The Longer Way from the Nürburgring to Spa-Francorchamps, Germany-Belgium

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on the road to the 'ring — Photo Nik Berg

Two of the greatest race tracks in Europe are less than two hours apart if you take the most direct route. There’s a longer way, however…

This being Detour, it’s the only option I consider when plotting my drive between the Nürburgring in Germany and Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps. But first there’s the small matter of collecting a car for this racy road trip, and it’s at Frankfurt airport, around 100 miles to the east of the ‘Ring.

And what a car it is. A 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. With a 6.2-litre mid-engined V8 developing almost 500bhp, America’s sports car is finally ready to mount a serious challenge to Europe’s supercar elite. It’s even available in the UK, in right-hand drive, but this car is configured for the Continent.

Ultimately, my destination is the WEC 6 hours of Spa-Francorchamps where I’ll watch the LMGT3 Corvettes and their Cadillac Hypercar GM stablemates compete against the European establishment, but for now the focus is to get there by 6.30 pm to obtain my accreditation.

I’m in the car by 1pm so there should be plenty of time, but the Friday afternoon traffic around the airport has other ideas and I crawl along for almost an hour. The ‘Vette is less bothered than I am, with its eight-speed dual clutch transmission left in automatic, it seems content enough to trundle along with its engine barely above idle.

Eventually, I am through the worst and heading north on the A3. German autobahns have a reputation for their lack of speed limits, but the reality is that the majority of the network is restricted. Variable limits are used to manage the traffic flow, there are plenty of roadworks, and so for a while I’m see-sawing between 100 and 130 km/h with everyone else. Then, at last, there’s a gap in the traffic that coincides with an unrestricted section and I floor it. The Stingray surges forwards, numbers on the head up display rising rapidly.

I’m looking far ahead, intensely watching the closing speeds of the cars ahead in case one should pull into my lane. For a brief moment the speedometer reads 260 km/h – that’s a tad over 160 mph, before I have to hit the brakes. Sustaining such a high speed would definitely put me back on target, but the reality is that it’s impossible.

Nonetheless, the miles fly by and soon I’m joining the A48 west. At Kaisersesch I take the exit in search of something more scenic and I certainly find it on the L98 to Cochem. Passing first through farmland, then forest it’s a lovely road that becomes increasingly curvaceous, before dropping down to the banks of the Mosel river, at the postcard-pretty town. River boats cruise the water and multi-coloured houses front its banks, while the whole lot is overlooked by its dramatic castle. Definitely worth the detour.

Leaving Cochem requires a hairpin-heavy climb, the Corvette powering out of each bend with just a little shimmy from the rear end before the traction control intervenes. It’s not a small car, but it’s extremely agile, with pointy steering and plenty of feel. Even in sport mode it’s quite supple, too. This is not the American muscle car of old.

I join the B259 which wiggles back to the A48 at Ulmen. A quick sprint down the autobahn and I’m off again on the B257 to Vulkaneifel, the road cutting through deep forest in this landscape, formed, as the name suggests by ancient volcanic activity.

The L46 to Kelberg and the B257 takes me the final stretch to the Nürburgring. It’s a public day on the circuit, and all manner of fast cars are joining the queue for tickets to a lap, but I only have time for a quick photo if I’m to take the most enjoyable route to Spa.

The B258 leads to the Belgian border and, if like me, you don’t manage to lap the ‘Ring, it’s the next best thing. It’s a brilliant road with even more bends than the Nordschleife’s legendary 157 corners. True, there are speed limits (rigidly enforced by cameras in the towns along the way) but locals certainly drive it with gusto.

Approaching the Belgian border the road suddenly straightens beyond Schöneseiffen, becoming a tree-lined avenue through a valley of wind turbines, before bringing back the bends as it crosses into Belgium. The route to Spa is in parts densely forested, in others desolated empty as I follow the N649, N647, N676, N68, following signposts for Malmedy, Hockai, checking my watch on the final stretch to the circuit.

I arrive in the nick of time as the circuit office readies to close. Of course, the more direct route would have been much faster, but with a car like the Corvette at your disposal would you have done anything different?

Words Nik Berg‍ ‍Instagram