Hockenheimring
| Information Location: Hockenheim, Germany | Track Specifics
Type: Road | Races
Current Series: |
|
 |
| Current Track Layout This track has been used with the permission of www.etracksonline.co.uk |
Hockenheim Ring is a race track used in Formula One for the German Grand Prix. First run in F1 in 1970, it took over regular hosting duties in Germany from Nurburgring in 1977. It is currently running on rotation with Nurburgring, although currently only events at Hockenheim may be called "German Grand Prix".
[edit] History
In 1930, Ernst Christ had the idea of staging a motor race around his home town, and set about putting it into practice. The Mayor, Phillip Klein approved of the idea, and so his track was built. The track was a temporary road built on the edge of a forest, with the Westkurve reaching the town of Hockenheim itself.
In 1938, the more oval layout was taken, using a road that would become the run down to the Ostkurve and back.This configuration was used after the war, when many grandstands were built, and the temporary facility began to be more permanent.By 1960, Hockenheim had been granted a Formula Two race, which provided regular action for the Hockenheim faithful.
A new Autobahn was going to cut off the Westkurve from Hockenheim in 1965, so John Hugenholtz was asked to design a stadium section at the end of the lap in order to increase spectating ability. A short course could also be made as a result of the changes.
The track's darkest hour came in 1968, when Jim Clark was killed where the Clarkkurve would be placed a few years later. Clark's death rocked motorsport, and as a result Hockenheim was forced to try and improve its' safety standards.
A new Autobahn was going to cut off the Westkurve from Hockenheim in 1965, so John Hugenholtz was asked to design a stadium section at the end of the lap in order to increase spectating ability. A short course could also be made as a result of the changes.
The track's darkest hour came in 1968, when Jim Clark was killed where the Clarkkurve would be placed a few years later. Clark's death rocked motorsport, and as a result Hockenheim was forced to try and improve its' safety standards. Formula One came to Hockenheim in 1970 after the Nurburgring was having safety work done to it.
Chicanes had now been added to the straights, but the track was seen as rather boring and lifeless. Hockenheim would have the race again from 1976 onwards, when the race moved permanently from the considered unsafe Nurburgring. After the fatal crash of Patrick Depallier, there was a chicane added at the Ostkurve.
Hockenheim continued to host the German Grand Prix, beating off competition from a new Nurburgring. The chicanes were reprofiled in 1992, in order to slow down the cars and increase safety.
The chicanes were reprofiled for the final turn after the fatalities at Imola, and the chicanes were renamed after Jim Clark at the place of his death in 1968, and Ayrton Senna who was killed at Imola.
By the late '90s, the track was established as a firm favourite. Not one track in the world had the forest blasts like Hockenheim, and it was the fastest circuit in the world. The circuit had gained hugely in character, and was unique.
 |
| Layout from 1994-2001, prior to renovation For other layouts, see here This track has been used with the permission of www.etracksonline.co.uk |
In 2000 though, the FIA were concerned that it was becoming too unsafe for Formula One. In 2002, Hermann Tilke redesigned the track, removing the speed section that was there before. The modern autodrome has lost a lot of the track's character - it now has the appearance of just another track. Whilst the sceptics dislike it, the track does provide more overtaking opportunities than before. The hairpin after a new straight has proved a great overtaking point.
The 62 million euro project increased the capacity by 50% to almost 120,000, but the new Hockenheim will never be remembered in the same way as the old.
[edit] Records
| Series | Driver | Time | Vehicle | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula One | Qualifying |  Michael Schumacher | 1:13.306 | Ferrari | 7/24/2004 |
| Fast Lap |  Kimi Raikkonen | 1:13.780 | McLaren | 7/25/2004 | |
| Race | Michael Schumacher | 1:23:54.848 | Ferrari | 7/25/2004 |
[edit] Winners
[edit] Formula One
| Season | Date | Driver | Manufacturer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Race 1 |  Jochen Rindt | Lotus-Ford | TIME |
| 1977 | Race 1 | Niki Lauda | Ferrari | TIME |
| 1978 | Race 1 |  Mario Andretti | Lotus-Ford | TIME |
| 1979 | Race 1 |  Alan Jones | Williams-Ford | TIME |
| 1980 | Race 1 |  Jacques Laffite | Ligier-Ford | TIME |
| 1981 | Race 1 |  Nelson Piquet | Brabham-Ford | TIME |
| 1982 | Race 1 | Patrick Tambay | Ferrari | TIME |
| 1983 | Race 1 | Rene Arnoux | Ferrari | TIME |
| 1984 | Race 1 | Alain Prost | McLaren-TAG | TIME |
| 1986 | Race 1 | Nelson Piquet | Williams-Honda | TIME |
| 1987 | Race 1 | Nelson Piquet | Williams-Honda | TIME |
| 1988 | Race 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | TIME |
| 1989 | Race 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | TIME |
| 1990 | Race 1 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | TIME |
| 1991 | Race 1 |  Nigel Mansell | Williams-Renault | TIME |
| 1992 | Race 1 | Nigel Mansell | Williams-Renault | TIME |
| 1993 | Race 1 | Alain Prost | Williams-Renault | TIME |
| 1994 | Race 1 | Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | TIME |
| 1995 | Race 1 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton-Renault | TIME |
| 1996 | Race 1 | Damon Hill | Williams-Renault | TIME |
| 1997 | Race 1 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton-Renault | TIME |
| 1998 | Race 1 | Mika Hakkinen | McLaren-Mercedes | TIME |
| 1999 | Race 1 | Eddie Irvine | Ferrari | TIME |
| 2000 | Race 1 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | TIME |
| 2001 | Race 1 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams-BMW | TIME |
| 2002 | Race 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | TIME |
| 2003 | Race 1 |  Juan Pablo Montoya | Williams-BMW | TIME |
| 2004 | Race 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | TIME |
| 2005 | Race 1 |  Fernando Alonso | Renault | TIME |
| 2006 | Race 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | TIME |
| 2008 | Race 1 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | TIME |
[edit] Video Gallery
[edit] Picture Gallery
 |
| Formula One Tracks |
|---|
|
Catalunya -
Fuji -
Hockenheim -
Hungaroring -
Interlagos -
Istanbul -
Magny-Cours -
Melbourne |
