Look what they've done to Hockenheim!

Jul 15, 2002 | 11:13 AM

MB-BOB

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Look what they've done to Hockenheim!

At at time when the cars are getting too fast for the tracks and FIA can't make any in-roads with rules to slow them down, we continue to immasculate the tracks instead, to make it even more difficult to pass... Here's what we get to see at Hockenheim in 3 weeks:

Jul 15, 2002 | 02:58 PM

trench

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Hmmm...

Actually, this layout doesn't look too bad to me. Should be a good passing opportunity going into the new hair-pin (turn 6), also I like the complex set of corners (7-11) better than the old chicane that used to be there. I guess part of the reason to change from the old course is that there were no spectator stands in the forest region - apparantly this has been rectified in the new design.

Cheers, BT

Jul 15, 2002 | 03:09 PM

MB-BOB

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Quote:

Originally posted by trench
I guess part of the reason to change from the old course is that there were no spectator stands in the forest region - apparantly this has been rectified in the new design.
Cheers, BT

...You mean the only reason, right? Lack of spectator stands, and a perceived need to shorten the lap so the fans can see the cars more than 43 times per race. But they seemed to fill the stands at Hockenheim with the old 4-mile layout. Go figure.

I read somewhere that they didn't want to put stands out in the forest due to environmental impacts. But I guess it made more sense to chop down a mile's worth of trees to connect new turns 2 and 6?

It won't be long and the only high speed circuit will be Monza, until they screw-it-up, like Imola, Silverstone. Just 14 years ago, Silverstone had 8 turns... it now has 17. Mansel blasted round the former at 154 mph, while MS blitzes the current layout averaging 143 mph. Yea, they've accomplished alot to slow the cars down!

I think turn 2 will also provide some passing opps, and I agree 7-11 will be more interesting than the old chicane. But it's a shame, no, that passing zones now have to be (only) in breaking zones? On the "old" Hockenheim, there were opportunities to pass with horsepower on the long straights, even before the chicanes. But, no longer I guess.

I wish they would leave the circuits alone and delete the wings from the cars instead. That would slow them down.

Last edited by MB-BOB; Jul 15, 2002 at 03:34 PM.

Jul 15, 2002 | 05:35 PM

trench

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Quote:

Originally posted by MB-BOB
I wish they would leave the circuits alone and delete the wings from the cars instead. That would slow them down.

I think that they should return to the tire rules prior to 1992: widen the cars to their pre-1998 widths and go back to slicks with huge rears (the rears at this time were about two feet wide). This would increase mechanical grip - as well as making a bigger hole in the air for another car to draft. I think wings should stay, but be much simpler - only one element allowed in the front and two in the rear, combined with flat end-plates.

I think these changes will improve the racing for the better.

Regarding circuits - I'll be p.o.'d when they wreck Spa.

BT

Jul 16, 2002 | 03:40 PM

steve s

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damn...300+ kph at turn 6 in such a short distance...

Jul 17, 2002 | 07:36 AM

Accord

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I dislike what they did, the old Hockenheim was a classic and was something special. They didn't just slightly modify the track, they built a new one, the only part that resembles the old hockenheim is a small part of the infield.

What's next? Running the USGP as an oval without an infield, lol