Originally named "Dreieckskurs," the Hockenheimring was built in 1932. [Ernst Christ](atlas:ernst-christ], a timekeeper, submitted the plans which were approved in 1931. This initial layout was approximately twelve kilometres long, featuring a large triangle-like section, a hairpin in the city, and two connecting straights.
In 1938, the circuit was shortened to just over seven and a half kilometres, and the Ostkurve corner was introduced. The track was renamed "Kurpfalzring" in the same year. After being damaged during World War II, it was repaired and renamed "Hockenheimring." Wilhelm Herz, a former factory rider and world record setter, became the track manager in 1954 and successfully promoted it. Grand Prix motorcycle racing events, including the German motorcycle Grand Prix, alternated between the Hockenheimring and other tracks.
In 1965, a new version of the Hockenheim circuit was constructed, incorporating the "Motodrom" stadium section designed by John Hugenholtz. Following Jim Clark's fatal accident in 1968, two fast chicanes were added and crash barriers were installed in 1970. A memorial was placed near the first chicane, which was named after him. Another chicane was added at the Ostkurve in 1982 after Patrick Depailler's death in 1980. The Ostkurve was further modified for the 1992 German Grand Prix after Érik Comas crashed there in 1991. The second chicane was renamed after Ayrton Senna following his death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
This version of the track featured a very long and fast section through forests, consisting of four straights separated by chicanes, followed by the tight "Motodrom" stadium section. This layout presented a challenge for setting up racing cars. During the mid-1980s "turbo era" of Formula One, drivers like Alain Prost sometimes ran out of fuel near the end of races at Hockenheim.
Problems arose during the 2000 German Grand Prix, which Rubens Barrichello won. The race had changeable weather conditions, and security issues in the forest sector led to a safety car deployment. These events prompted the FIA to demand improvements in spectator viewing, safety, and security, stating the track was no longer suitable for modern Formula One racing.
In the early 2000s, F1 officials demanded the track be shortened, threatening to relocate to other tracks. The state government of Baden-Württemberg secured financing for a redesign by Hermann Tilke for the 2002 German Grand Prix. The stadium section remained largely intact, but the long, forested straights were significantly shortened in favor of more tight corners. The old forest section was controversially torn up and replanted with trees. The redesign received criticism for ruining the unique technical challenges of the old circuit. A new memorial to Jim Clark was installed at the outside of the current track's turn 2. The new track has a seating capacity of 120,000 and features a quarter-mile track for drag racing.
The Hockenheim Circuit first hosted the German Grand Prix in 1970. From 1977 to 2006, the Hockenheimring hosted the German Grand Prix, with the exception of 1985. From 2007, the Nürburgring and Hockenheimring alternated hosting the German Grand Prix. Despite ongoing deficits, the contract for the circuit to hold the German GP was extended to 2018, with the FOA agreeing to cover losses. Neither Hockenheim nor the Nürburgring hosted a Grand Prix in 2015 or 2017. The facility last hosted the German Grand Prix in 2019, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.
From 1986 to 1988, the start–finish straight was used for 1/8 mile drag racing. In 1989, a proper drag strip was built. The drag strip is used for two events in August: the Public Race Days and the NitrolympX main event. Originally named the Nitrolympics, it was renamed NitrolympX. When the Hockenheimring was shortened in 2002, the drag strip was moved. The NitrolympX usually hosts most European Drag Racing Championship events. In 2008, the drag strip was christened Rico Anthes Quarter Mile after Rico Anthes. In 2016, Hockenheim saw the first 3-second Top Fuel 1000 ft passes.
The DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) series has regularly raced at the Hockenheimring since its revival in 2000.
Located in the stadia section, the rallycross track uses a section from turns 11 to 16, combined with a dirt section. It hosted the first ever World RX of Hockenheim, round 2 of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2015.
As of October 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Hockenheimring are listed. The fastest ever lap on the track is 1:11.212, set by Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari SF71H during qualifying at the 2018 German Grand Prix.
Fatal accidents at the Hockenheimring include Jim Clark in 1968, Bert Hawthorne in 1972, Markus Höttinger and Patrick Depailler in 1980, Tony Boden in 1986, and Albert Fleming in 2014.
This article is based solely on the supplied corpus. No external sources were consulted; claims that could not be substantiated against the corpus were omitted under the drop-the-claim rule.
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