Just a week on from Michael Schumacher's title success in France, Formula One™ racing moves to Germany this weekend for the World Champion's home Grand Prix. And with first place in the driver standings now decided, the focus switches to the runner-up spot, with no less than four men in close contention.
All the drivers will be facing a new challenge at Hockenheim, as the historic circuit has undergone major changes ahead of this year's race. Large chunks of the old forest section have been removed and replaced with new features, in particular, a long, fast, sweeping left hander, leading into a very tight, right-hand hairpin.

The first difference the drivers will experience is a new right-hand corner near to where the first chicane used to be. This leads into the fast Parabolica-type left mentioned above, at the end of which the cars will brake heavily for the new hairpin.

They will then rejoin the old circuit's back straight before entering a new complex of medium speed right and left corners. Accelerating out of this will then take them into the original stadium section.

The modifications make for a much shorter lap, hence Sunday's Grand Prix has been increased to 67 laps from its previous 45. One of the few drivers to have visited the revised circuit is Williams driver and 2001 Hockenheim winner Ralf Schumacher, who was positive about the changes.



"The new track is an improvement and there are still some passing opportunities at the second corner after the start in addition to the braking area before the hairpin," he explained in a press release. "This is exciting for the spectators as much as for the drivers.

"At first sight it looks like a track that requires a lot of grip. In the past everyone always had the same problem at Hockenheim to find the combination of high downforce which is needed in the Motordrom whereas very little was required for the long straights.

"Now this has become much easier and furthermore I think that after the revision Hockenheim can still be counted among the very fast circuits."

It is not only the drivers who will be facing a new challenge at Hockenheim. Maps of the altered layout have provided engineers with some data for simulation purposes, allowing them to establish a base-line set-up. However, only when practice starts on Friday will they know if their calculations have been correct.

"We are really dealing with a totally new circuit because although they have only modified part of it, from our point of view it's brand new," commented Renault's Executive Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds, in a press release.



"In the past we used to run very low drag and low downforce and that meant we had a car with far too little downforce for the corners in the stadium complex. This year the compromise moves to a higher level of downforce, and the stadium will seem like a completely new track as well."

The new corners are not the only unknown for the teams. The whole circuit has been resurfaced since last year which leaves everyone in the dark about the amount of grip available or how bumpy the track will be. Tyre wear is also something engineers will have to assess before deciding on appropriate compounds and race strategies.

One thing that is clear from looking at the new Hockenheim layout is that a well-balanced overall package will be now be more important than outright engine power. Last year the cars were using full throttle for almost seventy per cent of the circuit. This season the figure is likely to be closer to sixty. Similarly the 220mph speeds witnessed in 2001 are expected to fall below the 200mph mark.

With the top three teams so evenly matched at Magny-Cours last weekend, things could get even closer at Hockenheim. Williams are unlikely to benefit from the power advantage that helped them to pole position and victory last year and the circuit changes could also help the likes of Renault and Sauber close in on the big three constructors. Another potential equaliser at this weekend's race is the fact that none of the teams has been able to test since the last round in France just a week ago. But while the quick turnaround between races may present some logistical challenges, the drivers should take it in their stride.

"It is not really much different to testing between races," said Renault's Jarno Trulli in a press release. "You can cope with it once a year because we are used to going testing straight after the races anyway. It is very similar - there is no difference in how we prepare for the race."



As for prospective winners on Sunday, Michael Schumacher has taken victory at Hockenheim just once, and that was back in 1995 for Benetton. However, Ferrari have won two of the last three German Grands Prix - courtesy of Eddie Irvine in 1999 and Rubens Barrichello in 2000. Last year's victor Ralf Schumacher is the only other current driver to have triumphed in the race.

He and Barrichello are among those in the hunt for second place in the drivers' championship, along with Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya and McLaren's David Coulthard. Just four points separate them all in the driver standings with Montoya leading the way. The Colombian took his first pole position at Hockenheim last year, and having grabbed top spot on the grid for the last five races, he must be favourite to do it again come Saturday.

Given the changes to the German circuit, picking a race winner from among the top three teams is more difficult. Williams, Ferrari and McLaren have all tasted victory here within the last four years and Schumacher, Barrichello, Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Coulthard are all proven race winners. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen also showed in France that it is only a matter of time before he gets to experience the top step of the podium.

Tyres could be a decisive factor at Hockenheim. Despite not winning at Magny-Cours, Michelin clearly had the advantage at the last round in France, where their rubber was well suited to the ultra-smooth track surface and the warm temperatures. Hockenheim is far more of an unknown quantity.

"Nobody has driven at the new track yet," acknowledged Michelin boss Pierre Dupasquier in a press release. "But from what our simulations tell us we will be able to use slightly softer rubber than we did last year, because the long, high-speed straights that put such a strain on tyres have been eradicated."



Early forecasts for the race weekend predict overcast conditions on Friday with ambient temperatures in the low twenties. However, fine and sunny weather is expected for Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures possibly rising as high as 29°C.

Last year's event, as well witnessing Montoya's first pole, saw Prost's Luciano Burti survive a heavy crash when he ran into the back of Schumacher at the start, and Ricardo Zonta standing in for Heinz-Harald Frentzen following the German's shock departure from Jordan.

This year, as well as all the track action, there should be plenty of interest behind the scenes at Hockenheim. Everyone will be eager to see whether the troubled Arrows team participate, following their failure to qualify at Magny-Cours, and elsewhere 2003 driver line-up announcements are a possibility.

Tune in at 11.00 local time (CET), 10.00 BST, 09.00 UTC/GMT or 05.00 EDT for live coverage of Friday Free Practice on formula1.com.