German F1 Grand Prix

The first F1 race held here, in 1970, was dramatic, as Jochen Rindt drove his Lotus home, a nose in front of Jacky Ickx’s Ferrari. This circuit lacks character, basically a high-speed race through the forest, interrupted slightly by three chicanes, and is very hard on engines, but all the devoted Michael Schumacher fans look impressive in the stands, waving their Ferrari flags with pride. The race returned to Hockenheim in 1977, in response to the drivers not wishing to race at the Nurburgring, following Niki Lauder’s near fatal accident in 1976. Lauder, ironically enough, won the 77 race. The track was modified after the 2001 event, which was won by Michael Schumacher, the overall length drastically reduced. For 2002, the circuit's 70th anniversary, there was a new look and a new name, the "Hockenheimring Baden Württemberg". The popular long straights through the woods are now gone with new parts taking their place. Where the circuit once went into the wood there is now a sharp right turn into the extremely long high speed left turn "Parabolika". This results a hairpin to be driven with maximum steering in first gear. After this huge corner there is now a right-left-right-again turning into the famous Motodrom with the unique stadium  atmosphere. The shortened version saw laps increased from 67 laps instead of 45. Michael Schumacher was once again the winner, thrilling his home fans once again.