Schumacher to drive around the Nordschleife in an F1 car

Mercedes brand ambassador Michael Schumacher will drive a 2011 Mercedes AMG F1 W02 around the Nürburgring Nordschleife on 19th May.

The demonstration lap will precede the venue’s 24-hour race and will be a way of saying ‘thank you’ to his fans for their years of loyal support during his F1 career.

“I have a lot of fond memories of the Nürburgring” said Schumacher “..and am really looking forward to giving fans and friends from my home town of Kerpen, which is quite close to the Nürburgring, something to remember as they see me drive by.”

“But it will be a fantastic experience for me too, driving along the Nordschleife in a state-of–the-art Formula 1 Silver Arrow, particularly in view of the fact that the Silver Arrow’s legend began here.”

“Posting a lap in a modern Silver Arrow on the most beautiful and most testing circuit in the world, what a brilliant mix – it’s every motor racing driver’s dream!”

Schumacher has driven part of the Nordschleife in a F1 car before, during the Nürburgring grand prix event in July 2011, but that was in a Silver Arrow Stromlinie W196.

The Mercedes-Benz W196 was the first Formula 1 Silver Arrow that took the marque to two world titles with Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1954 and 1955 seasons. During this period, including his success at the Nürburgring, Fangio achieved eight wins in all.

After stepping down from grand prix racing at the end of last year, Schumacher and Mercedes-Benz announced a long-term partnership earlier this month. The seven-time world champion will represent the brand as an ambassador and act as a sounding-board for issues relating to future automotive developments.

The last time a modern F1 car was driven on the ‘ring was in 2007, when Nick Heidfeld performed a demonstration lap in his BMW Sauber F1.06.