preparation is less common than in neighboring cities like Bochum or Essen. Costs for a track day inspection – including brake check, suspension review, fluids, and safety equipment – are approximately 200-350 euros. For specialized services, many Gelsenkirchen residents travel to workshops in Bochum, Essen, or Dortmund. The city is in many ways a reflection of the modern Ruhr region: industrial past, structural change, football passion, and a smaller but dedicated community of automobile enthusiasts who both honor historic motorsport culture and utilize modern track day opportunities at Nürburgring and Spa.