Why The Hockenheimring is Abandoned in a forest
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into the history of the Hockenheimring, a legendary Formula One circuit with a challenging forest section. It traces the track's evolution from its triangular origins in 1932 to the modern era, marked by safety concerns and changes in layout. The script highlights iconic moments, like Rubens Barrichello's emotional win in 2000, and discusses the track's fluctuating presence in F1 due to financial and attendance issues. The video also reflects on the nostalgia for the old layout and the enduring legacy of the Hockenheimring in F1 history.
Takeaways
- 🏎️ The Hockenheimring has a storied history, evolving from the original 'Triangle Course' designed by Earnest Christ in 1932 to its current layout.
- 🛠️ Major modifications to the track occurred over the years, including the addition of the OS curve, the Stadium section, and various chicanes to improve safety and racing dynamics.
- 🌲 The forest section of the track, once iconic for its speed, contributed to the circuit's eventual changes due to safety and visibility concerns.
- 📉 Post-WWII, the Hockenheimring experienced a period of decline before becoming a prominent venue for MotoGP and Formula One racing.
- 🏁 The 1968 death of Jim Clark led to significant safety upgrades, including the addition of chicanes and barriers to slow down the cars.
- ⛽️ Fuel restrictions in the 1980s turbo era led to issues like drivers running out of fuel during races, including Alain Prost in 1986.
- 🚧 The year 2000 highlighted the need for further changes at Hockenheim due to spectator visibility, security issues, and the track's challenging setup for cars.
- 🎉 Rubens Barrichello's emotional first win at the 2000 German Grand Prix was overshadowed by concerns over the track's outdated facilities.
- 🛑 A disgruntled Mercedes employee's on-track protest during the 2002 race underscored the circuit's lack of security measures in the forest section.
- 🔄 The early 2000s saw Formula One push for changes at Hockenheim, leading to a redesign by Hermann Tilke for 2002 that removed the forest section.
- 📉 Declining attendance and financial strain led to an inconsistent presence of the Hockenheimring on the Formula One calendar post-2010.
- 🌐 The Nurburgring and Hockenheimring have alternated hosting the German Grand Prix, but financial and logistical challenges have threatened the future of F1 in Germany.
Q & A
What was the original name of the Hockenheimring track?
-The original name of the track was the 'Triangle Course' due to its triangular shape.
Who designed the first layout of the Hockenheimring?
-The first layout was designed by a timekeeper named Earnest Christ.
Why was the Hockenheimring modified in 1938?
-The circuit was modified in 1938 to be less triangle-shaped, shortening it from 12 kilometers to just over seven and a half, and including the OS curve.
What significant change did the Hockenheimring undergo in 1965?
-In 1965, the 'Stadium section' was added to the Hockenheimring.
Why were chicanes added to the Hockenheimring after the death of Jim Clark in 1968?
-Chicanes were added after Jim Clark's tragic death to increase safety measures on the track.
What major incident during the 2000 race at Hockenheimring highlighted the need for improved security measures?
-An unhappy Mercedes employee walked onto the track during the race, which exposed the circuit's near non-existent security measures.
Why did Formula One push for changes in the Hockenheimring in the early 2000s?
-Formula One pushed for changes due to concerns over spectator viewing, safety, and security, especially after incidents like the walk-on during the 2000 race.
Who was responsible for redesigning the Hockenheimring in 2002?
-Herman Tilke was tasked with redesigning the Hockenheimring for 2002.
What was the reason for the Hockenheimring's fluctuating presence on the Formula One calendar in recent years?
-The fluctuating presence was due to financial negotiations and agreements between the track owners, the city, and Formula One.
Why was there a potential problem for the 2010 German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring?
-The potential problem was that the track owners and the city were not prepared to invest more money into the event, but a last-minute deal saved the race.
How has the attendance at the Hockenheimring Formula One events changed over the years?
-Attendance peaked in 2006 with 232,000 people over the course of the weekends, but by 2014 it had dropped to just 94,000.
Outlines
🏎️ The Evolution and Challenges of Hockenheimring
The script delves into the history of the Hockenheimring, a legendary Formula One circuit. It began as the 'Triangle Course' in 1932, designed by Earnest Christ, and underwent significant changes over the years, including the addition of the OS curve and the Stadium section. The track faced various challenges, such as the difficulty of car setup for its unique layout, long race duration, and limited spectator visibility. The script also recounts the tragic death of Jim Clark in 1968, which led to further modifications for safety. The Hockenheimring's character was further compromised by fuel restrictions during the mid-80s turbo era, leading to incidents like Alain Prost running out of fuel in 1986. The year 2000 marked a turning point, with a series of events highlighting the need for change, including a fan walking onto the track during a race and the desire for improved spectator viewing and safety. The state government secured funding for a redesign by Hermann Tilke in 2002, which saw the removal of the iconic forest section, a decision that disappointed many fans and drivers.
📉 The Unsteady History of Hockenheimring in Formula One
This paragraph discusses the fluctuating presence of the Hockenheimring in the Formula One calendar and the financial implications of hosting the event. It starts with the ironic note that the track's first hosting of the German Grand Prix was due to a safety boycott at the Nurburgring. The script outlines the alternating hosting agreement between Hockenheimring and the Nurburgring until 2013, and the subsequent uncertainty due to financial disputes and a lack of agreement for continued alternation. The Hockenheimring's hosting frequency was reduced to every second year, with Germany's absence from the Formula One calendar in 2015 and 2017. Despite a resurgence in 2019 with a highly entertaining race, the financial burden and declining attendance led to Hockenheimring's uncertain future in the calendar. The script concludes with the creator's personal reflection on remaking the video to provide a better presentation of the topic and an appeal for support from the audience.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Formula One
💡Hockenheimring
💡Triangle Course
💡OS Curve
💡Stadium Section
💡Chicane
💡Turbo Era
💡Safety Concerns
💡Redesign
💡Iconic Circuits
💡Broadcasting Deal
Highlights
The Hockenheimring's forest section, once an icon of speed in Formula One, contributed to the track's demise.
Opened in 1932, the track was originally designed by timekeeper Earnest Christ and named 'Triangle Course' due to its triangular shape.
The first major modifications in 1938 shortened the track from 12 kilometers to 7.5 and introduced the OS curve.
During WWII, the track suffered damage and was renamed to Hockenheimring after repairs.
1965 saw the addition of the Stadium section, and two chicanes were added after Jim Clark's tragic death in 1968.
The circuit's character was challenging due to the need for cars to be set up for both low downforce and high top speed.
In the mid-80s, fuel restrictions led to incidents like Alain Prost running out of fuel during the 1986 race.
The 2000 race was marred by poor visibility for spectators, security issues, and a walkout by an unhappy Mercedes employee.
Formula One drivers, including Martin Brundle, expressed dissatisfaction with racing at Hockenheim due to safety and viewing concerns.
In 2002, the Hockenheimring was redesigned by Hermann Tilke, removing the forest section and addressing safety and viewing issues.
The old forest section of the track is now overgrown, symbolizing a lost era of Formula One.
The Hockenheimring's history includes a boycott of the Nurburgring in 1970, leading to its first hosting of the German Grand Prix.
From 2007 to 2010, the German Grand Prix was shared between the Nurburgring and Hockenheimring.
A last-minute deal in 2009 ensured Hockenheimring's place on the Formula One calendar until 2018.
Attendance at the Hockenheimring dropped significantly from its peak years, impacting its financial viability.
Despite discussions, there has been no solid plan for Hockenheimring's return to Formula One post-2020.
The video is a remake, reflecting on the creator's growth and desire to remaster content on significant topics.
Transcripts
I've always been fascinated by this
circuit the massive run through the
forest is what I look back on as such an
icon of speed in Formula One but that
Forest section that I love so much for
some reason was what kind of caused the
demise of this former track the
Hockenheim ring has a history and some
of its old sections sit abandoned in a
forest to this day so what exactly
happened on the 29th of May 1932 the
driest course translated to Triangle
course was officially opened designed by
a timekeeper named Earnest Christ who
simply wanted a race track in his
hometown of Hockenheim so he went ahead
and designed one the first layout was
named triangle course for a reason
simply because of its triangular shape
six mostly sharp Corners feature in the
layout with some long straights not the
type of layout we're used to these days
the layout was used from 1932 until 1938
where the first major modifications
would take place by 1938 the circuit had
changed quite a bit and was much less
triangle shaped the circuit was
shortened from 12 kilometers down to
just over seven and a half one of the
big changes was the inclusion of the OS
curve which saw a long run into the
forest swinging back around and
rejoining the original triangle hairpin
the triangle course was no more and the
circuits had a new name during World War
II this circuit would take some damage
and after the repairs the circuit would
be renamed once again this time to the
Hockenheim ring the track would
eventually start seeing some real
success with MotoGP Racers taking place
at the Hockenheim ring while alternating
with other circuits 1965 would see the
Hockenheim ring change once again with
the Stadium section being added and then
after the tragic death of racing Legend
Jim Clark in 1968 two chicanes were
added and barriers in 1982 another
chicane was added to the Oscar section
the first chicane would also be made
slower slight adjustments would take
place throughout the years and the
forest section now featured three
chicane clock OST and Senna why did this
circuit get exposed so badly as the
years went on and why was it formula one
that would force the Hockenheim ring to
change once again the circuit's
character was extremely difficult not
exactly from a driving sense but more on
the setup side of the car do opt for low
downforce or the opposite in order to
make up time in The Stadium section the
track length was quite something as well
meaning you'd be looking at a 45 lap
race majority of the grandstands were
situated in The Stadium section which
meant very limited viewing the run into
the forest was almost isolated from
everything else during the mid 80s turbo
era new fuel restrictions had been
introduced which limited the amount of
fuel allowed during a race drivers would
sometimes run out of fuel including
Formula One Legend Alam Prost who would
run out of fuel at the end of the 1986
race pushing his car to the Finish Line
before giving up altogether the year
2000 was when the Hockenheim Rings
layout was again put under the spot
spotlights and more questions were asked
change was almost certainly on the way
in 2000 Ruben sparicello would start
from 18th but would go on to win
claiming his first ever Formula One win
which has gone down as one of the more
emotional moments in barakallo's career
most of the overtakes throughout that
race would happen deep in the forest
meaning not a whole lot of Spectators
were witness to the action the weather
was changeable as well with rain in The
Stadium section and nearly completely
dry in the forest section about halfway
through the race an unhappy Mercedes
employee who had recently lost his job
decided to walk onto the track in what
was a public display of the circuits
near non-existent security measures in
the forest section a lazy and Denise
would Collide sending a lazy into a spin
and causing him dizziness for the
following three days 2000 was really all
the evidence needed to show that things
needed to change at Hockenheim once
again spectator viewing safety and
security were all bought into question
Martin brundle would also say during the
broadcast of the 2002 German Grand Prix
that he and many other drivers of that
era didn't like racing at Hockenheim
there was a time where you were lucky to
finish this race you either ran out of
fuel suffered a failure because of the
long straights or crashed in the early
2000s F1 were pushing for change in
Hockenheim and threatened to race
elsewhere if something wasn't done the
state government secured money and
Herman tilka had the task of redesigning
the Hockenheim ring for 2002. a lot of
the old Hockenheim Forest section was
torn up and trees were planted so nobody
could race in that isolated Forest ever
again still today fans and drivers
missed the old Hockenheim ring layouts
with icons such as Juan Pablo Montoya
Yano truly and Ron Dennis criticizing
the new layout and much preferring the
old one the old Hockenheim ring will
always be one of formula one's most
iconic circuits and not just because of
the old layout but because in 1970
drivers decided to boycott the
Nurburgring unless changes were made
meaning the first ever time that
Hockenheim hosted the German Grand Prix
was due to a safety boycott I find it
somewhat ironic that the reason this
track not only got a Grand Prix but also
turned into an abandoned piece of
History was due to safety concerns
Hockenheim hasn't had such a steady
relationship with Formula One in recent
years in 2006 it was announced that
starting from 2007 until 2010 Formula
One in Germany would be shared between
the Nurburgring and the Hockenheim ring
it was in some ways The Best of Both
Worlds when 2010 came around the race
was set to go ahead at the Hockenheim
ring as per the agreements though there
was a potential problem which put the
whole race in Jeopardy the track owners
and City weren't prepared to pump more
money into the events but a last minute
deal was struck in September 2009 which
would say the Hockenheim ring stay on
the Formula One calendar until 2018. F1
in Germany would still be shared between
the Nurburgring until 2013 but the
Nurburgring would be under new ownership
in 2014. a deal was unable to be made to
continue with the alternating
arrangements and the future of formula
one ever going back to the circuits was
doubtful the Hockenheim ring still stuck
to holding the race every second year so
in 2015 and 2017 Germany would be absent
from the Formula One calendar Formula
One in Germany would be in doubt
altogether after 2018 as the contract
was set to end but another year was
added in 2019 and we got one of the most
entertaining and best races of the Year
there was no deal for the Hockenheim
ring in 2020 but due to the cancellation
of many races that year the Nurburgring
made its return to the Formula One
calendar and was a great moment but why
didn't the Hockenheim ring make its way
back on the calendar for 2021 and Beyond
it all comes down to money when Michael
Schumacher dominated the sport Germany's
eyes were on the racing phenomenon
sponsors wanted to get involved in the
events a huge broadcasting deal was
struck and it was just a big deal
according to Forbes in 2006 232
000 people attended the events over the
course of the weekends fast forward to
2014 attendance fell to just 94 000 a
huge decrease from its prime years a
potential Hockenheim return has been
discussed numerous times though there
has been no solid plan or news that it
will be returning anytime soon
Hockenheim is missed by many F1 fans the
old layout will never be forgotten even
though it has become overgrown Forest
When the Sun Goes Down And day turns
into night the one thing that remains in
the forests of the Hockenheim ring is
the screaming engines from past eras of
Formula One
foreign
[Music]
thank you for watching this video some
of you may notice that this is a remake
obviously I look back at some of my old
content sometimes and I do cringe a
little bit and I feel like videos on
topics like this deserve a bit of a
remastering so I hope you enjoyed it
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