The "Jim Clark Revival" has once again lived up to its reputation as one of Europe's largest and most attractive events for historic motorsport. In front of a record crowd of more than 35,000 fans, around 500 vehicles in eleven racing series shook the Motodrom. There were racing cars of all types and designs to admire - from the 1938 Maserati 6 CM from the colorful round of "Raceclub Germany" to the filigree formula racing cars.the filigree Formula Junior monoposti from the Lurani Trophy, the original Formula 3 cars of Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, the various sports cars and GT vehicles through to the three-liter Formula 1 cars from the "Masters Racing Legends for 1966/1985 F1 Cars".
The addition of "Masters Historic Racing" to the Bosch Hockenheim Historic program proved to be a direct hit. Ron Maydon's diverse portfolio of formula racing cars, sports cars and GTs was immediately well received by the knowledgeable fans, making it an instant crowd favorite.
Motorsport you can touch
In the paddock, there was the usual hustle and bustle that is no longer acceptable in today's motorsport. Racing cars made their way through the crowds of fans, who came closer to the automotive treasures here than anywhere else. This is exactly what characterizes the historic scene - it is sometimes less structured and more shirt-sleeved than modern motorsport, but also more approachable and uncomplicated.
There are now numerous former professional racing drivers who have found their second vocation in historic racing. Roland Asch, Altfrid Heger or Olaf Manthey, for example, who battled it out on the track with around 35 like-minded people in the "Golden Era Touring Cars", while Harald Grohs unfortunately had to miss out due to a technical problem with the Vogelsang BMW M3. Or Stanley Dickens, the now 71-year-old Swede who won the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Manuel Reuter and Jochen Mass in the Sauber C9 and still cuts an excellent figure in a Group C racing car. Or ex-Formula 1 driver Antonio Pizzonia from Brazil, who achieved a flawless double victory in the BOSS GP in his Dallara-Gibson.
One man who has completely succumbed to the classics virus is Marco Werner, overall Le Mans winner in 2005, 2006 and 2007, winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995. The 57-year-old from Dortmund, who relocated to the Swiss shores of Lake Constance almost 20 years ago, competed in no fewer than three racing series at the Bosch Hockenheim Historic. "Out of LMP2, into Group C and then straight over to Formula 1 - what stress," smiled the sports car warhorse. Unfortunately, Werner did not get to drive as intensively after his Lotus 87 B lost oil pressure in Saturday's race, causing the three-liter Cosworth in the rear of the gold and black car to stop working.
Speaking of gold and black: the "Black & Gold Collection" by the Chrome Cars team around Kai Nieklauson was one of the outstanding eye-catchers of the exhibition area on the pit roof. Several Formula 1 Lotus cars, an LMP2 racing car and a genuine F1 racing boat were among the exclusive exhibits, as were two Ferrari 126C Turbo cars driven by French GP drivers René Arnoux and Patrick Tambay. The wonderful Jim Clark exhibition in the Congress Pavilion as well as numerous catering and merchandising stands, a large slot car facility and various children's fun attractions rounded off the family-friendly program.
Flowers for Jim Clark
Jochen Mass and Kurt Ahrens were among the prominent guests at the Bosch Hockenheim Historic who did not get behind the wheel themselves. For Ahrens in particular, the Bosch Hockenheim Historic is more than just another classic event, as the 83-year-old from Braunschweig is one of Jim Clark's companions. And so Ahrens once again took the opportunity to lay flowers at the Jim Clark memorial stone in honor of the two-time Formula 1 world champion from Scotland.
"I'm enjoying the Jim Clark Revival," emphasizes Ahrens. "I see racing cars everywhere that I've driven myself - and it makes me happy to see how well-maintained they are and how skillfully they are driven. I've spoken directly to the teams and given them tips on what they should do with the cars. And sometimes I'm actually still very tempted to get back into the cockpit. I wouldn't put it past me ..."
