Who doesn't love obscure track mods? The Almaring in Gelsenkirchen for Assetto Corsa is firmly in that category - meet the West German short track!
The iconic racing circuits of the world are famous for a reason. Incredible history, daring turns, spectacular settings - that is what makes places like Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring or Le Mans the legends they are. And then, there are tracks that have none of that - like the Almaring Gelsenkirchen.
As someone who loves their motorsport history, I have heard about my fair share of lesser-known tracks, including this one. When I was looking for something in our Assetto Corsa download section recently, however, I stumbled upon this gem. It is probably one of the rules of the internet by now: If you can think of a track, there's an AC mod for it.
The real Almaring was opened in 1969 on an empty space next to a former coking plant called Kokerei Alma (which is where the track got its name from) in Gelsenkirchen. The city is part of what the Germans call "Ruhrpott" metropolitan era, which used to rely heavily on its mining industry for coal and everything connected to it.
Add to that the rising popularity of cars and racing in the decades after Wordl War II, and you get people looking where to get a piece of the racing action themselves. At first, races for both cars and bikes were run on gravel, but in the late 1970s, the circuit was paved. For the most part, it was used for stock car racing that pretty much anyone could drive - you could say it was a proper grasroots racing facility.
Looking at the AC mod track, it is clear to see why: The surroundings are fairly simple, there is a lot of armco and even more spectators, no run-off to speak of and a rather bumpy tarmac surface. Perfect to have fun in a low-powered tin top! Lap times in Kunos' stock Ford Escort RS1600 hardly exceed 30 seconds, with just two proper turns on either end of the track making for a very short lap.
A not-very-complicated layout awaits at Motodrom Gelsenkirchen.
Despite this, it is actually quite engaging and good fun to race at the Almaring, particularly in door-to-door battles that seemingly never end. You may not go fast, but the intensity makes up for it - especially since the faster of the two turns on the Eastern end of the track is quite technical to get a good exit out of with how long it runs on for.
Since then, nothing much happened at the track, except for nature reclaiming it step by step. Apart from that, however, the tarmac is still there, so is a lot of armco, and you can still find plenty of signs of the place's racing history in what is now a small forest. Old tires are scattered about, and a few old track marshal posts - honestly nothing more than small, round concrete platforms for them to stand on - can still be seen, too.
"Next race day: September 17" - or whenever you want it to be in AC.
The Almaring is a proper motorsport lost place these days, and it is open to the public. No gates, no fences that keep interested folks out - if you want to take a look at what is left yourself, you can easily do so if you ever happen to be in the area.
For reliving the circuit as it was when it was still active, there is probably no better way than hopping into your favorite tin-top in Assetto Corsa and thrash around the place for a few laps. @THL's creation is yet another testament to the qualities of sim racing to act as a way to preserve motorsport history.
Have you ever heard of the Motodrom Gelsenkirchen or Almaring before? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our Assetto Corsa forum!
The iconic racing circuits of the world are famous for a reason. Incredible history, daring turns, spectacular settings - that is what makes places like Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring or Le Mans the legends they are. And then, there are tracks that have none of that - like the Almaring Gelsenkirchen.
As someone who loves their motorsport history, I have heard about my fair share of lesser-known tracks, including this one. When I was looking for something in our Assetto Corsa download section recently, however, I stumbled upon this gem. It is probably one of the rules of the internet by now: If you can think of a track, there's an AC mod for it.
Industrial Backdrop, Short Lap
In this case, @THL has uploaded their recreation of the Motodrom Gelsenkirchen - or Almaring - in June of 2022 already. It has none of the elevation change of Spa or the Nürburgring, nor the glamour of Monaco or the history of Le Mans or Indianapolis. Instead, a 750m short track with a bumpy surface and enormous industrial buildings in the background are what awaits here - and it is a perfect fit.The real Almaring was opened in 1969 on an empty space next to a former coking plant called Kokerei Alma (which is where the track got its name from) in Gelsenkirchen. The city is part of what the Germans call "Ruhrpott" metropolitan era, which used to rely heavily on its mining industry for coal and everything connected to it.
Add to that the rising popularity of cars and racing in the decades after Wordl War II, and you get people looking where to get a piece of the racing action themselves. At first, races for both cars and bikes were run on gravel, but in the late 1970s, the circuit was paved. For the most part, it was used for stock car racing that pretty much anyone could drive - you could say it was a proper grasroots racing facility.
Looking at the AC mod track, it is clear to see why: The surroundings are fairly simple, there is a lot of armco and even more spectators, no run-off to speak of and a rather bumpy tarmac surface. Perfect to have fun in a low-powered tin top! Lap times in Kunos' stock Ford Escort RS1600 hardly exceed 30 seconds, with just two proper turns on either end of the track making for a very short lap.
A not-very-complicated layout awaits at Motodrom Gelsenkirchen.
Despite this, it is actually quite engaging and good fun to race at the Almaring, particularly in door-to-door battles that seemingly never end. You may not go fast, but the intensity makes up for it - especially since the faster of the two turns on the Eastern end of the track is quite technical to get a good exit out of with how long it runs on for.
Lost Place Since 1984
The short track did not last too long, however: After the 1984 season, it had to close its doors, mainly due to noise complaints from residential areas that were soemwhat close by, according to the few sources that highlighted the track's history.Since then, nothing much happened at the track, except for nature reclaiming it step by step. Apart from that, however, the tarmac is still there, so is a lot of armco, and you can still find plenty of signs of the place's racing history in what is now a small forest. Old tires are scattered about, and a few old track marshal posts - honestly nothing more than small, round concrete platforms for them to stand on - can still be seen, too.
"Next race day: September 17" - or whenever you want it to be in AC.
The Almaring is a proper motorsport lost place these days, and it is open to the public. No gates, no fences that keep interested folks out - if you want to take a look at what is left yourself, you can easily do so if you ever happen to be in the area.
For reliving the circuit as it was when it was still active, there is probably no better way than hopping into your favorite tin-top in Assetto Corsa and thrash around the place for a few laps. @THL's creation is yet another testament to the qualities of sim racing to act as a way to preserve motorsport history.
Have you ever heard of the Motodrom Gelsenkirchen or Almaring before? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our Assetto Corsa forum!
