European GP Preview

By Ian Lockwood
July 13 2005

The European Grand Prix is something of a motor racing mongrel, a stray dog that roams from town to town, moving one when it is no longer wanted. Officially, this weekend will be the fifteenth European GP.

Actually, there have been many more, as the name was used in addition to a national race’s title, theoretically bestowed on it as an honour. So the 1950 British Grand Prix, the first ever race to count towards the F1 World Championship, was also known as the European Grand Prix. Given that in 2005, the British still do not seem to accept they are part of Europe, the fans at that first race must have been very confused.

More recently, the name has been used to get over the problem of holding two races in one country, with this years race at the Nürburgring taking place nine weeks before the German GP in Hockenheim.

The ‘Ring is the nearest thing the European GP has to a permanent home. In 1954, Juan Manuel Fangio won for Mercedes and the 1968 race will always be remembered for Jackie Stewart’s total mastery of the treacherous conditions that day, when he won by over four minutes in torrential rain. These races were held on the old 22.8 km Nordschleife and the boring old boys in today’s paddock will still bang on about how great it was. For a few Euros, you can take your own car or bike onto the old track and try and kill yourself, which several people manage to do quite successfully every year. But not this weekend, as it is used as a campsite, mainly filled by the Schumi Army.

It will be interesting to see if Michael Schumacher’s fans turn up in large numbers, as their hero is not doing too well at the moment. Not that the racing is the primary consideration for the spectators, because the Germans regard this event as a giant Beer Festival. If you don’t like the sound of Brass Bands and the combined smell of Lager and sausages, then stay away. In the old days, some of the fans used to get so “refreshed” that they would tie themselves to the mesh fence around the old track to ensure they managed to stay upright to watch the race! With the cars only completing 14 laps on the very long old circuit, many spectators would be found still sleeping standing up against the fence, long after the race was over.

Adding to the thrill and danger of Formula 1 this weekend, we could add hypothermia as another risk. The Nürburgring is set high in the Eifel mountains and it is usually quite chilly here. While the F1 teams were racing in Barcelona, an endurance race at the Nürburgring that same weekend was badly affected by…snow!

And if you are wondering where are the cultural references usually found in these previews, that is because there is precious little to do in this part of the world, unless you like walking in the forest. However, the famous Nürburg castle sits on a hill above the track and looks just like one of those toy ones you find in an aquarium.

Last weekend, Monaco showed that, underneath all the glitz and glamour, it can be a cruel place and Red Bull Racing came away with no points, after both David Coulthard and Tonio Liuzzi did not make it to the chequered flag. The team will be hoping for better things in the less flashy surroundings of the ‘Ring. The Scotsman has started from pole position twice at this track, as did the Italian in F3000 last year. Tonio will be keen to shine this weekend, as Christian Klien returns to the role of Coulthard’s team-mate at the following Canadian Grand Prix.

Source: www.redbullracing.com