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McLaren Fans German Track Guide
By Sam Cooper July 14 2008
The German Grand Prix has been held at the current Nurburgring circuit since 1927, the Nurburgring circuit has held the German Grand Prix event 36 times. Though, for this year, the Grand Prix will take place at the Hockenheimring. From 2007 to 2010, the German Grand Prix will be held alternately between the Nurburgring and the Hockenheimring.

McLaren Fans Track Guide

Round 10- Hockenheimring- Germany

History

The German Grand Prix has been held at the current Nurburgring circuit since 1927, the Nurburgring circuit has held the German Grand Prix event 36 times. Though, for this year, the Grand Prix will take place at the Hockenheimring.

From 2007 to 2010, the German Grand Prix will be held alternately between the Nurburgring and the Hockenheimring, due to the Hockenheimring being put under financial pressure. The German government have only agreed to pay for one event, and as we all know, nothing is free in formula one.

Though, the fast and dangerous 6.8km circuit, that cut through the forest, was ordered to be shortened, and therefore made safer, due to the cars being able to zip through there at an ever increasing speed. The government owned track had no option but to do as the officials asked, as they needed the grand prix to remain their in the future. For the 2002 race, the track was to be redesigned by Hermann Tilke.

The new track has come under a lot of criticism from race fans, claiming that the old track was far better- something we’re not going to disagree with, though the long straight followed by a slow and tight hairpin offers a great overtaking oppertunity

The Technical Side

An ideal downforce configuration for the track would be a medium downforce layout, though due to the threat of being overtaken, teams decide to switch to a medium-low downforce setup, in order to stay in front on the straights.

The track has always being hard on engines, good torque and power is required to set a good lap time, with over 70% of the lap being spent on full throttle.

Circuit Map

Last Years Results (Nurburgring)

Pos.DriverTeamTime
1.F. AlonsoMcLaren2:06:26.358
2.F. MassaFerrari+ 8.155
3.M. WebberRed Bull+ 1:05.674
4.A. WurzWilliams+ 1:05.937
5.D. CoulthardRed Bull+ 1:13.656
6.N. HeidfeldBMW+ 1:20.298
7.R. KubicaBMW+ 1:22.415
8.H. KovalainenRenault+ 1 laps

Other Results.Pole: Kimi Raikkonen- McLaren- 1:14.070

Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen- McLaren- 1:13.780  

McLaren Fans Predictions. 

Its hard to say who will be fastest around Hockenheim, Lewis Hamilton looked very fast in the updated MP4-23, he was a good four tenths faster than his nearest rival. Heikki Kovalainen was fast, but not fastest when he ventured out on circuit on the last day of testing.


Ferrari do look quick, but they might not be as quick as McLaren, clearly we’ll be in for a McLaren- Ferrari battle, which will be very entertaining to watch, especially considering McLaren will be wanting to win at their second home race of the season. 

Track map copyright F.I.A

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