“What does it cost to attend Europe's biggest drag race, and what does the ticket actually include?”
Forty years of quarter mile.
NitrOlympX 2027 runs 20 to 22 August at Hockenheim, the 40th running. Day tickets from 39 euros, paddock access and the night show always included.
The short answer
- NitrOlympX 2027 takes place from 20 to 22 August on the Rico Anthes Quartermile at the Hockenheimring - the 40th running of the event.
- Every ticket includes paddock access and the night show; Friday from 39 euros, Saturday from 89 euros, a weekend grandstand seat from 169 euros.
- In 2026 the event drew over 47,000 visitors across the weekend and the night show sold out.
Anyone who has stood next to a running Top Fuel dragster needs no further explanation of why people drive across Europe for this. NitrOlympX is the biggest drag race in Europe, and 2027 is the fortieth running.
Dates and tickets
20 to 22 August 2027, Hockenheimring, Am Motodrom 1, 68766 Hockenheim. Advance sales are already open.
| Ticket | From |
|---|---|
| Friday | €39 |
| Saturday | €89 |
| Weekend, south grandstand | €169 |
| Weekend, south grandstand upper tier | €195 |
This matters, because it is rare at race meetings: every ticket includes paddock access and the night show. There is no surcharge to get near the cars. On Friday, seating on the open grandstands is unreserved.
Children under 16 get free admission but still need a free ticket. Wheelchair users likewise, and a disabled parking ticket is added to the booking automatically. People with at least 50 percent registered disability and their companions get a 50 percent discount.
What runs
The strip is called the Rico Anthes Quartermile and measures exactly 402.33 metres - the classic quarter mile. On it run rounds of the FIA and FIM European championships: Top Fuel, Top Methanol, Pro Modified and Pro Stock for cars; Top Fuel Bike, Super Twin Bike, Pro Stock Bike, Super Street Bike and Junior Drag Bike for motorcycles. Add the Sportsman classes and the total comes to around twenty.
Top Fuel dragsters go from 0 to 100 km/h in under one second and reach up to 500 km/h over the quarter mile.
The night show on Saturday evening is why many people come at all: runs in the dark plus a programme in the air above. It sold out in 2026.
Scale
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Visitors across the weekend | over 47,000 |
| Teams | more than 250 |
| Nations | several European |
| Classes | around 20 |
For the 2027 anniversary the promoter has announced more programme than in 2026.
Getting there and camping
Hockenheim sits between Mannheim and Karlsruhe directly on the A6, with a rail connection in town. The circuit has its own camping areas; price lists for the C2 and C3 areas for NitrOlympX 2027 are published on the Hockenheimring site.
What to bring
| What | Why |
|---|---|
| Serious ear protection | A Top Fuel run is not a question of volume but of pressure |
| Spare earplugs | For children and for the night show |
| Sun protection | August, open grandstands, three days |
| Rain jacket | Racing stops when it is wet; waiting happens outdoors anyway |
| Time for the paddock | It is in the ticket and it is the real difference from a circuit race |
Where it sits
NitrOlympX is the top end of the scale: European championship, modern engineering, five-figure crowds. For the same discipline smaller and closer, go to the Dragday Magdeburg on an airfield - also a quarter mile, also over 1,000 hp, but a club event with tickets from 15 euros. For the historical version, take Race 61 at Finowfurt: eighth mile, vehicles up to model year 1976 only.
All three run in a straight line. What differs is how far back you stand.
FAQ
When is NitrOlympX 2027? From 20 to 22 August 2027 at the Hockenheimring. It is the 40th running and advance sales are open.
What does a ticket cost? Friday from 39 euros, Saturday from 89 euros, weekend tickets with a south grandstand seat from 169 euros. All tickets include paddock access and the night show.
Is the paddock extra? No. Access is included in every ticket.
How fast are the cars? Top Fuel dragsters reach up to 500 km/h over the quarter mile and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than a second.
How long is the strip? 402.33 metres, the classic quarter mile. It is called the Rico Anthes Quartermile.
Do children pay? Children under 16 get free admission but still need a free ticket.
Can you camp on site? Yes. The Hockenheimring has camping areas, and price lists for C2 and C3 are available for 2027.