MOETEFINDT CONQUERS THE NORDSCHLEIFE
On October 23, Moetefindt trailers made its own small piece of history on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Compared to the 8m15s pole time for this year’s Nurburgring 24 Hour race, a 12m06s lap of the 20.8 km ‘Green Hell’ doesn’t sound especially fast, even allowing for the wet autumnal conditions that greeted Nordschleife circuit expert and TV presenter Patrick Simon, the man entrusted with driving duties.
But this was no ordinary lap. Set by a road-going Porsche Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo, towing a Moetefindt trailer loaded with a Porsche Junior Tractor 108 that weighs in at 985kg, it was the fastest time ever recorded by a car towing a trailer around Germany’s most famous circuit.
Suffice to say, trailers are not designed to travel at great speeds, nor are they tested on the Nurburgring to optimise performance in the same way that cars are. The primary function of a trailer is to safely transport a load from A to B, without adventure or mishap – not to break lap records.
Yet that is precisely what Moetefindt trailers has achieved, with Patrick behind the wheel.
The idea of Jens Moetefindt, CEO of Moetefindt trailers and a regular competitor in the Nurburgring based VLN Endurance Series, the goal was to achieve the most impressive speeds possible and showcase the impressive technological capabilities of his product range that can improve safety on the road.
With Moetefindt’s industry-leading air suspension system, which ensures a smooth ride while also spreading the load evenly across the axles to improve durability and tyre wear, Jens was confident that his bespoke trailer would be up to the task. But reality exceeded all expectations.
Despite towing a total weight of 2.2 tonnes, Patrick reached a maximum speed of 180km/h on the long Dottinger Hohe straight, helped by a three-dimensional nose section to improve aerodynamic performance.
Through the tight and twisting corners – over
150 in all – the FTP 235 trailer coped impressively, its double-axle configuration allowing the trailer to tilt while simultaneously turning into the corner to ensure a stable ride through the high-speed run from Flugplatz through Schwedenkreuz. All the while, tethers over the tractor wheels ensured the 1959 classic remained in place through the bumpy Karussell and over the jump at Pflanzgarten 2.
With an unforgettable record achieved and its reputation for safety enhanced, this latest triumph of German engineering further positions Moetefindt trailers as a market leader in the transportation sector. Wait and see what is in store for next year…
“THE FTP 235 TRAILER COPED IMPRESSIVELY, ENSURING A STABLE RIDE AT HIGH SPEEDS”