Race tracks are having hard days these times. The financial crises in general and specific problems per track are always fertile soil to worry about some races. After the act of planning bravado of politicians and obscure business men that led to the “Event-Ring” in 2009 the cards are getting shuffled again, the Ring is for sale and it is yet unclear what will happen to racing in the Eifel. We can only join the choir: S A V E T H E R I N G! Save it now, save it for the generations after!
The first race on the Nürburgring took place in 1927 and the so called Grüne Hölle was enormous 22.83 kms per lap. Imagine that today: the race would finish after 14 laps! Since 1976 the new Grand Prix track was created with a length of 5.148 kms per lap bringing the distance of an actual GP to 60 laps.
The German GP is alternating between the Hockenheim Ring and the Nürburgring, this weekend it is once again up to the Eifel to host the Formula 1-circus.
16 victories are noted down for the Scuderia up to date, the most recent coming –once again- from Michael Schumacher in 2006. Schumacher won at the Ring four times on a Ferrari and the list of winners reads like the who is who in formula racing: Ascari (three times), Farina, Fangio, Surtees (who will join this year’s Schloß Dyck Classic Days), Ickx, Regazzoni, Alboreto and Rubino. Sadly enough, Peter Collins died on lap 10 in 1958 when he crashed with his 246, #0002.
The most pulsating detail this weekend will be the Tire-Drama. Wasn’t it surprising that three tires blew within the race whilst none of these incidents did happen during the practice- and qualifying-sessions? What made the difference? However, new rear tires are provided by Pirelli for the Ring-battle. Let’s hope, everything works well and, maybe it’s time for a Scuderia victory again…