German Grand Prix.
10th of 18 World Championship races
Preview.
The excitement is building at the BMW Sauber F1 Team ahead
of its home GP at Hockenheim on 20th July. The team has conducted
three days of testing at the circuit in the state of Baden-Württemberg
in preparation for the race.
Formula One welcomes back the German Grand Prix following
an absence of two years. 2008 also sees the return of Hockenheim
to the calendar, after the Nürburgring hosted a round
of the 2007 World Championship under the banner of the European
Grand Prix. Five of the 20 drivers on the F1 grid hold a German
passport, with Nick Heidfeld by far the most successful of
the group.
Currently lying fifth in the Drivers’ Championship
on 36 points, Heidfeld recorded his third second-place finish
of the season at Silverstone last time out.
The German is 10 points behind his team-mate Robert Kubica
in the standings, the Pole – on 46 points – trailing
the leaders by just two points. Going into round 10 of the
18-race season, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes) and the
Ferrari pair of Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen
are level at the top on 48 points. In the constructors’
standings, the BMW Sauber F1 Team remains in second place
at the half-way point of the season. The German Grand Prix
programme will see the revival of the most spectacular single-make
competition in motor racing history. The BMW M1 Procar series
will be back at Hockenheim on Saturday and Sunday as a field
of ten cars
Nick Heidfeld: “I’m really looking
forward to my home grand prix. Hockenheim is a very special
race for the whole team, while a lot of Swiss fans have traditionally
made the trip across the border to give their support. I personally
have a lot of good memories of the Hockenheimring, especially
the old circuit with its long straights through the forest.
Those sections were really unmistakeable, but the new track
is, of course, significantly safer and better for the spectators
– and I appreciate it for those reasons. Plus, a good
overtaking opportunity has been created in the Parabolika.
I’ve driven at Hockenheim in Formula Ford, Formula 3,
Formula 3000 and Formula One, and can’t wait for this
grand prix.”
Robert Kubica: “In 2006 I had the
opportunity to drive at Hockenheim in free practice on Friday,
but this will be my first Formula One grand prix there –
although I did race at the circuit in F3. We weren’t
there last year so I think it will be a very special weekend
for our team and especially for BMW and all the BMW fans.
We always try our best. It is the kind of track with different
kinds of corners, although not really high-speed corners.
The only one that is quite quick is when you enter the stadium,
where there is always a special atmosphere. I know corner
one is pretty quick but not really a long corner. There are
some quite short corners with only one line you can take through
them.”
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