Motor Sport Circuit Guide


forgot password

Hockenheim

Hockenheim-Ring GmbH
Am Motodrom
68766 Hockenheim
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 6205 / 950-0
Fax: +49 (0) 6205 / 950-299
Email: info@hockenheimring.net
Website: www.hockenheimring.net

1930 to 1932: in the beginning

Ernst Christ is the father of the Hockenheimring. In 1930 this young assistant timekeeper devised a plan to build a racetrack in his home-town of Hockenheim. The town's mayor, Philipp Klein, supported the project and on Christmas Day, 1931, the municipal council approved plans for the new circuit. Work began on March 23, 1932, and two months later, on May 25, the first motorcycle race at Hockenheim got under way.

1938: From triangular to oval

In 1938 the circuit was changed from its original triangular course to the circuit that was used until the end of 2001. When the Ostkurve was added and the track widened, Hockenheimring became a high-speed circuit.

1947 to 1963: The restart

During the Second World War, Hockenheimring’s road surface had been demolished and the wooden structures torn down. However, the motor sports fans in the region were keen to get things going again. As a result, in 1947 the Hockenheim-Ring GmbH was established as a commercial business to protect the circuits’ interests. On May 11, 1947, cars were once again thundering around the circuit. The first German Motorcycle Grand Prix was held here on May 19, 1957.

1961 to 1966: The Motodrom is born

In 1961 Ernst Christ devised the spectator-friendly Motodrom concept. The building work began in spring 1964. On May 22, 1966, the then German Transport Minister, Dr. Hans-Christoph Seebohm, opened the new Motodrom for the German Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Since 1970: Formula 1

On August 2, 1970, the first Formula 1 event was held at Hockenheim. More than 100,000 spectators witnessed Jochen Rindt's victory in a Lotus-Ford. In 1971, Formula 1 returned to the Nürburgring. In 1976 Niki Lauda had a serious crash on the Nordschleife at Nurburgring, and the following year Formula 1 returned to Hockenheim. Since then, the German Formula 1 Grand Prix has been held at the Hockenheimring except for 1985 when it returned to Nurburgring for one season.

1999 to 2003: Rebuilding work

Because the old circuit was too long at 6.8km and parts of it ran through dense woods where it was inaccessible for spectators, plans were put in place in 1999 to design a shorter circuit with more overtaking opportunities. On December 21, 2001, Hockenheim-Ring Besitz GmbH received approval for the project, and work began on February 4, 2002. The rebuilding work cost around 62 million euros, making Hockenheimring even more exciting. The new circuit was 2kms shorter and this guaranteed plenty of exciting overtaking manoeuvres, and, with new stands, capacity increased from 83,000 to 120,000. The new motoring safety centre was a further attraction.

Click here to read our exclusive interview with circuit CFO, Karl-Josef Schmidt, first published on 7th November, 2009.

Click here to download the 2010 Total Travel Guide to the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring

View Larger Map

Time Zone : (GMT +1:00 hour) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

Major Events : Formula 1, DTM, Dragster NitrOlympX, IDM, Open Air Concerts

Circuit Length : 4.574km

Turns : 17

Lap Record : 1.13,780 = 223,182 km/h, 2004, Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren MP4)

Brought to you, in part, by:

Please contact this circuit using the information panels below.

	WIN NUMBER 5 FOR VERGNE AT HOCKENHEIM Posted on: 30/05/2010 Jean-Eric Vergne more than corrected the early-season wobble in his Cooper Tires British F3 International Series title bid with another fine victory at the Hockenheimring in Germany this morning, to add to the win he scored yesterday at the same circuit. After what was by the Frenchman's high standards a disappointing trio of races at Magny... Read More >>

	Historic F1 2010 - Round 1 Hockenheimring Posted on: 19/05/2010 Round 1 of the FIA Historic Formula One Championship saw 17 cars of the 18 registered for the event take the grid at the popular Hockenheim Historic event at the German GP venue. Reigning HFO Champion Bobby Verdon-Roe made certain that his investment in the stunning ex-Christian Gläsel McLaren MP4A showed its class right a... Read More >>

	A Picture-Perfect Weekend With Racing To Touch Posted on: 30/04/2010 24,700 spectators flocked to the "Historic Hockenheim - In Memory of Jim Clark, 16 to 18 April 2010 on the Hockenheim ring and enjoyed a picture-perfect weekend. In bright sunshine one highlight followed another. Ten race series and four demonstration sessions presented a challenge for the experienced race director Heinz W... Read More >>

	Paffett Wins DTM Opener for Mercedes! Posted on: 26/04/2010 Gary Paffett won the opening round of the 2010 DTM season at Hockenheim this weekend, and behind Canadian Bruno Spengler in 2nd, Jamie Green and Paul di Resta made it 3 Brits in the top 4 positions for Mercedes. The 2010 DTM season opener at the Hockenheimring did not go according to plan for title defender Audi: several punctures and a tactical ... Read More >>

	SAINZ, BRUNDLE, BELL, LAFFITTE AND BIELA: THE SCIROCCO R CUP Posted on: 23/04/2010 Five legendary names from the world of motorsport will line-up on the grid at Hockenheim this weekend (23-24 April), as the famous German track plays host to the inaugural round of the new Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup. Volkswagen racer and rally champion Carlos Sainz will be joined by Frank Biela, Jacques Laffite and the British pairing of Derek Bell and Mar... Read More >>

	DTM Opens the Racing Serason at the Hockenheimring! Posted on: 11/03/2010 DTM race weekend from 23rd - 25th April 2010 at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg In the eleventh year since the founding of the new DTM is the most popular international touring car championship contests on the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, the season opener. The traditional circuit is one of the most famous racetracks in t... Read More >>

	Special Race Honours Jochen Rindt at Hockenheim Historic Posted on: 23/02/2010 Special race in honor of Jochen Rindt - just part of the "Hockenheim Historic - In Memory of Jim Clark" held from 16 to 18 April 2010 On 2nd August 1970 the German Grand Prix was held at the Hockenheimring for the first time. Jacky Ickx put his Ferrari on pole, but had to give best to Jochen Rindt Lotus 72 in the race. Rindt built ... Read More >>

	Formula 1 - Take The Shuttle Bus To The Races At Hockenheim And Avoid The Traffic! Posted on: 14/02/2010 Hockenheimring establishes a convenient bus service for fans Read More >>

	Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Announces 2010 Calendar Posted on: 12/02/2010 After a sensational inaugural season, the world’s fastest one-make series, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, has announced its race calendar for 2010, which will commence in April in Hockenheim, Germany. The pan-European series will visit six circuits across the continent, supporting prestigious series such as DTM, FIA GT, Le Man... Read More >>

	Win a Race Taxi Ride on GP Weekend and Help a Childrens Charity When You Order F1 Tickets Between 14th and 18th December! Posted on: 11/12/2009 Place your order for tickets to the German Grand Prix between the 14th and 18th December and you'll have a chance of winning a ride in the race taxi on F1 weekend! Not only that but Hockenheimring and F1 will donate 5 Euro per sold ticket during the promotional period to the Sterntaler eV Childrens Hospital in Mannheim. This has made it its business t... Read More >>

	MSCG Exclusive - Interview with Karl-Josef Schmidt, Finance Director of Hockenheim Posted on: 07/11/2009 Chris Jenkins (CJ): Karl-Josef, thanks first of all thanks for talking with us. Could you outline your role as MD of the Hockenheimring? Karl-Josef Schmidt (K-J S): We have 2 MD here, I joined the company 4 years ago and am in charge of the commercial and legal matters, George Seiler is the MD in charge of m... Read More >>

	Hockenheim F1 2010 tickets go on sale 2nd November Posted on: 30/10/2009 Advance ticket sales with attractive new price categories will start at 02 November The wait is over. On Monday 2nd November, tickets go on sale for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Germany, which will take place from 23rd to 25th July 2010 at the Hockenheimring. Those who want to exp... Read More >>

	Timo Scheider makes DTM history for Audi Posted on: 26/10/2009 • Audi driver clinches title yet again • Second place in finale at Hockenheim • Audi is first brand to have won the DTM title for the third consecutive time Timo Scheider and Audi did it: Last year’s winner successfully defended his DTM title in... Read More >>

	Tributes roll in as Scheider lifts trophy Posted on: 26/10/2009 Audi management were overjoyed at their 3rd consecutive DTM title - a feat never managed before. Scheider gives his impressions of the race, and the Audi managers together with their other drivers in the DTM give their congratulations to the new champion. Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport) "It was a race... Read More >>

	Hockenheimring reloaded with new Web Site Posted on: 26/10/2009 The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is one of the most modern racetracks in the world. This fact has been contributing today the new innovative "online face" of the motorsport arena bill. Makes presentations to the relaunch of the network presence in www.hockenheimring.de a completely revised, modernized an... Read More >>

	Unique farewell gift for Tom Kristensen! Posted on: 23/10/2009 • Last DTM race of the Le Mans record winner • Many prominent guests at DTM finale • Flying ace Hannes Arch meets race drivers In addition to members of AUDI AG’s executive board, many guests of the brand have also announced their attendance at th... Read More >>

	Audi looking for 3rd consecutive DTM title at Hockenheimring, 25th October Posted on: 19/10/2009 • Just four points separate Audi from third consecutive DTM title • Timo Scheider arrives at Hockenheim as leader of the standings • Last DTM race for Tom Kristensen On October 25 the Hockenheimring will be the venue of the title decision in the DTM for the third ti... Read More >>

	Hockenheim wins F1 contract through 2018 - tickets for 2010 go on sale Oct 2009 Posted on: 30/09/2009 Formula 1 remains at the "Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg" until 2018 Late into the evening at the Great Council of Hockenheim on 29th September the Formula One Association (FOA), the mayor of the town of Hockenheim and the management of Hockenheim-Ring GmbH finalised a contract that ensures the Formula 1 race at the Hockenheim-ring... Read More >>

	Feel the racing atmosphere of a bygone era at 32nd Hockenheim Classic - 26th-27th September! Posted on: 21/09/2009 At the Hockenheim Classics of 26 to 27 September 2009 more than 450 historic racing and sidecar teams of bygone days are competing. Lovers of historic cars will thank the organizer, the Baden Motorsport Club eV, for bringing together the many enthusiastic participants once again as well as acrobatic displays, exciting races and impressive presenta... Read More >>

	NitrOlympX - 14-16 August 2009 at the Hockenheimring Posted on: 19/08/2009 It's that time again: The Hockenheim Dragstrip will quake to the sound of the Dragster NitrOlympX again this weekend. Just in time for the 24th NitrOlympX at the Hockenheimring, the event gets a new website. During the takeover of the role of promoter for the event, the Hockenheim-Ring GmbH together with the Euroweb Internet GmbH, a leading onli... Read More >>

	NitrOlympX - 14-16 August 2009 at the Hockenheimring Posted on: 24/07/2009 For the fourth time Hockenheim hosts the "SPEED, POWER & ACTION" of Europe's elite acceleration, with the biggest gathering of dragsters outside the U.S.. Last year over 50,000 fans witnessed the awesome spectacle of 200 teams contesting nearly 1,000 races in the unique atmosphere of "Rico Anthes Quartermile" at Hockenheim-ring. A round of t... Read More >>