Preview - German Grand Prix

The Hockenheimring hosts the 55th German Grand Prix and the tenth round of the 2008 World Championship. After negotiations with the rival German circuit, the Nurburgring, broke down the German Grand Prix was canclled for 2007. But it's back now and will alternate between the circuits each season. This year its in the Hockenheimring at Hockenheim, Germany. This is what to expect from a crucial half-way point in the season, with three drivers on equal points.

Last Years Race

There was not a German race in 2007.

Information

The German Grand Prix has a long history, with the early history dominated by the second world war. It has also seen many battles between the Hockenhiemring and the Nurbugring for the rights to the Grand Prix. After the war, Germany was disallowed to host an Grand Prix for the inaugural season, so hosted a F2 event at the Nurburgring before moving to F1 in 1951. In these days the original 12-mile Nurburgring Nordschleife was used. Often known as 'The Green Hell', the circuit saw many serious accidents and in 1970 the Hockenheimring hosted its first Grand Prix due to safety issues at the Nurbugring after the fatal crash of German driver, Gerhard Mitter. The Grand Prix returned to Nurburg but with increased safety concerns, the 1976 race would be the last one. Ironically, F1 Champion, Niki Lauda, was very nearly killed at that race but was saved by fellow drivers. The race went back to the Hokenheimring, making one more appearance at the newly designed Nurburgring before the circuit was given the European Grand Prix and F1 in Germany has remained at Hockenhiem ever since.

The 2008 Formula one Grosser Preis Santander von Deutschland is the 796th F1 Grand Prix. It is hosted between the 18th and 20th of July. The race will be 67 laps. Pole Position in 2006 was McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen with 1:14.070. Ferrari's Micheal Scumacher set the fastest lap of the race, 1:16.357.

Circuit

Big changes have been made to the Hockenheimring in recent years. These changes have been mostly unpopular, with a fast sweeping forest section cut-off making the track much shorter. The main strait is very short so it can fit in, what is effectively a stadium surrounding part of the track. The first corner is very fast with a decent exit being vital. Turns two and three lead out to the parabolika. The longest strait on the circuit, which comes as a result of cutting-off the large forest area of the track. The strait leads up to the tight hairpin where heavy braking is needed after the high-speeds of the parabolika strait. Turn five is flat-out as is the exit of the apex at turn seven. The cars then re-enter the stadium and slow down for the last few corners, where spinning an F1 car is all too easy to do. The drivers then arrive at the short main strait to complete the lap. The current distance of the circuit is 4.574km or 2.842 miles. The lap record is held by Kimi Raikkonen in a McLaren with 1:13.780 in 2004.

Championship

With the race at Germany starting the second half of the season, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa are all tied at the top of the championship with 48 points and Robert Kubica is only two points behind on 46. Its anybodies guess at the moment, but each driver will want to pull away as the deciding part of the season gets underway. The German Grand Prix has always been a unpredictable one but McLaren have been waiting ten years for a win here and they look to be the favourites. Heikki Kovalainen is in a good position to become the 100th Grand Prix winner this weekend.

News

Yet again, rain could play a deciding part of the weekend. Although forecasts are sketchy at best, some drivers will once again be wanting rain for a more unpredictable race. Five drivers have there home race in Germany, more than any other race, with Nico Rosberg, Sebastain Vettel, Nick Heidfeld, Adrian Sutil and Timo Glock wanting to impress in front of their fans.