Old Hockenheimring: All About the Controversial Reconstruction

Why are the remains of the old Hockenheimring left abandoned in the woods? In thisarticle I tell you the complete facts about the controversial reconstruction from 2002.

Old Hockenheimring

The Hockenheimring was once a family business that made a modest profit of several hundred thousand euros per year. Until some people in Hockeheim smelled the big money. The result: around 29 million euros in debt. And the local government had to save the day, with taxpayers’ money.

The renovation still evokes emotional responses from fans. Many still miss the old high-speed circuit with the long straight straights through the woods. People often swear at Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA or Hermann Tilke. They are held responsible by many. But is this correct?

The information in this article comes from the German documentary ‘The bankruptcy of Formula 1 – the Hockenheim case’ (German title: ‘Die Formel 1 Pleite – Der Fall Hockenheimring’). The makers of this documentary investigated the matter and spoke to those involved. All credits for the investigation go to them.

At the bottom of this page you can watch the entire documentary in German. But you can also just read on for a summary of the most important research findings. Or watch the English video below.

Who is guilty?

Michael Schumacher is identified by the documentary makers as the main culprit for the catastrophic renovation of the Hockenheimring. This is meant in jest and is less appropriate in light of his current situation.

But due to the popularity of Michael Schumacher in the 1990s, the German Grand Prix attracted full stands. Germany even received a second Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, under the name Grand Prix of Luxembourg.

In the summer of 1999, the treaty for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Germany was extended until 2001. Bernie Ecclestone, then president of the FOCA, even promised the organization that the race would remain at the Hockenheimring until at least 2006.

But after this 1999 Grand Prix, a misinterpreted comment caused a flood of rumors. Pasquale Lattuneddu, Bernie Ecclestone’s right-hand man, is asked after the race what he thought of the event. His comment: “The circuit is too long and the spectators have to wait too long for the cars to pass by again.” This was his personal opinion, but it was taken to mean that something should change about the circuit.

At the time, the researchers of ‘The Hockenheimring Case’ made inquiries with the now deceased Charlie Whiting. He was responsible for safety in Formula 1 at the time. The answer: “The FIA has not required any conversion measures from Hockenheim. The circuit has achieved this itself, to become more spectator-friendly.” and “The old circuit was deemed suitable for Formula 1 at the time of the renovation.”

But the misinterpreted comment took on a dynamic of its own and in the winter of 1999/2000 the first plans were made for the reconstruction of the circuit.

Competition from the East

Meanwhile, in eastern Germany, construction of a major motorsport complex, the Lausitzring, had begun in 1999. Although the region did not have a suitable infrastructure for organizing a Grand Prix, the ambitions were high. A huge circuit complex was built at the taxpayer’s expense. The Schumacher virus made all blind.

Major investments were also made at the Nürburgring in new stands to accommodate more spectators during the annual Formula 1 race.

The major shortcoming of Hockenheim at the time was that it could accommodate only 83,000 spectators. This was insufficient to bring in the big money. Andreas Mayer, the promoter of the German Grand Prix, wanted more seats for spectators. This was incorrect reported in the media at the time as “Bernie Ecclestone demands renovation”.

The investigators also made inquiries with Ecclestone. His answer: “I never pressured them to change the circuit. It was the circuit operators themselves who made this proposal to us and the FIA.”

In the year 2000, the Lausitzring was opened 3 weeks after the Grand Prix at Hockenheim. The brand new circuit has ambitious plans. Contracts were signed with the DTM, MotoGP and the American IndyCar Series. “We haven’t succeeded yet with Formula 1, but that will happen…” say the operators.

They had already contacted Ecclestone and were prepared to accommodate him in every way to take over the German Grand Prix from Hockenheim. But Ecclestone apparently sympathized with Hockenheim and had rejected all proposals.

The ‘Lausitzring problem’ has already been solved a year and a half later. The prestige project results in bankruptcy.

Unstoppable

But the construction project in Hockenheim was already in full swing and the machine could no longer be stopped. Here too, ambitious plans had been made to turn Hockenheim into not just a modern circuit, but a multi-million dollar business with the German Grand Prix as the icing on the cake.

Hockenheim wanted to become top level and therefore asked star architect Hermann Tilke to design the new circuit.

Hermann Tilke would later state in an interview that he initially wanted to modernize the old Hockenheimring by widening the track and providing larger run-off areas. But the circuit bosses wanted from an extensive layout to a compact layout. That is why Tilke designed the current circuit.

As the project manager leader, Dr. Rainer Vögele appointed. A decision that was not without controversy at the time.

But the stone continues to roll. In November 2000, Mayor Gustav Schrank presented the plans for the renovation.

Referendum renovation old Hockenheimring

A referendum was organized in early 2001. It was presented as if the Hockenheimring would cease to exist without the renovation. Because most citizens of Hockenheim are in favor of preserving the circuit, there was a massive ‘yes’ vote.

Only a few were critical and point out that such delusions of grandeur had already led to bankruptcy at the Lausitzring.

The last GP will take place at the old Hockenheimring in the summer of 2001. And on February 4, 2002, the reconstruction of the circuit will start. To construct the new track section, 44 hectares of forest must be cut down. That is why the old part will be demolished so that new trees can be planted there to compensate.

In addition to a new track section, there is also room for more stands and a helipad. The new complex must provide space for 120,000 spectators. To realize it, financial support from the government was necessary.

Financial setbacks

But as is often the case, during construction the costs turn out to be higher than previously estimated. Despite the financial problems, the new circuit will be festively opened later in 2002.

In 2003, the Hockenheimring was expanded with the multifunctional Baden-Württemberg Center. Due to the financial problems, this prestige project turned out to be smaller than originally planned.

More problems arise when attendance at the German Grand Prix in 2003 and 2004 is lower than expected. Due to the high ticket prices, many spectators stay away. Partly because of this, the costs incurred are not recouped. The debts continue to rise and numbers are being written in the red. Bankruptcy is near.

Ultimately, the local government intervened. With taxpayers money, of course.

Was the renovation necessary?

And the rest of the story? After Michael Schumacher retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2006 season, interest in the sport declined in Germany. Visitors no longer came en masse to the Grand Prix and Germany had ‘only’ one Grand Prix left.

From 2009 to 2014 it was held alternately at Hockenheim and the Nürburgring. After that, the German Grand Prix was no longer an annual event. This was held three more times at Hockenheim, the last of which took place so far in 2019. With today’s wisdom you can say that the multimillion-dollar construction project was unnecessary.

Goodbye old Hockenheimring

Many fans still miss the old Hockenheimring. Discussions about this are still emotional more than 20 years later. Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA and Hermann Tilke are often blamed for this. But now you know how it really happened.

For those who can understand German, below I embedded the full documentary ‘The bankruptcy of Formula 1 – the Hockenheim case’.