We live in a reactionary society. That simple statement is true for a variety of industries and situations in our world. With the ability of social media to spread information at speeds faster than we have ever experienced before, it’s necessary for companies and organizations to react swiftly when something bad happens to help show they have taken the proper steps to preventing the same occurrence a second or third time. In many cases these reactions are warranted and in others it seems we can find a collective opinion of over reaction by the organization responsible.

This was the case when in March of 2015 a spectator at the Nurburgring Nordschleife area was killed during testing. This tragedy caused the track to impose speed limits during one of the most famous sections of the track to help avoid the possibility of another crash taking place and the possibility of another spectator losing their life. The problem wasn’t the speeds as much as the lack of safety features of the track to protect onlookers and to ensure cars could stick to the track on a smooth surface that offered the right grip ratio for racing and testing vehicles.

The Nurburgring track has been known as the proving grounds for the automotive world. Nearly every manufacturer that feels they have a performance vehicle worth testing takes their wares to Nurburgring to show what it can and how hard it can go around the track. By limiting the speeds during the most famous portion of the track, the lap records and speed marks that are so coveted were not able to be chased by many, but the track has announced the limits that were previously imposed are about to be lifted, which will open the track up to record attempts once again, even though officials at the track have stated they ask record attempts be avoided.

What has changed to make this possible? The area of the track in question has been deemed safe again after being repaved and protective fences added to ensure cars can’t come careening into the spectator area. Previously these areas of the track were limited to 125 mph between Hocheichen and Schwedenkreuz and 155 mph on Dottinger Hohe. This meant drivers didn’t have to hit the brakes as much as they couldn’t stay on the throttle and keep accelerating through these turns in these areas.

Now with the limits lifted there will be full racing once again at Nurburgring where the first race without speed limits in over a year was held on April 2. Automakers and race teams that rent the track can also have a great time testing their cars as they will be pretty much on their own when they come to the track after renting the time to run. The most glorious test track in the world has regained its luster and will now challenge automakers once again to build machines that can tame this wild beast or be tossed off as an unworthy opponent.