- A good dozen historical racing series inspire with fantastic racing cars – and a full starting grid
- DTM star Timo Glock is driving his 2008 Formula 1 Toyota – and is impressed: “Very emotional laps”
- Jim Clark exhibition, Porsche 917 anniversary, design award in the supporting programme
It was one of the many high points for the spectators at an event peppered with highlights: DTM star Timo Glock in ‘his’ 2008 Formula 1 Toyota on the Grand Prix circuit. For 20 minutes on Saturday and Sunday – and not even slow. “The initial laps,” said the moved 37-year-old from Hesse, “were very emotional.” The FNT team’s 900 HP V8 racing car was red-hot in the Bosch Hockenheim Historic setting, where the 450 historical racing cars found themselves from 26 to 28 April – in intense door-on-door duels, considerate racing, and demonstration runs. The great majority of the racing series delighted the crowds with starting grids that were full to bursting. Around 18,000 spectators braved the cold and rain and enjoyed the motorsport plus the opportunity to get closer to the cars and their drivers than would be possible anywhere else. Timo Glock was extremely impressed: “It is a fantastic, exciting event especially because everything is so open.”
Glock was not the only big name at this year’s Jim Clark Revival. The official autograph session was also joined by Ellen Lohr, the only woman to have won a DTM race; touring and sports car old hand Harald ‘Nippel’ Grohs; the three-time overall winner of Le Mans Marco Werner; the GT1 world champion Michael Bartels; and ex-Formula 1 driver Jochen Mass. Whilst Lohr and Grohs were primarily busy in Allianz’s tent, the series sponsor, with panel discussions, autograph marathons and shop-talk with fans, Werner raced from one start to the next. The 53-year-old was involved in three different racing series.
Historic Formula 2 – remembering a golden era and Jim Clark’s accident
The Historic Formula 2 has been on the up for a number of years now. It has picked up the pace now that national guests are also permitted to take their place on the starting grid. The array of manufacturers from the past were reflected at the weekend in the field of close to 30 cars, including Chevron, Ralt, March, Rondel, Brabham and Lotus – a great reminder of the golden era of the Formula 1 springboard, as well as the tragic fatal accident of Jim Clark. The two-times F1 world champion and superstar died 51 years ago at an F2 race along the forest stretch in Hockenheim. Martin O’Connell (Chevron B40) was hailed the winner in the first F2 race; second place went to Thomas Amweg (Ralt RT1).
Non-stop high tension and duals was what the FIA Lurani Trophy delivered to its spectators. In the next-generation series for inexpensive mini-monopostos, started in 1958, there were significantly more people interested than places on the starting grid! As a qualifying runner-up, Marco Werner in his Lotus 22 missed the start of the first race, ploughed through the field from behind, and finished eighth. With a 0.449 second lead, Bruno Weibel in the Lotus 22 won ahead of Marc Shaw (Brabham BT6); in third place, Manfredo Rossi Di Montelera in the Lotus 22 missed out on a win by just 1.276 seconds. The orders and distances were similar in the second race, in which Weibel finished ahead of Rossi Di Montelera and Shaw.
Racing cars with no roof from former next-generation series, fighting for every tenth of a second in a close field: those are the cornerstones of the Historic Racecar Association, one of the oldest historical racing series ever. The first race was taken by the Frenchman Frederic Rouvier in the Martini MK34 against more than 30 competitors, with an extremely close lead of 0.6 seconds on his fellow countryman David Caussanel in the Brabham BT41 Ford. Rouvier also won on Sunday, when he had Thomas Weidel (Ralt RT3/84 VW-Brabham-Judd) breathing down his neck with a 1.022 second gap and Caussanel just 1.9 seconds behind.
Gerstl unrivalled in BOSS GP, Le Mans winner Werner wins CanAm
The top of the BOSS GP series (Big Open Single Seater) at least was practically already decided at the start. After the failure of the strongest rivals (engine problems for Phil Stratford’s Benetton F1, accident for the second Benetton), record champion Ingo Gerstl drove his ten-cylinder Toro Rosso undamaged across the finish line in both races. Behind them, however, a horde of GP2 monopostos were getting down to business. Andreas Fiedler and Alessandro Bracalente joined the victorious Gerstl on the podium in second and third place. There was also a double victory at the CanAm Cup, which was held for the first time together with the newly added ‘FHR 100 Miles Trophy’ series. As expected, Le Mans winner Marco Werner was judged the winner in both races in the McLaren Trojan M8 F with its 8.1 litre engine; in the second race, Felix Haas in the Lola T294 missed out by just 0.9 seconds! “I drove the CanAM McLaren for the first time,” said a cheerful Werner. His summary: “Endless power, extremely challenging and tough to drive.” Haas came second twice, while Wolfgang Henseler (Lola T210) stepped up to the podium in third place.
Presentation of Raceclub Germany and Maserati, lots of fun with touring cars
Traditional partner in Hockenheim and always surrounded by visitors: Raceclub Germany with all sorts of valuable items, including Michael Schumacher’s Formula 1 Ferrari from 1997 and a Talbot Lago T26C from the pre-Formula 1 period. Out of respect for the preservation of its value, they are driven at a leisurely pace. In addition to Glock and his racing car, the FNT team had another ace up its sleeve: the former F1 Toyota from Ralf Schumacher from 2005. GT1 sports car world champion Michael Bartels, organiser of the Maserati Passionata, collected five of the just twelve racing version Maserati MC12 cars in the world in the Maserati pit, one of which he presented on the Grand Prix circuit.
The Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge, organised by the Dutchman Randall Lawson, is experiencing a mega boom. Due to the enormous rush, the field was divided into two starting groups: one went a bit faster, the other a bit slower. Both groups were allowed to drive in three 20-minute races, which the crowds appreciated as there was really no reason to get bored with a mix of over 40 brightly coloured GT and touring cars. The philosophy is unique: “Smile – it makes you faster” Anyone who acts rowdily on the racetrack will be cautioned and excluded if they do it again. That doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll be waving your rivals by! The troops seem to be one big family – and there are indeed fathers, sons and daughters out on the start line. There isn’t a champion, but a winner: like 22-year-old Tijn Jilesen, who came third once in the Porsche 944 and won two races. His father Tjarco missed out on the podium!
Lotus Cup, Gentle Drivers Trophy and the Triumph Competition – a colourful mix
In Hockenheim, the line up for the starting grid for the Lotus Cup Europe is international, colourful and traditional. It is also connected with Jim Clark, as it was the Scot who first created the brand’s good reputation. The Belgian John Rasse won the first race in the Exige V6 Cup R; the Hungarian Bence Balogh secured the second victory in the Evora GT4. There was also the familiar sight of the ‘Triumph Competition & British HTGT’ with the wonderful representatives of British automobile artistry. On the other hand, ‘A Gentle Drivers Trophy“ celebrated its premiere with GT cars and touring cars from the period up until 1965. Good for kneeling down: various Lotus’ (some Cortinas), two Porsche 356s, an Alfa Romeo Giulia and a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupé. One drives fast, but quite considerately.
Jim-Clark exhibition, Design Award, 917 anniversary in the supporting programme
The supporting programme drew in visitors as always, for example with the Jim Clark exhibition in the Congress Pavilion, which is designed each year with heart and soul. An absolute eye-catcher in 2019: the Lotus 59 in Gold Leaf colours. As with the fantastic exhibition, the Design Awards is also a firm fixture on the BHH programme. Innovation and aesthetics are the key criteria. Professor James Kelly will select the winners together with the international masters students of the Transportation Design programme at the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences. The Porsche 917, built in 1970, was voted the best sports prototype; the best monoposto was the Talbot Lago T26C, and the touring car category was won by De Tomaso Magusta.
The 917 Porsche from 1970 was out on display in the drivers’ paddock for the 50th anniversary of this legendary and extremely successful prototype series. It is one of the first of the 917 generation, looks elegant and has over 540 HP. In addition, visitors were fascinated by a red 917 – an outstanding example of the latest generation. Just the appearance of it alone says it all: The red car is a power house: under the carbon chassis works a whopping 1,200 turbo HP. The team from Zuffenhausen thus dominated the Interseries – something the Hockenheimring stands for more than any other racing circuit.
The brand club area on the pit roof with numerous collectors’ cars and stands with devotional items rounded off the Bosch Hockenheim Historic 2019.
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