When an F1 driver comes out of La Source, he knows that ahead of him waits the challenge of the left-right-left Eau Rouge/Raidillon, which he must have the courage to take flat-out or he will lose time to bolder drivers.
Then he will be climbing uphill, and he will not be able to see over the brow of the hill at Kemmel. But if he keeps his nerve, if he keeps the pedal floored, he’ll enter the straight beyond at 180 mph, well-placed to overtake at the Les Combes turn.
That’s F1 at its finest. That’s Spa Francorchamps, the world’s best motor racing circuit.
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Kyle Lavigne - Old Hockenheim
In today's Formula One world, much is left to be had at many of the circuits. Gone are such classic tracks as Imola and the old Hockenheimring, in are the not so endearing Bahrain and new Hockenheimring.
With the schedule changing as it is, many of us have moments of nostalgia regarding just which track was the best to ever grace the F1 circus. Look no further than the Old Hockenheimring.
First, give a glance at the names of the corners and chicanes the track boasted: Nordkurve, Clark chicane, Ost chicane, Senna chicane, Mobil 1, Sachs, and Sudkurve. All of those corner names suggest that this track was of a majestic nature. And, for me, it certainly was.
From the corner names, we now move to the track layout. You first start on a relatively short front straight at the end of the stadium section. The lights go out, and you go full throttle to the Nordkurve, a quick right-hander.
From there, it's a "foot through the floor" full throttle blast into the forest. A then hard braking effort sees you drop through the gears for the Clark chicane, before a second full throttle shot through the trees.
More hard braking for the Ost chicane, then full throttle again to the Senna chicane. One more full throttle shoot sees you head back into the stadium section and the most technical part of the track (Mobil 1, Sachs, and Sudkurve) before heading back the main straight and onto another lap, hopefully in front at this point.
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