Watch test cars get airborne at the Nürburgring’s Flugplatz

Yeah, we know it’s not a ‘new’ video, but we don’t care.

This clip popped up on our feeds not long ago and we felt like it was a good excuse for you to join us in watching a run of pre-production cars hitting the crest at the Nürburgring’s Flugplatz and getting some air.

But first, some background. Located only 4km-or-so into the Nordschleife circuit, Flugplatz is about halfway between the tree-lined ‘Hocheichen’ section, and the infamously tricky ‘Fuchsröhre’, or fox hole.

While casual German speakers might notice the link between the crest’s name (Flugplatz literally means flying place), and the fact that cars tend to start flying at that place.

Upcoming supercars spotted at the Nürburgring

But the stretch of tarmac is actually so-called because there used to be a small airstrip not far from the track.

Historically, racers have risked serious injury at Flugplatz, which has seen the likes of Chris Irwin and Manfred Winkelhock crash or flip at the rise.

Irwin somewhat infamously flipped a Ford P68 prototype during the Nürburgring 1000 of 1968, and ended his career after only a year of racing.

Winkelhock was luckier, continuing his career almost a decade after flipping his March Formula Two car in 1978.

However, as the video will attest, heavier and more ‘grounded’ modern road cars will find it easier to handle a little leap over the rise – even a handful of SUVs make an appearance at this particular test day.

Rather than list off every car present, we’ll just tell you to keep an eye (and ear) out for the GT350. It doesn’t get particularly high, but it sounds so good.

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