Grand Prix 4 Formula 1 Championship
Grand Prix 4 Championship Time's History
FORMULA 1 Grosser Mobil 1 Preis von Deutschland 2006
The atmosphere in the stadium at Hockenheim is one not to be missed. Although one of the longest tracks on the calendar, Hockenheim's huge straights run trough a forest so all the grandstands are concentrated in one area and hold over 100,000 spectators. Originally build as a proving ground for Mercedes roads cars, it use to be that the track was remembered as the place where Jim Clark lost his life but nowdays it has become a meca for Michael Schumacher's dedicated fans whose main mission at the GermanGrand Prix seems to be to make as much noise as possible. A packed stadium filled with colorful flags and resounding to the bangs of the firecrackers makes for a terrific sight (and sound!) from the pit-line just as the race begins. A victory for Schumacher increases the volume ten-fold!
The trip into the circuit takes you in to the forest, which is full of camping fans who seems to have a party that last four days, before entering a small town. Just when you think you have taking a wrong turn, the entrace apears and one of the thoughest circuits on the calendar awaits.
The optimum set-up is notoriously hard to find at Hockenheim as you need to run very low downforce levels to maximize the speed down the long straights but you also need to have enough grip to take you trought the stadium section without sliding off in front of 100,000 people! Underbreaking at the end of the straights is the best oportunity for overtaking but it can be treacherous as the track is narrow and the changes are tight.
This will be the last German Grand Prix on the current Hockenheim track. The circuit is to undergo heavy revisions to allow more space for spectators and better acces to the track. The changes will reduce the circuit to just 2.7 miles and will cost around 30 million to complete. Work is due to start in October 2001 so the new circuit is ready for the 2002 German Grand Prix in July of that year.