Hungarian GP Facts & Figures

By Andrew Hooper
August 13 2002

	Hungarian GP Facts & Figures
	* The Hungarian Grand Prix is a relative youngster on the World Championship calendar, as this is only the 17th event to be hosted by Hungary since 1986. The only country to have been added to the F1 calendar since is Malaysia, with the first race being held in 1999. * The Hungarian race has witnessed highs and lows for WilliamsF1. The team first won a race in Budapest in 1986 with Nelson Piquet and has won seven of the 16 races since. Moreover, Nigel Mansell clinched his World Championship in Hungary in 1992, but it remains a venue of mixed fortunes as in 1987 Mansell started from pole, led for 70 of the 76 laps and then lost a rear wheel in sight of the chequered flag. * Hungary did host one race before the start of the current World Championship in a park on the edge of Budapest in 1936 which was won by Tazio Nuvolari in an Alfa Romeo. * The circuit has been changed several times over the years and shortened fractionally, but the current layout is 2.470 miles (3.975 km) long and the 77 lap race will be 190.227 miles (306.075 km) long. * After the street circuit of Monaco, the Hungaroring is the second shortest track of the current Formula One Calendar. * The lap record was set in 2001 by Mika Hakkinen in his McLaren Mercedes with a time of 1m 16.723s (186.515 km/h). * The 2001 Grand Prix saw Michael Schumacher taking pole position (1m 14.059s), victory and his fourth World Champion crown. At the same time the Scuderia Ferrari secured the Formula One Constructors' World Championship. * Apart from the season's championship conclusion, the 2001 race was not particularly eventful. The Hungaroring proved again that its layout comprised of a narrow track and numerous turns affords very few opportunities to overtake. Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya have been fourth and eighth respectively on the grid and this remained precisely their finishing position. The main excitement was the battle for fourth place that waged between Ralf and Mika Häkkinen between laps 61 and 71. Mika launched repeated attacks and Ralf had to work hard to defend his position. * Budapest, the capital of Hungary, was created in 1873 by the merger of two cities, Buda and Pest, based on each side of the Donau river. Today Budapest has a population of 2.1 million, six universities and numerous museums. Besides being the cultural centre of the country, Budapest enjoys a huge harbour and is accordingly a regional trade and industry centre. To reach the Hungaroring, situated east of Budapest's outskirts, takes about 20 minutes by car from the city centre. * The race will start at 14.00 local time (12.00 BST) on Sunday, 18th August.