The Grenzlandring (Borderland
circuit) in Germany, situated close to the Dutch border, was from
1948 to 1952 the fastest circuit in Europe. This 5,6 miles long oval
street circuit had a military source. At the beginning of world war
two a transport route was needed to the western front. Because heavy
material should be transported a surface of concrete was chosen for
the new road. After the war the road was used as a loop around
Wegberg. At a night the major from Rheydt, a town close to Wegberg,
was lost on this way. When he passed a cyclist for the thirth time
he realised that he was driving circles. He asked the racing driver
Emil Vorster, who was living in Rheydt, to investigate this road on
its possibility's for motor racing. So it happens that on the 19th
of September 1948 the first races have been held here.
Click on the map for a lap at the Grenzlandring.
The oval circuit had long straights
and very long left hand corners and was driven anticlockwise. It was
an extremely fast and dangerous track. There was absolutely no
margin for mistakes! At the motorcycle races from the 11th of
September 1949 George Meier drove with his BMW an average speed of
209 km/h (130 mph), and in his fastest lap 216 km/h (134 mph). By
the cars, Tony Ulmen reached at September the 9th in 1951 an average
speed from 211,9 km/h (131,67 mph).
Here was start/finish
On the 31st of August 1952 fatality
strikes at the Grenzlandring, Helmut Niedermayr crashed into the
Roermonder-kurve (Roermond Corner) and ended between the spectators.
13 Of them where killed and 42, including Helmut Niedermayr, where
badly injured. This was the end of racing at the Grenzlandring. The
minister of internal affairs banned racing at this circuit.
The Roermonder Kurve (Roermond Corner).
Nowadays the old Grenzlandring is
still used as public road around the city Wegberg, some corners have
been modified a little but you can still drive a lap at the former
street circuit.
At this point the road has been modified. The right turn was added
later to connect another road.
