German GP Facts & Figures

By Andrew Hooper
July 25 2003

	Facts & Figures
	* The town of Hockenheim has a population of around 19,000 and is situated on the Upper Rhine plain in the state of Baden-Württemberg. * On 29th May 1932, the circuit hosted its inaugural motorcycle race on the un-surfaced, triangular circuit. In 1938, the circuit was re-designed to create the oval-shaped Palatinate Ring. 1957 saw further modifications when the Motodrom was built. * On 2nd August 1970, Hockenheim hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix with Jochen Rindt taking victory. In 1977, however, the German Grand Prix moved to Baden indefinitely, only returning to the Nürburgring once in 1985. * In 2002, Hockenheim celebrated its 70th anniversary with a new design and a new name - the "Hockenheimring Baden Württemberg". The long forest straights were removed and replaced with new sections in order to accommodate increasing spectator numbers. Where cars previously disappeared into the woods, the circuit now takes a sharp right turn (the second corner after the start / finish) into the long, sweeping, high-speed Parabolica left turn. This culminates in a hairpin taken in first gear with the steering wheel virtually at full lock. Following this hairpin, a right-left-right combination takes you back to familiar territory - the Motodrom "stadium" section. * To date, WilliamsF1 have claimed eight victories at Hockenheim. The first in 1979, when Alan Jones won the second of the team's 111 race victories. In 2001, BMW - with partner WilliamsF1 - achieved its first Formula One win at Hockenheim. BMW has now secured a total of seventeen Grand Prix victories. * In 2002, Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya lined up second and fourth on the grid. For the first time ever, two German brothers were starting from the front row of the grid in Germany with Michael Schumacher (1:14.389m) ahead of brother Ralf. At the end of the race, Montoya crossed the line in second place behind the reigning World Champion. Ralf Schumacher, having previously been in a comfortable second position, had to make an unscheduled pit stop with just four laps to go in order to top up with air for the BMW V10's pneumatic valve drive. This resulted in a third-placed finish behind team-mate Juan Pablo. * Total circuit length in 2003 will be 4.574 kilometres. The Grand Prix will comprise of 67 laps, creating a race distance of 306.458 kilometres. * Last year, Michael Schumacher clocked the fastest lap on the new circuit with a time of 1:16.462m. * The 2003 German Grand Prix starts at 14:00 hrs local time on Sunday 3rd August.