User:Fuffi50/Bilster Berg

The Bilster Berg is a test and presentation track opened on 11 April 2013 in Pömbsen, a district of the town of Bad Driburg in the district of Höxter in East Westphalia-Lippe. The official opening was on 1 June 2013 and the track is part of the Bilster Berg Drive Resort, a facility for automobile testing, automotive industry events and club sports events. The track was designed by the architect Hermann Tilke, who designed seven current Formula 1 race tracks. He was supported by two-time rally world champion Walter Röhrl.

Location
The Bilster Berg Drive Resort is located on the site of a former ammunition depot of the British Armed Forces in Germany and is situated within a larger forest area. The area is located in the eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia in the district of Höxter (Ostwestfalen-Lippe). The town centre of Nieheim is 3 km to the east, the town centre of Bad Driburg is 10 km further.

Concept
According to the concept there should be further modules besides the track, such as a dynamic surface and an SUV area with two tracks. Due to the topography of the terrain and the resulting lack of visibility, the operator expects mainly customers from the industry for vehicle and component testing. The extensive greenery should also allow for vehicle presentations and press driving demonstrations. Races such as Formula 1, DTM, WTCC or ADAC GT Masters are not planned and are not possible due to the lack of infrastructure such as parking spaces, grandstands, the sound quota and sanitary facilities.

History
The planning and initiative for the construction of this plant goes back to Marcus Graf von Oeynhausen-Sierstopff.

Preparatory construction work began in February 2011, mainly to clear the later route. The official laying of the foundation stone took place on 27 September 2011. The plant was scheduled to open in summer 2012. Both an approved land use plan and an approved development plan were available. The legality of the development plan was confirmed by the Higher Administrative Court of Münster in spring 2011. On August 5, 2011, the operating company announced that the approval procedure under the Federal Immission Control Act had been completed and the operating permit had been granted. The special operating days, i.e. the days on which events with increased noise levels are held, were reduced from 18 to 10 days.

By order of the Münster Higher Administrative Court of 3 May 2012, the validity of the partial licence for the route was suspended until the main proceedings were concluded. In the decision, the route is referred to as a racing and presentation route.

On 31 October 2012, the complaint by local residents was dismissed after significant cuts were made in the area of special opening days and events and stronger noise control was guaranteed.

Track characteristics
The total length of the route is 4.2 km. It can be divided into a 1.8 km long west loop and a 2.4 km long east loop. The shorter west loop is topographically demanding, the east loop is the faster part of the track. The absolute difference in altitude over the total length is 72 m, the steepest gradient is 26 percent, the steepest 20 percent. In total, the track goes up and down 44 tubs and crests, each with an altitude difference of 102 m. The difference in altitude per kilometre is 17 m on the Bilster Berg. For comparison: On the Nürburgring-Nordschleife it is 14 m. The track is mainly 12 metres wide. In the "Mausefalle", a very demanding section of the track with a gradient of 26 percent, the curve widens to 13 metres. Immediately after that, it enters the steep section with a gradient of up to 21 percent. Due to the numerous tubs and crests, many of the curves are sometimes difficult or completely hidden from view.

Additional use
In addition to the Bilster Berg Drive Resort site, the prescribed compensation areas in accordance with continuous ecological functionality-measures were established on an additional 45 hectares and so-called replacement habitats were created. Five Galloway cattle currently live in and around the adjacent forest, which are also part of the ecological compensation measures. This very robust breed lives outdoors all year round and produces high-quality organic meat.

Costs and funding
The construction costs amounted to approx. 34 million euros, whereby these funds were raised exclusively privately together with 172 investors.