Nürburgring Shifts into Top Gear with SKIDATA Power

Faster access to grandstands and visitor services at world famous Formula One circuit

Pole position for the champions: SKIDATA Board Member Robert Weiskopf (left), Kai Richter (executive shareholder of Cash Settlement und Ticketing GmbH; centre), and Ralf Klomp, managing director of SKIDATA GmbH Germany

Nürburgring, March 11 2009 – With the extension of the Nürburgring Formula One circuit into an all-year leisure and business centre progressing nicely, 50 stationary and 60 mobile SKIDATA access control units will ensure faster, easier access to various services, starting this summer.

Against the background of a snowy Nürburgring construction site, Kai Richter, man-aging director of Motorsport Resort Nürburgring GmbH, was joined by SKIDATA board member Robert Weiskopf and Ralf Klomp, the managing director of SKI-DATA’s German subsidiary, to sign the contract for delivery, installation and main-tenance of the new access and visitor management solution at the Nürburgring cir-cuit. User interaction is based on the so-called ring°card, a new cashless payment system. Fans and guests will be able to charge their ring°card with permissions for various services, from circular tours for tourists to drinks at the Eifeldorf Grüne Hölle, including – of course – their personal ticket to the races. “In combination with the ring°card, the new access units are a big improvement in overall guest service,” explains Kai Richter. “We’ll be able to guide our guests to the grand-stands and other service areas faster,” he says. “We’ll also have a better overview of the guest flow than ever before. This allows us to react instantly to possible queue build-ups – for example by opening additional gates.”

 “We’re thrilled to be able to help ensure even higher guest convenience and a smoother workflow at Nürburgring,” adds Ralf Klomp with a smile. “After all, it’s one of the world’s best-known and most popular sports venues.”

 Since November 2007, construction has been under way to extend the Nürburgring circuit into an all-year leisure and business complex. The official opening is planned for later this year. Project Nürburgring 2009 is centred around key features such as weather-proof presentation and event facilities, additional leisure activi-ties for fans and tourists, and guest accommodation next to the circuit. This in-cludes a boulevard featuring shops of leading automobile and accessory suppliers, fan memorabilia stores, tourist information, an indoor arena, a second business hotel, and the „Eifeldorf Grüne Hölle“ hotel complex.

Motorsports fans of all ages are expected to flock to the new all-year leisure venue ring°werk, an exciting combination of museum and science centre featuring exhibits on the “Nürburgring legend”, and motor sports and mobility in general. The official opening of the overall project will be celebrated shortly before Christmas 2009.