Ilovecoasters wrote:

So why did it take so long?

Put simply, the pneumatic launch system was deeply flawed (hence the initial delayed opening and reduction from 0-135mph in 2.5 seconds to 99 in 2), and then in 2009 it exploded, injuring 7 people and causing a considerable amount of damage to the buildings surrounding it.

Gutted going on a motorbike tour of Europe and was going to go on the ring racer launch coaster at the nurburgring ,just found out the new owners have decided that it's not economically viable so it's not running anymore,
Another s&s power ride bites the dust!

Found out when i when't it had only been used for 3days.
Track still had paint on guide rails

I just found this in German. 25/7/17 "Markforts predecessor wanted to tear down the ring racer. "We will check in winter if there is a way to operate it economically. Demolition is the last option." " I can't believe it's basically stood there not operating for almost 10 years, they finally got it working too, then mothballed it after less than a week of operation because it was the end of the 2013 season! Crazy waste of money, they just aswell finally makes some money out of if it's economically viable. There may be life in the ring racer yet!

I thought it was closed as the track changed owners at the end of 2013? The new owners didn't invest in the ride directly and didn't see the track as an amusement park so they stopped running it. A shame really but understandable from a pure business point of view.

Exactly, but the managing director of said company has been replaced and the new director has been quoted saying earlier this year "We will check in winter if there is a way to operate it economically. Demolition is the last option"

It also stopped operating because during a launch it shattered the glass windows of the building. They weren't able to remove it because the entire building is designed around it otherwise it would already be long gone. Hopefully something can be done with it but I'm not going to hold my breath. 

It's basically a huge and unreliable pile of arse, which was to be expected of S&S at the time.