History Nurburgring

History Nurburgring

In its early days, the Nurburgring was 17.58 miles in length, and was a seemingly endless chain of ups and downs, with many twisting curves between pine trees. The 1960s saw many a world champion win here with the great Sir Stirling Moss win his last ever race in 1961 and Jackie Stewart overcame horrendous conditions in 1968 to take the win by a full 4 minutes. Pressure from Stewart about the safety of the track, prompted the changes that took place in 1970 when barriers were installed, and the track was widened.


1976 saw the Nurburgring discontinued after Nikki Lauder suffered horrific burns, and when it returned in 1984, it was very different. The new circuit was rebuilt alongside the old track and was reduced to 2.822 miles. Once again the track was modified in 1986, to its now 2.831 miles. 1995 produced an outstanding race with Michael Schumacher in the Benetton, passing the Ferrari of Jean Alesi with only three laps to go, and '96 saw Jacques Villeneuve secured his first Formula One victory. Michael Schumacher will never forget the '97 race as his younger brother, Ralf, forced him into retirement on the first lap. Both McLaren's blew engines within a lap of each other, leaving Villeneuve to take the win. McLaren's Mika Hakkinen took the win in '98, even after an all Ferrari front row on the grid, but 1999 saw a fantastic win by Stewart driver Johnny Herbert. In a wet-dry race, the Englishman handed the team their maiden victory. 2000 was Schumacher's turn for success, followed home by both McLaren drivers, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. Another victory came Schumacher's way in 2001 with Juan Pablo Montoya second, but it was the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello that stole the limelight in 2002 with team-mate Michael Schumacher in second place. Ralf Schumacher stormed to victory in the 2003 European Grand Prix, heading a Williams one-two ahead of team-mate, Montoya. Ralf Schumacher won the race by a commanding 16.8 seconds, having taken the lead on lap 26 when Kimi Raikkonen's Mercedes-Benz expired. It was a doubly disappointing day for McLaren: David Coulthard spun to retirement just two-laps from the chequered flag following an intense battle with Fernando Alonso. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello rounded off the podium standings. Michael Schumacher took his third win in five years in 2004 as he led team-mate Barrichello across the line for another Ferrari one two result in what was their most dominant season. Takuma Sato qualified a fine second in his BAR Honda, but an engine failure ruined the Japanese driver's chance to challenge Ferrari and team-mate Jenson Button took the third position. The 2005 event saw Kimi Raikkonen dominate. The McLaren driver did however badly lock up his brakes trying to lap the Sauber of Jacques Villeneuve and in the closing stages of the race it was apparent that the Finn was in big trouble with his tyres. Starting the final lap the vibration was so bad that the front right suspension failed sending the Finn into a dramatic spin, just avoiding Jenson Button, and into retirement. Fernando Alonso gratefully took the race win from Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Williams. Michael Schumacher used strategy to good effect in the 2006 European Grand Prix, stealing the race win from Alonso as he managed to stay out longer and then emerge ahead of the Renault driver following the final pit stop. Felipe Massa finished third in the second Ferrari. 2007 saw Alonso take the win for McLaren Mercedes from Massa and Mark Webber in the Red Bull Renault. It was an incident filled event however as rain at the start of the race saw all of the main contenders diving for the pits to take on rain tyres. One man who did not was Spyker driver Marcus Winkelhock who was making a one-off debut with the team. As the rest pitted, Winkelhock led his very first Grand Prix. Behind Winkelhock there was chaos as Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Tonio Liuzzi Scott Speed, Nico Rosberg and Adrian Sutil all aquaplaned off on the approach to the first turn. Hamilton was able to resume but his race was effectively over having lost a lap in the process as the red flags flew. The race resumed on a quickly drying circuit and Winkelhock had remained on his wet tyres, soon slipping down the order before a hydraulic failure forced him out of the race. Alonso meanwhile closed in on race leader Massa, making an aggressive pass for the lead in the closing stages to take the victory. Now running under the banner of the German Grand Prix, Nurburgring did not host a Grand Prix in 2008, but returns in 2009.

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History Nurburgring