Jan02

Hockenheim unveils shortened circuit

Map of the new Hockenheim-ring

How the new Hockenheim-ring will look after the Hermann Tilke designed changes.

Picture: Tilke GmBH

The long straights of Hockenheim are to be lost forever, following the final go-ahead being given to circuit revisions by the regional government.

A new £34 million circuit revamp will see 1.5 miles slashed from the German circuit's 4.2 mile length, with the long fast sweep out into the surrounding forest and back in favour of a short, sharp blast across the back of the paddock.

The changes are thought to have been demanded by Bernie Ecclestone in exchange for Hockenheim keeping the German Grand Prix, and include new grandstands and a modern media centre.

A new corporate grandstand funded by Mercedes-Benz will be the dominant feature on Hockenheim's new skyline and despite the reduction in the circuit's length spectator capacity is set to rise from 83,000 to 120,000 prior to the July 28 race date.

Built with the support of the Baden-Wurtemburg regional government, the circuit owners hop the new layut will kill off any challenge for the grand prix from the Lausitzring or Sachsenring.

Work to prepare the way for the new complex will begin in January. The modifications will be complete in time for the 2002 race.


 Discuss this news story in the e-Tracks forums.

Back to top Back to top pointer

e-Tracks has been designed to the latest accessibility standards which may mean that some browsers - such as early versions of Netscape or Internet Explorer - will not display these pages exactly as they were designed. However, all of the content will still be fully visible and accessible throughout the site.

e-Tracks recommends upgrading to a standards-compliant browser such us Opera or Mozilla Firefox for anyone in this position. You won't regret it!