Old Hockenheim Today 2023 - Exploring the old Hockenheimring by Foot and by Drone

Old Hockenheim Today 2023 - Exploring the old Hockenheimring by foot and by drone

In this video we explore the site where the old Hockenheimring used to be, by foot and by drone. The footage was filmed on June 11, 2023.

About the Hockenheimring:
Hockenheim started in 1932 as a street ciruit. It was an initaitive from Ernst Christ, an assistant timekeeper and motorsport fan. In 1930 he came up with the idea to open a circuit in his home town Hockenheim.

For this idea he got the support of mayor Philipp Klein, and the German Motorsport Association, who promised to organize races on the circuit. They extended two public roads so a triangular trial could be created.

Because there was not enough money for the surface of the extensions, the first motorcycle race, on the 29th of May 1932, was held on an partly unpaved track. The driving direction of the oldest version of Hockenheim was anti-clockwise.

Today many sources claim Hockenheim was originally built as a test track for Mercedes. But this is absolutely not true! It's one of the many urban myths and misconceptions in motorsport which is repeted by laizy reporters again and again. We made a funny top 10 of these stories. Check here the video:    • Top 10 Urban Myths and Misconceptions in M...  

The very first version was modified for the first time in 1938, when a new section was built to cut off a section through the village of Oftersheim.

This new part was the section with the famous Ostkurve. The track had now the famous stretched oval-shape that would exist until the 2002 reconstruction. Also in this version the driving direction was anti-clockwise.

In the 1960’s a new highway was planned. It would cut of the section through the village of Hockenheim. To keep the track operational a reconstruction was neccesary.

A new section was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz, who also designed Suzuka in Japan, Jarama in Spain and the lost Nivelles circuit in Belgium. Check here our footage of this lost race track:    • Abandoned Race Track Nivelles Baulers 2019...  

Inspired by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway he designed a stadium section named Motodrom, in English Motor-stadium.

In 1964 the construction of the Motodrom started and in 1966 it opened. From that moment on, the Hockenheimring was a full permanent race track. They also changed the driving direction from anti-clockwise to clockwise.

Characteristic for this version of the Hockenheim circuit was the contrast between the lonely long straights through the woods and the twisty section in the crowd packed stadium. During the years, chicanes were built into the fast section through the woods.

With the popularity of Michael Schumacher in the 1990’s and the opening of the new Lausitzring, circuit bosses feared the los of the Grand Prix. So a plan was made to modernize the track.

No it was not Ecclestone or the FIA who required the reconstruction of Hockenheim. The initiative came from the circuit owners self.

A new section, designed by Hermann Tilke, was built. To compensate the felled trees the old track was demolished to plant new trees. The new track opened in 2002.

But the reconstruction was a Financial disaster who brought the Hockenheimring to the brink of bankruptcy. Thanks to government intervention, the track could be saved from downfall. With taxpayers' money, off course.

However old Hockenheim was not very popular by the drivers, fans loved it because of it's high speeds. So today many people are still upset about the loss of old Hockenheim.

More about the history of old Hockenheim on the website:
https://www.circuitsofthepast.com/hoc... (English)
https://www.circuitsofthepast.nl/oud-... (Nederlands)

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