Hockenheimring
Race track in Hockenheim, Germany From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (German: [ˈhɔkŋ̍haɪmʁɪŋ ˌbaːdn̩ ˈvʏʁtəmbɛʁk] ⓘ) is a motor racing circuit situated in the Rhine valley near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on the Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other motor racing events, it has hosted the German Grand Prix, most recently in 2019. The circuit is nearly flat. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 licence.[2]
 Grand Prix Circuit (2002–present) | |
| Location | Am Motodrom, Hockenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
|---|---|
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 49°19′40″N 8°33′57″E |
| Capacity | 70,000[1] |
| FIA Grade | 1 (GP) 3 (National) |
| Broke ground | 23 March 1932 |
| Opened | 29 May 1932 |
| Former names | Kurpfalzring (1938–1965) Hockenheimer-Dreieck (1932–1938) |
| Major events | Current: DTM (2000–present) International GT Open (2019, 2024–present) TCR Europe (2016, 2019, 2025) European Drag Racing Championship NitrolympX (1986–2019, 2022–present) Former: Formula One German Grand Prix (Intermittently, 1970–2019) Grand Prix motorcycle racing German motorcycle Grand Prix (Intermittently, 1957–1994) FIA World RX World RX of Hockenheim (2015–2017) GT World Challenge Europe (2022–2024) World SBK (1988–1997, 1999–2000) FIM EWC (1986) FIA GT (1997–1999, 2004) World Sportscar Championship (1966–1967, 1977, 1985) |
| Website | http://www.hockenheimring.net |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2002–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.574 km (2.842 miles) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:13.780 ( Kimi Räikkönen, McLaren MP4-19B, 2004, F1) |
| National Circuit (2002–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.736 km (2.322 miles) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Race lap record | 1:19.742 ( Daniel Juncadella, Dallara F309, 2010, F3) |
| Short Circuit (1966–2001) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.638 km (1.639 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 0:57.450 ( Josef Neuhauser, Minardi M190, 2001, F1) |
| Hockenheimring (1994–2001) | |
| Surface | Asphalt, concrete |
| Length | 6.823 km (4.240 miles) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:41.808 ( Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams FW23, 2001, F1) |
| Hockenheimring (1992–1993) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 6.815 km (4.235 miles) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:41.591 ( Riccardo Patrese, Williams FW14B, 1992, F1) |
| Hockenheimring (1982–1991) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 6.802 km (4.227 miles) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:43.569 ( Riccardo Patrese, Williams FW14, 1991, F1) |
| Hockenheimring (1970–1981) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 6.790 km (4.219 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:48.490 ( Alan Jones, Williams FW07B, 1980, F1) |
| Hockenheimring (1966–1970) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 6.769 km (4.206 miles) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Race lap record | 1:54.600 ( Trevor Taylor, Surtees TS5, 1969, F5000) |
| Kurpfalzring (1938–1965) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 7.692 km (4.780 miles) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 2:13.300 ( Bob McIntyre, Gilera Saturno, 1957, 500cc) |
| Hockenheimer-Dreieck (1932–1938) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 12.045 km (7.485 miles) |
| Turns | 9 |
History
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Perspective
1932–1938
Originally called "Dreieckskurs" (triangle course), the Hockenheimring was built in 1932. The man behind it is Ernst Christ, a young timekeeper who felt that a racing track should be built in his hometown of Hockenheim. He submitted the plans to the mayor and they were approved on Christmas day, in 1931. This first layout of the track was around twelve kilometres long and consisted of a large triangle-like section, a hairpin in the city and two straights connecting them.
1938–1965
In 1938, the circuit dramatically shortened, from twelve kilometres down to just over seven and a half, and the Ostkurve corner, which lasted until 2001, was introduced for the first time. In that year, the track was also renamed to "Kurpfalzring". The track was damaged by tanks during World War II. After the war, the track was repaired, and renamed to "Hockenheimring". Former DKW and NSU factory rider and world record setter Wilhelm Herz became the manager of the track in 1954 and promoted the track successfully; Grand Prix motorcycle racing events were held, with the German motorcycle Grand Prix alternating between the Hockenheimring and other tracks. This version of the circuit was just over seven and a half kilometres long and consisted of the original two long straights, with the Ostkurve in the forest and the original hairpin inside Hockenheim joining them together.
1965–2001
In 1965, when the new Autobahn A 6 separated the village from the main part of the track, a new version of Hockenheim circuit was built, with the "Motodrom" stadium section, designed by John Hugenholtz, who also designed Suzuka. After Jim Clark was killed on 7 April 1968 in a Formula 2 racing accident, two fast chicanes were added and the track was lined with crash barriers in 1970. A small memorial was placed near the first chicane (which was named after him), at the site of his accident. In 1982, another chicane was added at the Ostkurve (east curve), after Patrick Depailler was killed there in 1980, and the first chicane was made slower as well. For the 1992 German Grand Prix, the Ostkurve was changed yet again, from a quick left turn into a more complex right-left-right chicane, after Érik Comas crashed there in 1991. The second chicane was renamed after Ayrton Senna, after his death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
This version used to be quite large, with a very long and very fast section going through forests essentially consisting of four straights of roughly 1.3 km (0.81 mi), separated by a chicane sequence, followed by a more tight and twisty "stadium" section (so called because of all the grandstands situated there) named Motodrom. This made the setting up of racing cars difficult, since a choice had to be made – whether to run low downforce to optimize speed through the straights and compromise grip in the stadium section, or, run more downforce to optimize grip through the stadium section and compromise speed on the straights. The long track length also meant that a typical Formula One race had only 45 laps, limiting the spectators' experience of the race to only that many passes through the stadium.
During the mid-1980s "turbo era" of Formula One where fuel was restricted to either 220 (1984–1985), 195 (1986–1987) or 150 (1988) litres for races for the turbo powered cars, Hockenheim also saw drivers, including World Champion Alain Prost, at times fail to finish due to simply running out of fuel near the end of the race. Prost ran out at the end of the 1986 race, pushing his McLaren towards the line before giving up. He was placed 3rd when he ran dry and was eventually classified 6th, gaining a valuable championship point that would help him with his second World Championship.
Many problems came to light during the 2000 German Grand Prix, which was won by Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello from having started 18th on the grid. The race finished in changeable weather conditions, with pouring rain in the stadium sector and almost completely dry forest straights. All the overtaking moves that took place during the race were in the chicanes of the forest sector, meaning hardly any spectators saw most of the best action. Midway through the race, a former Mercedes-Benz employee, who had been dismissed, breached the track's security barriers on the first forest straight, showing vulnerable security facilities in the forest and leading to the deployment of the safety car that neutralized a comfortable lead for the two Mercedes-powered McLarens. Later on, French driver Jean Alesi collided with Brazilian Pedro Diniz in the braking zone for the third chicane and his car spun uncontrollably down the track, which caused him to suffer dizziness for three days.
These events prompted much protest from the FIA to greatly improve spectator viewing, safety, and security at the track, claiming that the track was no longer suited to modern Formula One racing.
2002 redesign
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In the early 2000s, F1 officials demanded the 6.823 km (4.240 mi) track be shortened and threatened to discontinue racing there, threatening to relocate to other tracks such as the EuroSpeedway Lausitz and sites in Asia. The state government of Baden-Württemberg secured the financing for the redesign by Hermann Tilke for the 2002 German Grand Prix. The stadium section remained mostly intact, despite a new surface and a tighter Turn 1 ("Nordkurve"). However, the circuit was dramatically shortened, with the long, forested straights section chopped off in favour of more tight corners. More than half of the first straight and almost all of the straight between the Ostkurve and Senna chicane were cut and the rest was connected with a new long straight called the "Parabolika", with a small kink being added between the first straight and the new one. A small right-left-right complex was added to the remaining part of the final straight, with a new grandstand overlooking it. In an extremely controversial move, the old forest section was torn up and replanted with trees, eliminating any chance of using the old course either for future F1 events or for historic car events.
There was and still remains a great deal of criticism of the track redesign, in terms of ruining the previous unique technical challenges of the old Hockenheim circuit and delivering a new homogenised "assembly line" circuit without the character of the previous layout, whilst being beset by the perceived problems of other Tilke circuits.[3] Several drivers and team principals, including Ron Dennis, Jarno Trulli and Juan Pablo Montoya, criticised the changes and stated their preference for the old circuit.[4]
The change in the track layout also saw the installation of a new memorial to Jim Clark. This is located at the outside of the current track's turn 2, where the old track continued out into the forests, and the new shortened track turns to the right.[5]
The new track has a seating capacity of 120,000, due to new large grandstands sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. The complex also features a quarter-mile track for drag racing. It hosts one of the largest drag racing events in Europe, known as the NitrOlympx, and was one of the last Top Fuel circuits to race to 0.25 mi (0.40 km) before the FIA switched the nitro categories to the now-recognised 1,000 ft (300 m) distance in 2012.
Formula One
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Perspective
The Hockenheim Circuit hosted the German Grand Prix for the first time in 1970 when the F1 drivers decided at the French Grand Prix to boycott the allegedly dangerous Nürburgring unless major changes were made. The next year the German Grand Prix went back to the Nürburgring until the 1976 German Grand Prix. From 1977 to 2006, the Hockenheimring hosted the German Grand Prix with the exception of 1985, when the race was held at the reconfigured Nürburgring.
In July 2006, Bernie Ecclestone announced that from 2007 onwards, there would be only one Grand Prix per year in Germany. Since 1995, there had been two Grands Prix every year in Germany; the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, plus either the European Grand Prix or the Luxembourg Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. From 2007, the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring alternated hosting the German Grand Prix, starting with the Nürburgring in 2007.
Ongoing deficits of the Formula One races, amounting to up to 5.3 million Euro per race that had to be covered by the local communities, made it likely the contract between the Hockenheimring and Formula One Management would not be extended after the Grand Prix of 2010.[6] However, in October 2009 the contract for the circuit to hold the German GP was extended to 2018, with the FOA agreeing to cover any losses the event incurs.[7] Neither Hockenheim nor the Nürburgring hosted a Grand Prix in 2015 or 2017 after the Nürburgring failed to complete an agreement with Formula 1's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.[8] 2019 was the last time the facility hosted the German Grand Prix, which was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, celebrating the German manufacturer 125th year in motorsport.
Drag racing (NitrolympX – Rico Anthes Quartermile)
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 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2018) |
From 1986 to 1988, the start–finish straight was used for 1/8 mile drag racing. In 1989, a proper drag strip was built by connecting the Opel-Kurve and the first turn entering the Motodrom section. The finish line was at the beginning of the forest, with a very long run-off on the straight in the forest. Competitors had to travel around the full race track in opposite direction to return to the paddock.
The drag strip is only used for two events in August, the Public Race Days and the NitrolympX main event a week later. Originally named the Nitrolympics and featuring Top Fuel dragsters, it was renamed to NitrolympX.
When the Hockenheimring was shortened in 2002, the drag strip was moved back, closer to the new tall Tower stands that allow an unusual view along the drag strip.[9] Even though the run off was cut in half it remains one of the longest in drag racing. The NitrolympX usually host most European Drag Racing Championship, sanctioned by FIA or FIM, plus jet dragsters and other entertaining events on the Saturday night show that draws 40,000 spectators.[10]
The drag strip in 2008 was christened Rico Anthes Quartermile after the German former Top Fuel driver and long-time organizer of the NitrolympX had retired in 2007. As the dragstrip can only be prepared for professional drag racing after the last major circuit event, mainly the Formula One race, the grip is often sub par compared to permanent drag strips that host two Euro Championship events each year, like Santa Pod Raceway in England or Tierp Arena in Sweden. The best performances on the full quarter-mile were significantly below those in Santa Pod, and the best ET was set in 2005: 4.873 sec. and 458 km/h by Brady Kalivoda (USA).[11]
In 2012, some Pro classes could not find traction as Formula One had demanded a new surface. In subsequent years, the organizers provided a better track, with support from Santa Pod personnel and machinery. In 2016, Hockenheim, and mainland Europe, finally saw the first 3-second Top Fuel 1000 ft passes, with 3.939 sec. and 486.91 km/h (302.55 mph) by Anita Mäkelä (FIN). An overall European record for Super Street Bike was set by Garry Bowe (GB) with 7.04s 340.69 km/h (211.69 mph).[12]
DTM
The DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) series has regularly raced at the Hockenheimring since its revival in 2000. In most years, the DTM has competed there twice during a season.
Rallycross
Located in the stadia section of the track, the rallycross track uses a section of track from turns 11 to 16, combined with a dirt section in front of the grandstands. It hosted first ever World RX of Hockenheim, round 2 of FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2015 as supporting event of DTM. WRX also combined with the DTM for an event there in 2017.[13]
Layout history
Current circuit configurations
Hockenheimring Grand Prix Circuit (2002–present)
Hockenheimring Short Circuit 2 (2002–present)
Rallycross Circuit (2015–present)
Comparison between old layouts and new layouts of Hockenheimring
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Previous configurations
Hockenheimer-Dreieck (1932–1938)
Kurpfalzring (1938–1965)
Comparison between Kurpfalzring and Hockenheimer-Dreieck
Comparison between Hockenheimring and Kurpfalzring
Hockenheimring Grand Prix Circuit (1966–1969)
Hockenheimring Grand Prix Circuit (1970–1981) and Motorcycling Circuit (1982–2001)
Hockenheimring Grand Prix Circuit (1982–1991)
Hockenheimring Grand Prix Circuit (1992–2001)
Hockenheimring Short Circuit (1966–2002)
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Lap records
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Official record lap times are only set during the race. The fastest ever lap on the track is 1:11.212 set by Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari SF71H during qualifying at the 2018 German Grand Prix. As of October 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Hockenheimring are listed as:
Events
Current events
- March 28–30: DMV Goodyear Racing Days
- April 11–13: Preis der Stadt Stuttgart
- May 3–4: Porsche Sports Cup Deutschland ADAC Racing Weekend Hockenheim
- May 9–11: BOSS GP Hockenheim Historic, Prototype Cup Germany
- May 22–25: Ferrari Challenge Europe
- June 6–8: International GT Open, TCR Europe Touring Car Series, Euroformula Open Championship, GT Cup Open Europe
- August 29–31: European Drag Racing Championship NitrolympX
- September 19–21: Hockenheim Classics
- September 26–28: IDM Superbike Championship IDM Finale
- October 3–5: Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Formula Regional European Championship, ADAC GT Masters, ADAC GT4 Germany, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany
- October 11–12: Porsche Sports Cup Deutschland ADAC Racing Weekend Hockenheim
Former events
- 24H Series
- 12 Hours of Hockenheimring (2020–2022)
- ADAC Formel Masters (2008–2014)
- ADAC Formula 4 (2015–2022)
- ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship (2016–2022)
- Alpine Elf Europa Cup (2019)
- BMW M1 Procar Championship (1979–1980)
- Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2010)
- European Formula 5000 Championship (1969–1971)
- European Formula Two Championship (1967–1984)
- European Touring Car Championship (1986, 2004)
- EuroV8 Series (2014)
- F4 Eurocup 1.6 (2010)
- FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2011–2018)
- FIA GT Championship (1997–1999, 2004)
- FIA World Rallycross Championship
- World RX of Hockenheim (2015–2017)
- FIM Endurance World Championship (1986)
- Formula 3 Euro Series (2003–2012)
- Formula 750 (1973, 1975–1979)
- Formula BMW ADAC (2000–2007)
- Formula BMW Europe (2008, 2010)
- Formula One
- German Grand Prix (1970, 1977–1984, 1986–2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018–2019)
- Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (1998–1999, 2001–2003, 2005)
- Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010)
- Formula Renault Eurocup (1995–1998, 2004, 2010, 2018–2020)
- Formula Renault 2.0 Middle European Championship (2004–2008, 2010)
- Formula Renault Northern European Cup (2007–2018)
- Formula Volkswagen Germany (2001, 2003)
- French Formula Renault Championship (1978, 1980)
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing
- Baden-Württemberg motorcycle Grand Prix (1986)
- German motorcycle Grand Prix (1957, 1959, 1961, 1966–1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981–1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991–1994)
- GP2 Series (2005-2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
- GP3 Series (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
- GT World Challenge Europe (2022–2024)
- GT2 European Series (2021, 2024)
- GT4 European Series (2022–2024)
- International Formula 3000 (1990–2004)
- Italian Formula Renault Championship (2004, 2006)
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (2010–2011)
- NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2017–2019)
- Northern Talent Cup (2020, 2023)
- Porsche Supercup (1993–2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018–2019)
- Renault Clio Cup Europe (2021–2022, 2024)
- Sidecar World Championship (1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1966–1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981–1983, 1985–1987, 1989, 1991–1994, 1999–2000)
- Superbike World Championship (1988–1997, 1999–2000)
- Supersport World Championship (1997, 1999–2000)
- Superstars GTSprint Series (2010)
- Superstars Series (2010–2011)
- TCR International Series (2016)
- Trofeo Maserati (2004)
- Ultimate Cup Series (2022–2024)
- V8Star Series (2001–2002)
- W Series (2019)
- World Sportscar Championship (1966–1967, 1977, 1985)
Music events
- Michael Jackson
- Bad World Tour – 10 July 1988[114]
- HIStory World Tour – 10 August 1997[115]
- Tina Turner – Foreign Affair: The Farewell Tour – 26 August 1990
- Pink Floyd – The Division Bell Tour – 13 August 1994
- The Rolling Stones
- Voodoo Lounge Tour – 19 August 1995
- Licks Tour and 22 June 2003 with AC/DC
- AC/DC
- Stiff Upper Lip World Tour, with Buddy Guy, Die Toten Hosen & Megadeth – 10 June 2001
- Black Ice World Tour – 22 May 2009
- Rock or Bust World Tour – 16 May 2015
- Power Up Tour – 13 July 2024
- Robbie Williams – Close Encounters Tour – 12–13 August 2006
- Sonisphere Festival, headlined by Metallica – 2009[116]
- Hardwell - 2016
- Ed Sheeran – ÷ Tour – 22–23 June 2019
- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour – 21 July 2023[117]
Fatal accidents
- 1968 Jim Clark, during a Formula 2 race
- 1972 Bert Hawthorne, during a Formula 2 race
- 1980 Markus Höttinger, during a Formula 2 race
- 1980 Patrick Depailler, during a private test session
- 1986 Tony Boden, during a drag racing meeting
- 2014 Albert Fleming, during the Bosch Hockenheim Historic
References
External links
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