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EUROPE GRAND PRIX
Nürburgring
20th July - 22nd July 2007
Lap Dist.: 5.148 km-3.199 miles
Race dist.: 308.863 km-191.938 miles
Track record: 1:29.468 M. Schumacher (Ferrari), 2004
As Germany was banned from taking part in international events after World War II, the German Grand Prix became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1951.
In 1970, the drivers asked for safety improvements on short notice, which could not be made, and the German GP moved to the Hockenheimring, which was already modified.
From 2007 until 2010, the German Grand Prix will be shared between the Nürburgring (former home of the European Grand Prix) and the Hockenheimring. The fore will hold the races in 2007 and 2009 with the latter in 2008 and 2010.
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is a motor racing circuit situated near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Situated in the Rhine valley, the circuit is completely flat, without any changes in elevation. The Hockenheimring is one of the most modern racetracks in the world – but also one of the most steeped in history“.
The Nürburgring circuit (alternative spelling without umlaut: Nuerburgring, but never "Nurburgring"), known as simply "the Ring" by enthusiasts, has been built in the 1920’s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains, which is about 90 km southwest of cologne and 100 km northwest of Mainz.
Originally, the track featured four track configurations: the 28.265 km long Gesamtstrecke ("Combined Loop"), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km Nordschleife ("Northern Loop"), and the 7.747 km Südschleife ("Southern Loop"). There also was a 2.281 km warm-up loop called Betonschleife, around pits area.
Between 1982 and 1983, the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the Nordschleife is still in use; nicknamed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart, it is widely considered the toughest and most demanding purpose-built race track in the world.
To celebrate its opening, an exhibition race was held, on May 12th, 1984 featuring an array of notable drivers. Driving identical Mercedes 190E 2.3-16, the line-up was Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, Dennis Hulme, James Hunt, Jacques Laffite, Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutemann, Keke Rosberg, Jody Scheckter, Manfred Schurti, Ayrton Senna and John Watson. Senna won ahead of Lauda, Reutemann, Rosberg, Watson, Hulme and Jody Scheckter.
Following the success and first world championship of Michael Schumacher, a second German F1 race has been held at the Ring since 1995, called European Grand Prix or Luxembourg Grand Prix.
For 2002, the track was changed, by replacing the former "Castrol-chicane" at the end of the start/finish straight by a sharp righthander (nicknamed "Haug-Hook"), in order to create an overtaking opportunity. Also, a slow Omega-shaped section was inserted, on the site of the former kart track. This extended the GP track from 4500m to 5200m, while at the same time, the Hockenheimring was shortened from 6800m to 4500m.
