- Looking forward: The 21st ADAC Hockenheim Historic will take place from 8 to 10 May 2026
- Impressive: Twelve racing series featuring more than 500 cars will be on the starting grid
- Family-friendly: A varied supporting programme and the ADAC Experience Zone
As the long winter draws to a close, this is not only good news for the local flora and fauna, but also for motorsport fans: the ADAC Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival, the first major highlight of the season at the Hockenheimring, is just around the corner. The event has evolved from a niche event for die-hard purists into a genuine motorsport festival for the masses: for the 20th edition of the Jim Clark Revival last year, more than 45,000 spectators flocked to the Motodrom in Baden over the three days of the event to indulge in the unadulterated pleasure of the sights, sounds and smells of glorious racing days.
This year’s edition of the event, which as always is dedicated to the memory of two-time Formula 1 world champion Jim Clark, who was fatally injured at the Hockenheimring in 1968, also boasts an attractive programme. No fewer than twelve racing series with over 500 participants have signed up for the second weekend in May.
Touring Cars Through the Ages
The DRM Revival and the Tourenwagen Golden Ära are absolute crowd-pullers. Here you’ll find the powerful racing cars of the legendary German Racing Championship (DRM) and the classic touring cars from the ‘old’ DTM and the Super Touring Car Championship (STW). And it is not just the cars that captivate the fans. In recent years, crowd favourites such as Altfrid Heger, Olaf Manthey, Roland Asch, Kris Nissen, Harald Grohs and Kurt Thiim have also repeatedly taken the wheel of one of their former race cars.
Making its debut and a real highlight of the event is the Class 1 Revival powered by CARBON. Long-standing fans will recall the legendary battles on the tarmac between big names in the high-tech racers from Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz and Opel during the 1994 to 1996 seasons. Following the demise of the ITC, the DTM was reborn in 2000 with the V8 cars from Audi, Mercedes and Opel, and from 2012 onwards, BMW. For the 2019 season, the series switched from naturally aspirated to turbocharged engines, though only for two years; then Class 1 came to a definitive end. However, numerous race cars from that era still exist and will be on display at the ADAC Hockenheim Historic.
Pure Formula Racing
Fans of classic formula racing are also in for a treat. One of the perennial highlights of the ADAC Hockenheim Historic is the Historic Racecar Association, which stages the ‘ADAC Graf Berghe von Trips Cup’ with a variety of formula cars, thereby commemorating Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, the Rhinelander who was killed in a fatal accident at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix in Monza. And the BOSS GP, which is hugely popular with fans, serves as a playground for the impressive formula cars from the 1980s right through to the 2000s.
With the Lurani Trophy and the DMV Formula Vau, the programme also features tributes to two of the most successful and best-known junior formula classes of the past century. Whilst the Lurani Trophy serves as a breeding ground for Formula Junior, Formula Vau is regarded as one of the most ingenious ideas of the brilliant former Porsche racing director Huschke von Hanstein. What both categories have in common is the fact that they have produced countless big names, including several Formula 1 world champions such as Jochen Rindt, Niki Lauda and Keke Rosberg.
Between rookies and prototype power
This year, the historic racing classes at the ADAC Hockenheim Historic are being complemented by a leap into the modern era. The Gebhardt Ginetta Nordic Championship, which is making its German debut here, is an ideal springboard for all young drivers looking to move up to the higher GT classes – but that’s not all: A certain Formula 1 driver named Lando Norris also earned his first spurs back home in Britain in a Ginetta G40. All cars are technically identical, with sealed engines and gearboxes, so that only driving skill counts.
One of the absolute highlights of this year’s ADAC Hockenheim Historic is the Velom Sportscar Supercup by Interwetten SCC. As part of the SCC racing series, which enters its 30th season in 2026, a diverse field of sports cars from many eras will take to the track. This will include first- and second-generation LMP3 prototypes powered by 5.6-litre V8 engines from Nissan. The field of entrants continues to grow steadily. With Austrian former Formula 1 driver Christian Klien, a very well-known name has also confirmed his participation.
The Golden Ära Classic Cup, which is kicking off its second season at the ADAC Hockenheim Historic, is entirely dedicated to the Porsche brand. The racing series traces the technical evolution of the Zuffenhausen-based sports car manufacturer – from the legendary air-cooled 911s, through the water-cooled models from the 996 series onwards, to the powerhouse models of Division 5 such as the 911 RSR and other endurance models from IMSA, Le Mans, etc.
Raceclub Germany is an association of owners of historic formula and sports cars. As part of selected events such as the Jim Clark Revival, demonstration runs are organised which are deliberately non-competitive, but are intended to give spectators and drivers a special treat with these wonderful vehicles. And last but not least, Team FNT will be presenting selected performance cars, including Formula 1 cars from the 2000s.
PS Festival on and off the track
The ADAC Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival offers more than just a fantastic programme on the racetrack. The activity area by the East Stand becomes a meeting place for numerous brand clubs, and the ADAC Experience Area delights young and old alike with a wide range of attractions and hands-on activities. The Congress Pavilion hosts an exclusive special exhibition featuring numerous original exhibits relating to Jim Clark and Team Lotus. The pit roof is transformed into a versatile experience area: across 4,000 square metres, visitors can explore numerous stands and exhibitions. Special guided tours offer a glimpse behind the scenes. And anyone strolling through the paddock is sure to bump into one or two big names from the world of motorsport.
A Friday ticket is available for just €17, with day tickets for Saturday and Sunday costing €39 and €34 respectively. And for those who want to treat themselves to the whole weekend, a weekend pass is available for €54. This naturally includes a grandstand seat and paddock access. School pupils and students pay half price, whilst children under 14 and wheelchair users can enjoy the ADAC Hockenheim Historic free of charge.
