Hockenheim is a spectacular and modern circuit set in a beautiful forest and was redesigned by Herman Tilken during 2002. The now new and famous circuit cuts through a forest section before looping back into the wonderful stadium and pits straight sections, featuring massive grandstands which offer impressive viewing.
Detailed seating information on all the grandstands is set out in the circuit maps below. The seating on 55% of all the grandstands for the 2008 German F1 Grand Prix are uncovered – it is therefore highly recommended to prepare yourself for all weather conditions e.g. sunscreen, umbrellas, hats, etc. All of the grandstands around the circuit offer bigscreen viewing. Usually tickets for the more popular covered sections like the Haupt, Nord, Sϋd Mercedes and Sϋdoberrang Grandstands tend to sell out first for the German F1 Grand Prix.
Before considering the most appropriate package that best suits your 2008 German Grand Prix needs, it is important to consider the location and benefits of the available grandstand and general admission tickets. We suggest that you refer to the attached circuit map, to further assist you in making the best possible choice.
Hockenheim currently has a total capacity for 120,000 spectators, which are accommodated in 11 grandstands and 2 general admission areas. All grandstand seats are numbered but only 2 grandstands (Haupttribϋne, Sϋdtribϋne Oberrang) are fully covered. Four other grandstands (Mercedestribϋne, Nordtribϋne, Innentribϋne and Sϋdtribϋne) are effectively (in terms protection against rain) only covered for the upper 1/3 of the grandstand area. The rest of the grandstands are all uncovered. Good disabled facilities including wheelchair lifts are available on the Sϋdtribϋne (C and D) Grandstands.
There are sufficient toilets and catering facilities all around the circuit. There is ample opportunity to buy merchandise, with numerous stalls inside the circuit, and a few unofficial ones on the outside.
HAUPTTRIBϋNE A, B, C, D & E (covered) and ZUSATZ (uncovered)
The Hockenheim’s Haupttribϋne (Main) Grandstand is located on the Pits Straight directly opposite the start/finish line and just before and opposite the first couple of pitboxes. It presents you with an excellent view of the whole Pits Straight, including the build-up to and the start of the race, the chequered flag at the race end, as well as a view of some of the leading racing teams and their pit activities. The grandstand is also situated opposite the podium, offering you great views of the podium celebrations after the race.
A bigscreen TV is located directly opposite this great grandstand, enabling you to follow the entire race and not loose track of the procedures.
NORDTRIBϋNE A, B & C (Upper covered and Lower uncovered)
The massive Nordtribϋne (northern) Grandstand covers a substantial area stretching from just after the start/finish line all the way round the Nordkurve up to the pitlane exit. Section A gives you a good view of mainly the Pits Straight, the pit box area, as well as a view of the start/finish line - viewed from the front. Section B also offers you views of the pit boxes and start/finish line but rather distant. It does however, give you excellent views of the first corner – the Nordkurve. The cars reach about 295kph in 7th gear down the Pits Straight, before dabbing the brakes for this fast right-hand corner. Taken at 200kph, it is important for the drivers to maintain their speed through this corner, jumping the curbs as they exit this spectacular first corner. Section C is located after the Nordkurve offering views of the whole Nordkurve, a short section of the Pits Straight, the Pitlane exit, as well as most of the short straight located between the Nordkurve and Parabolika entrance.
Bigscreen TVs are visible from all three sections of the Nordtribϋne.
ZUSATZTRIBϋNE NORD (uncovered)
This uncovered grandstand (northern annexure) is situated on the outside of the straight located between the Nordkurve and the Parabolika entrance. It offers you views of the cars exiting the Nordkurve, a section of the following straight as well as the pitlane exit. The stand is a temporary type of stand and very low, which means your view is partially obstructed by the safety fences.
A bigscreen is however visible from this grandstand.
EINFAHRT PARABOLIKA (uncovered)
The Einfahrt Parabolika (Parabolica entrance) Grandstand is located just before the Parabolika entrance, a 110 kph second gear right-left-hander, which marks the beginning of the long and very fast Parabolika. The stand offers you views of the cars coming down a short straight, as well as the Parabolika entrance section. The stand is also a temporary type of stand and very low, which means your view is partially obstructed by the safety fences.
A bigscreen TV is located opposite the grandstand, which enables you to follow the entire race and not loose track of the procedures.
The Spitzkehre 2 (hairpin) Grandstand is located on the outside of the circuit, just after the Spitzkehre Hairpin. Taken flat out, the cars will reach speeds of 310kph in seventh gear down the Parabolika, before braking dramatically for the right-handed Spitzkehre Hairpin. Probably taken at about 70 kph, it is the tightest corner on the track, and presents the best passing opportunity on the circuit. The grandstand offers good views of the cars coming down the super fast Parabolika, through the very wide Spitzkehre Hairpin, all the way up the following short straight. The stand offers good value for money viewing.
The grandstand features a bigscreen TV, which for obvious reasons makes your entire Grand Prix so much more enjoyable.
INNENTRIBϋNE A, B, & C (Upper covered and Lower uncovered)
The Innentribϋne (inner) Grandstand is also a very big grandstand, consisting of 3 sections, A, B and C. The stand is located the inside of the Stadium complex and runs all the way from the Mobil 1 Kurve to the Sachskurve. The stands offer good views of the exit of the Mobil 1 Kurve, a fast right-hander taken in fourth gear at 170kph, the long left-hand Sachskurve, a second gear 105 kph hairpin, the slight left-right kink on the approach to the final section of the Stadium Complex, as well as the Südkurve.
A bigscreen TV is also located opposite these three stands, enabling you to follow the entire race and not loose track of the procedures.
ZUSATZTRIBϋNE SϋD (uncovered)
This uncovered grandstand (southern annexure) is located on the outside of the Mobil 1 Kurve, which marks the entry to the stadium complex and this fast right-hander is taken in fourth gear at 170 kph. The stand also offers you good views of the cars coming up the short straight leading into the Mobil 1 Kurve, the whole stadium complex, the Nordkurve and a short section of the Pits Straight.
The action and excitement of the whole race can however be followed on the bigscreen positioned directly opposite this grandstand.
SϋDTRIBϋNE A, B, C, D, E, F, G & H (Upper covered and Lower uncovered)
The Sϋdtribϋne (southern grandstand) is the biggest and most impressive stand on the circuit and consists of not less than 8 sections (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) excluding the Oberrang! The stand is located on the outside of the Sϋdkurve and runs from just before the Sϋdkurve, all the way around the Sϋdkurve and down the Pits Straight to just before the start/finish line. These grandstands offer excellent views of the cars coming up the short straight leading into the Mobil 1 Kurve, the whole stadium complex, the pitlane entrance, the Nordkurve and a long way done the Pits Straight. The build up to and the start, is also visible although a bit distant, depending on which stand you sit. The Nordkurve is a long double apex right-hand hairpin, taken at around 150 kph in third, which leads the cars back onto the Pits Straight to start another lap. The main F1 Village is also conveniently located just behind the Sϋdtribϋne.
Two bigscreens opposite these grandstands intensifies the drama and magnifies the action on other parts of the circuit.
SϋDTRIBϋNE OBERRANG (covered)
This magnificent grandstand was built over sections C and D of the Sϋdtribϋne. It offers you fantastic views of the circuit (refer to 9 above). It is fully covered and arguably the best stand on the circuit.
The grandstand features a bigscreen TV, which for obvious reasons makes your entire Grand Prix so much more enjoyable.
The Mercedestribϋne is located on the inside of the circuit, in the new Spitzkehre Complex, just after a slower 100 kph second gear right-hander. After a quick burst of power along a short straight, the cars have to negotiate a tighter left-hander and a slight left kink, which is followed by a sweeping right-hander, which take the cars back onto the old original back straight. This grandstand offers you good views of the new Spitzkehre Complex as well as a distant view of the cars blasting down the super fast Parabolika. Mercedes Benz manages the grandstand and tickets cannot be bought from the circuit promoters. F1 Grand Prix Tours .Com does however have limited access to some tickets for the stand. Mercedes Benz also organizes various other entertainment activities for the grandstand, for the duration of the Grand Prix weekend.
The general admission areas, provide for acceptable viewing and offer good value for money admission at Hockenheim. You can choose between the Parabolika and Spitzkehre 1 (low concrete stands), of which the last mentioned is without a doubt the better option. Both the general admission areas, is however a long walk from the F1 Village and pits area.
There are no numbered seats and you must be there early to get a good spot, which you stand to loose should you have to visit a toilet or leave to buy food.
PITWALK AND CIRCUIT TOURS
On the 2008 Grand Prix Thursday at 16H00 hours, the pit lane is opened for weekend ticket holders. A total of 3000 spectators (the maximum allowed by safety regulations), are offered a chance to check out the teams preparing for the Hockenheim weekend.
Another 3,000 race fans are also treated to a lap around the Hockenheimring. Four shuttle buses take motorsport enthusiasts around the circuit, with the added bonus of celebrity commentators giving them a driver’s view of the circuit. Trained drivers from the Hockenheim Safety School, expertly drive the buses, with passengers enjoying the excitement as the rather large vehicles drifting through the track’s many corners.
PHOTOGRAPHY
In terms for good photographic opportunities, the best grandstand is probably Spitzkehre 2 as close to the hairpin as possible, where the cars slow down substantially and pass closer to the grandstand areas. For obvious reasons the Haupttribϋne will provide you with numerous good pits and start line scenes, but cars roaring down the Pits Straight at nearly 250 kph, makes good photographic shots more problematic. The Sϋdtribϋne is also a good section not only for the photography of the cars through the Nordkurve, but it will provide you with stunning panoramic shots of the very impressive stadium area.
For more detailed information on the racing program and timetable for the 2008 German F1 Grand Prix please click here.
