Motorsport festival to mark the 90th anniversary of the Hockenheimring
- Great success: The Bosch Hockenheim Historic thrilled the motorsport fans
- Perfect stage: Around 500 participants in eleven racing series exuded racing history
- Enormous crowd: A good 30,000 visitors filled the venerable Motodrom
- Next event: 5 to 7 May 2023
When race results don’t play the main role, when it’s more about experiencing racing with all five senses, indulging in a bit of reminiscing and simply having a good time on the race track, and that with the whole family if you like – then the “Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival” is perfectly described. A total of around 30,000 spectators took a similar view and turned the 17th edition of the event from 6 to 8 May into a veritable motorsport festival, especially as Peter spoiled the Baden PS Mecca with perfect weather for almost the entire weekend.
The focus was, of course, on racing cars from all eras. A good 500 participants in eleven racing series were at the start. From the 1963 Formula Junior to Manfred Winkelhock’s 1979 Ralt Formula 2 and Ingo Gerstl’s 2006 Toro Rosso F1, the range of formula racing cars was wide. Group C and CanAm monsters stood side by side with the somewhat less powerful but no less fascinating GT and sports cars of the 1950s to 1980s. Touring car fans also got their money’s worth. The honour of the oldest vehicle was bestowed on a Riley sports car from 1934. The 6-cylinder in-line engine produced 95 hp then as now and accelerated the racer to 155 km/h, which is ridiculed today but was highly remarkable at the time.
Whether Formula, Touring or GT cars – lovingly maintained and spiritedly moved, the historic treasures thrilled the many spectators, who were able to experience the action not only on the grandstands, but especially in the paddock and the pits. A selfie at Ronnie Peterson’s 1976 Formula 1 Lotus? A chat and a photo and autograph with active racing stars like Timo Glock and Stefan Bradl, or legends like three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner, ex-DTM drivers Peter Oberndorfer, Marc Hessel or Stefan Mücke and his father, GDR racing legend Peter Mücke? Standing three metres next to a Group C Porsche while its engine is being warmed up? All this is not only no problem, but part of the philosophy and success of the Bosch Hockenheim Historic. Here, motorsport passion and proximity are not only communicated, but lived.
And anyone strolling from one end of the paddock to the other could hardly get past the countless sales stands where dealers from various countries offered motor sport gadgets and souvenirs, books, but also high-quality clothing.
The Jim Clark exhibition in the Congress Pavilion was also a central point of contact. On 7 April, it was exactly 54 years ago that the man who gave the event its name lost his life in a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim. Even today, the Scotsman is still surrounded by the nimbus that had always attached to him – that of one of the greatest car racers of all time. The collection commemorated the Formula 1 World Champion of 1963 and 1965 – while right next door, international slot car specialists fought for victories and trophies.
On the pit roof, a large “jubilee wall” celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Hockenheimring awaited the visitors in addition to other automobile exhibits. This included pictures, texts and exhibits about nine decades of racing at Hockenheim. And on Saturday evening, “Me and the Heat” made sure that things were rocking not only on but also off the racetrack. They heated up the visitors on the pit roof on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Hockenheimring.
The Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival once again lived up to its reputation of being one of the largest and most beautiful Historic events in all of continental Europe. “What an event,” enthused Jorn Teske, one of the managing directors of Hockenheim-Ring GmbH. “Everything was just right this weekend: Weather, participants, races, supporting programme and visitors. The full grandstands showed how much our fans longed for such a motorsport spectacle after the corona-related restrictions of the last two years. It was a worthy setting for the 90th anniversary of the Hockenheimring.”
Fellow managing director Jochen Nerpel, who was himself at the wheel of a 1988 Arrows F1, adds: “Apart from the great scenery, I was particularly pleased with the smooth running of the event. That is not a matter of course at an event with so many historic vehicles. So not only the fans but also the series organisers are highly satisfied after this weekend. Personal highlights from a sporting point of view were, of course, the return of the BOSS GP with the brute Formula 1 bolides as well as the spectacular Group C cars. We look forward to seeing you again from 5 to 7 May 2023!”
For more information on the Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival 2022 as well as all results, pictures and the commented race rounds for streaming, please visit www.hockenheim-historic.de.
