An introduction to the German Grand Prix
The German Grand Prix, known as 'der grosse Preis von Deutschland', is the tenth race in the F1 World Championship season line-up. In the past, Germany has hosted two F1 Grand Prix races in the season, adding the European Grand Prix held at the Nürburgring. However, this was discontinued when Valencia was awarded the rights to host the European Grand Prix in 1991. Now the German Grand Prix is shared between the two premier motor racing tracks in Germany: Hockenheim and Nürburgring. The 2012 Season German Grand Prix will be held at the Nürburgring.
Nürburgring has historically been the premier racing venue since 1926, when the first German Grand Prix was held there. Grand Prix races were held at Hockenheim when Nürburgring was not available, such as when it was being upgraded in 1970. The 1970 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim was an infamous race, as Jochen Rindt drove his Lotus home just inches in front of Jacky Ickx's Ferrari. However, things changed in 1976 when Austrian driver Nikki Lauda had his fiery accident at the Nürburgring and drivers refused to drive at the circuit until it was modified to be safer. In fact, more F1 drivers have been killed at Nürburgring than any other racing circuit.
The German Grand Prix was moved to Hockenheim in 1977, and ironically enough Lauda won the Grand Prix that year. Since then Hockenheim has been the home of the German Grand Prix, except for in 1985 when it was held at the Nürburgring.
The German Grand Prix has a long history. The first national event, the German Grand Prix Motor Racing, was held in Berlin in 1926 at the AVUS (Automobil Verkehrs und Übungs Strasse) circuit. This first race was won by a German, Rudolf Caracciola, driving for Mercedes Benz in heavy rain. This feat would not be repeated again until Michael Schumacher won the German Grand Prix in 1995.
In the following year, AVUS lost its Grand Prix rights after a horrific accident by driver Adolf Rosenberger, whose car crashed into a marshal's hut and killed three people. In 1927, the German Grand Prix was moved to the Nürburgring. Germany was included almost from the beginning of F1 World Championship racing as we know it today. The German Grand Prix is also well-known for having been Honda's debut F1 race back in 1964.
The 2011 German Grand Prix was won by Lewis Hamilton for McLaren-Mercedes, his second win. No German driver has won the German Grand Prix since Michael Schumacher in 2006.