European Grand Prix - facts and figures 20 Jul 2007
Ahead of this weekend’s European Grand Prix at Germany’s Nurburgring, catch up on some trivia about the event itself and the legendary circuit…
- The European Grand Prix has been hosted at four different circuits including British tracks Brands Hatch and Donington, and Jerez in Spain. The Nurburgring, however, has staged the event more than any other venue. Indeed this weekend’s European race will be the 12th held at the German track.
- Only 56 percent of a Nurburgring lap is driven at full throttle, which makes the German track one of the least taxing for engines. A car’s gearbox, however, is put under more pressure with an average Formula One driver making 49 shifts per lap.
- Nigel Mansell and Mika Hakkinen both scored their maiden Formula One wins at the European Grand Prix, with Mansell triumphing in 1985 for Williams and Hakkinen taking victory at the 1997 event for McLaren. Neither, however, won from pole position. Mansell started from third, behind Nelson Piquet and pole-sitter Ayrton Senna while Hakkinen won from fifth on the grid.
- The best locations for overtaking on the Nurburgring are into the downhill hairpin at Turn Seven and through the final chicane. Occasionally passes have been made into the downward right-hander of Turn One.
- Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen scored his first pole position (for McLaren) at the 2003 European Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld also clinched a debut pole at the event in 2005 for Williams, but the only other driver to have done the same was Elio Angelis back in 1983 for Lotus. All three, however, failed to win the race, with Raikkonen and Angelis both retiring with technical problems and Heidfeld crossing the line second behind Renault’s Fernando Alonso.
- Located alongside the modern Nurburgring circuit is the legendary Nordschleife track, which was home to the German Grand Prix from its inauguration in 1927 onwards. One of the toughest driving challenges ever devised, the Nordschleife hosted some of the most exciting races in Formula One history. Designed without any run-off areas or gravel traps, it was also incredibly dangerous and when Niki Lauda suffered a serious accident in the 1976 event, the track lost its license.
- Michael Schumacher is the only driver to record more than one victory at the European Grand Prix. Schumacher won the event six times between 1994 and 2006 for both Ferrari and Benetton. Five were at the Nurburgring, but the German’s first victory in 1994 was at Jerez in Spain.
- As a result of Schumacher’s European success, Ferrari can claim to be the most successful team at the event. The Italian squad scored five victories between 2000 and 2006. Although four were thanks to Schumacher, one, in 2002 was clinched by Rubens Barrichello, who finished just ahead of his illustrious German team mate.
- Williams have enjoyed the most qualifying success at the European event. The British team has taken pole on six occasions, each with a different driver. Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari have each twice claimed P1 on the grid.
