Originally called "Dreieckskurs" (triangle course), the Hockenheimring was built in 1932. The man behind it is Ernst Christ, a youngtimekeeper who felt that a racing track should be built in his hometown of Hockenheim. He submitted the plans to the mayor and they were approved onChristmas day, in 1931. This first layout of the track was around twelve kilometres long and consisted of a large triangle-like section, a hairpin in the city and two straights connecting them.
The layout of the track used between 1938 and 1965
In 1938, the circuit dramatically shortened, from twelve kilometres down to just over seven and a half, and the Ostkurve corner, which lasted until 2001, was introduced for the first time. In that year, the track was also renamed to "Kurpfalzring". The track was damaged bytanks duringWorld War II. After the war, the track was repaired, and renamed to "Hockenheimring". Former DKW and NSU factory rider and world record setterWilhelm Herz became the manager of the track in 1954 and promoted the track successfully;Grand Prix motorcycle racing events were held, with theGerman motorcycle Grand Prix alternating between the Hockenheimring and other tracks. This version of the circuit was just over seven and a half kilometres long and consisted of the original two long straights, with the Ostkurve in the forest and the original hairpin inside Hockenheim joining them together.
In 1965, when the newAutobahnA 6 separated the village from the main part of the track, a new version of Hockenheim circuit was built, with the "Motodrom" stadium section, designed byJohn Hugenholtz, who also designedSuzuka. AfterJim Clark was killed on7 April 1968 in aFormula 2 racing accident, two fastchicanes were added and the track was lined withcrash barriers in 1970. A small memorial was placed near the first chicane (which was named after him), at the site of his accident. In 1982, another chicane was added at the Ostkurve (east curve), afterPatrick Depailler was killed there in 1980, and the first chicane was made slower as well. For the1992 German Grand Prix, the Ostkurve was changed yet again, from a quick left turn into a more complex right-left-right chicane, afterÉrik Comas crashed there in1991. The second chicane was renamed afterAyrton Senna, after his death at the1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
This version used to be quite large, with a very long and very fast section going through forests essentially consisting of four straights of roughly 1.3 km (0.81 mi), separated by a chicane sequence, followed by a more tight and twisty "stadium" section (so called because of all the grandstands situated there) namedMotodrom. This made the setting up of racing cars difficult, since a choice had to be made – whether to run lowdownforce to optimize speed through the straights and compromise grip in the stadium section, or, run more downforce to optimize grip through the stadium section and compromise speed on the straights. The long track length also meant that a typical Formula One race had only 45 laps, limiting the spectators' experience of the race to only that many passes through the stadium.
During the mid-1980s "turbo era" of Formula One where fuel was restricted to either 220 (1984–1985), 195 (1986–1987) or 150 (1988) litres for races for the turbo powered cars, Hockenheim also saw drivers, including World ChampionAlain Prost, at times fail to finish due to simply running out of fuel near the end of the race. Prost ran out at the end of the1986 race, pushing hisMcLaren towards the line before giving up. He was placed 3rd when he ran dry and was eventually classified 6th, gaining a valuable championship point that would help him with his secondWorld Championship.
The last version of old Hockenheimring layout (1992–2001)
Many problems came to light during the2000 German Grand Prix, which was won by Brazilian driverRubens Barrichello from having started 18th on the grid. The race finished in changeable weather conditions, with pouring rain in the stadium sector and almost completely dry forest straights. All the overtaking moves that took place during the race were in the chicanes of the forest sector, meaning hardly any spectators saw most of the best action. Midway through the race, a formerMercedes-Benz employee, who had been dismissed, breached the track's security barriers on the first forest straight, showing vulnerable security facilities in the forest and leading to the deployment of the safety car that neutralized a comfortable lead for the two Mercedes-poweredMcLarens. Later on, French driverJean Alesi collided with BrazilianPedro Diniz in the braking zone for the third chicane and his car spun uncontrollably down the track, which caused him to suffer dizziness for three days.
These events prompted much protest from theFIA to greatly improve spectator viewing, safety, and security at the track, claiming that the track was no longer suited to modern Formula One racing.
Current track compared to previous trackAerial view of the track in 2023 with remains of the old track layout visible in the forest (upper left)Remains of the Ostkurve in early 2012
In the early 2000s, F1 officials demanded the 6.823 km (4.240 mi) track be shortened and threatened to discontinue racing there, threatening to relocate to other tracks such as theEuroSpeedway Lausitz and sites inAsia. The state government ofBaden-Württemberg secured the financing for the redesign byHermann Tilke for the2002 German Grand Prix. The stadium section remained mostly intact, despite a new surface and a tighter Turn 1 ("Nordkurve"). However, the circuit was dramatically shortened, with the long, forested straights section chopped off in favour of more tight corners. More than half of the first straight and almost all of the straight between the Ostkurve and Senna chicane were cut and the rest was connected with a new long straight called the "Parabolika", with a small kink being added between the first straight and the new one. A small right-left-right complex was added to the remaining part of the final straight, with a new grandstand overlooking it. In an extremely controversial move, the old forest section was torn up and replanted with trees, eliminating any chance of using the old course either for future F1 events or for historic car events.
There was and still remains a great deal of criticism of the track redesign, in terms of ruining the previous unique technical challenges of the old Hockenheim circuit and delivering a new homogenised "assembly line" circuit without the character of the previous layout, whilst being beset by the perceived problems of other Tilke circuits.[3] Several drivers and team principals, includingRon Dennis,Jarno Trulli andJuan Pablo Montoya, criticised the changes and stated their preference for the old circuit.[4]
The change in the track layout also saw the installation of a new memorial to Jim Clark. This is located at the outside of the current track's turn 2, where the old track continued out into the forests, and the new shortened track turns to the right.[5]
The new track has aseating capacity of 120,000, due to new large grandstands sponsored byMercedes-Benz. The complex also features a quarter-mile track fordrag racing. It hosts one of the largest drag racing events in Europe, known as theNitrOlympx, and was one of the lastTop Fuel circuits to race to 0.25 mi (0.40 km) before the FIA switched the nitro categories to the now-recognised 1,000 ft (300 m) distance in 2012.
The Hockenheim Circuit hosted theGerman Grand Prix for the first time in 1970 when the F1 drivers decided at theFrench Grand Prix to boycott the allegedly dangerousNürburgring unless major changes were made. The next year the German Grand Prix went back to the Nürburgring until the1976 German Grand Prix. From1977 to2006, the Hockenheimring hosted the German Grand Prix with the exception of1985, when the race was held at the reconfigured Nürburgring.
In July 2006,Bernie Ecclestone announced that from 2007 onwards, there would be only one Grand Prix per year in Germany. Since1995, there had been two Grands Prix every year in Germany; theGerman Grand Prix at Hockenheim, plus either theEuropean Grand Prix or theLuxembourg Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. From 2007, the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring alternated hosting the German Grand Prix, starting with the Nürburgring in 2007.
Ongoing deficits of the Formula One races, amounting to up to 5.3 million Euro per race that had to be covered by the local communities, made it likely the contract between the Hockenheimring andFormula One Management would not be extended after the Grand Prix of 2010.[6] However, in October 2009 the contract for the circuit to hold the German GP was extended to 2018, with theFOA agreeing to cover any losses the event incurs.[7] Neither Hockenheim nor the Nürburgring hosted a Grand Prix in 2015 or 2017 after the Nürburgring failed to complete an agreement with Formula 1's commercial rights holderBernie Ecclestone.[8]2019 was the last time the facility hosted theGerman Grand Prix, which was sponsored byMercedes-Benz, celebrating the German manufacturer 125th year in motorsport.
Drag racing (NitrolympX – Rico Anthes Quarter Mile)
From 1986 to 1988, the start–finish straight was used for 1/8 mile drag racing. In 1989, a proper drag strip was built by connecting the Opel-Kurve and the first turn entering the Motodrom section. The finish line was at the beginning of the forest, with a very long run-off on the straight in the forest. Competitors had to travel around the full race track in opposite direction to return to the paddock.
The drag strip is only used for two events in August, thePublic Race Days and theNitrolympX [de] main event a week later. Originally named theNitrolympics and featuringTop Fuel dragsters, it was renamed to NitrolympX.
When the Hockenheimring was shortened in 2002, the drag strip was moved back, closer to the new tall Tower stands that allow an unusual view along the drag strip.[9] Even though the run off was cut in half it remains one of the longest in drag racing. The NitrolympX usually host mostEuropean Drag Racing Championship, sanctioned by FIA or FIM, plus jet dragsters and other entertaining events on the Saturday night show that draws 40,000 spectators.[10]
The drag strip in 2008 was christenedRico Anthes Quarter Mile after the German former Top Fuel driver and long-time organizer of the NitrolympX had retired in 2007. As the dragstrip can only be prepared for professional drag racing after the last major circuit event, mainly the Formula One race, the grip is often sub par compared to permanent drag strips that host two Euro Championship events each year, likeSanta Pod Raceway in England orTierp Arena in Sweden. The best performances on the full quarter-mile were significantly below those in Santa Pod, and the best ET was set in 2005: 4.873 sec. and 458 km/h by Brady Kalivoda (USA).[11]
In 2012, some Pro classes could not find traction as Formula One had demanded a new surface. In subsequent years, the organizers provided a better track, with support from Santa Pod personnel and machinery. In 2016, Hockenheim, and mainland Europe, finally saw the first 3-second Top Fuel 1000 ft passes, with 3.939 sec. and 486.91 km/h (302.55 mph) by Anita Mäkelä (FIN). An overall European record for Super Street Bike was set by Garry Bowe (GB) with 7.04s 340.69 km/h (211.69 mph).[12]
The DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) series has regularly raced at the Hockenheimring since its revival in 2000. In most years, the DTM has competed there twice during a season.
Located in the stadia section of the track, the rallycross track uses a section of track from turns 11 to 16, combined with a dirt section in front of the grandstands. It hosted first everWorld RX of Hockenheim, round 2 ofFIA World Rallycross Championship in 2015 as supporting event of DTM. WRX also combined with the DTM for an event there in 2017.[13]
Official record lap times are only set during the race. The fastest ever lap on the track is 1:11.212 set bySebastian Vettel in aFerrari SF71H during qualifying at the2018 German Grand Prix. As of October 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Hockenheimring are listed as:
Category
Time
Driver
Vehicle
Event
Current Grand Prix Circuit: 4.574 km (2002–present)[14]
Kimi Räikkönen,McLaren MP4-19B,2004,F1)
Daniel Juncadella,Dallara F309,2010,F3)
Josef Neuhauser,Minardi M190,2001,F1)
Juan Pablo Montoya,Williams FW23,2001,F1)
Riccardo Patrese,Williams FW14B,1992,F1)
Alan Jones,Williams FW07B,1980,F1)
Trevor Taylor,Surtees TS5,1969,F5000)
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