July 29, 2016 David Martin-Janiak 0

Racing Engineering and its drivers, Norman Nato and Jordan King, are ready to race in Hockenheim.

This weekend it is the turn of Hockenheim in Germany to host the next round of the 2016 GP2 Series and the season is moving towards a very exciting climax as, with twelve races completed and ten still to go both the Drivers’ and Team Championships are still wide open. The last round at the Hungaroring was largely positive for the Racing Engineering team with Norman finishing 7^th and 3^rd in Saturday and Sunday’s races to lie 5^th in the Championship and Jordan taking 8^th and 2^nd to move up to 6^th, one point behind his teammate. In the Team Championships racing Engineering are now in 2^nd place.

It is two years since the GP2 cars last raced at Hockenheim and on that occasion Racing Engineering took a win with Stefano Coletti and they have taken four other top four placings in the last three visits to Hockenheim so the t! eam are looking forward to adding to this very impressive record.

The revised 4.574km Hockenheimring, designed by Hermann Tilke in 2001, no longer has the fast sweeping straights running through the forests that made the old track so intimidating. It now comprises 17 corners, a number of which are relatively tight but it still boasts the famous concrete Stadium section where all the fans gather to watch the racing. This weekend Pirelli will be supplying their P Zero White medium tyre together with the Yellow soft compound for the two races this weekend.

Practice: Fri 29 Jul 2016, 12:00 (GMT+2)
Qualifying Session: Fri 29 Jul 2016, 15:55 (GMT+2)
Race 1: Sat 30 Jul 2016, 15:40 (GMT+2)
Race 2: Sun 31 Jul 2016, 10:25 (GMT+2)

1. The Hockenheimring is situated in the Rhine valley near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.2. The last time GP2 raced at the Hockenheimring was in 2014, as the German Grand Prix alternates between the Hockenheimring and the Nürburgring.

3. The Hockenheimring was built in 1932. It is famous for its “Motodrom” and its unique style creates a special atmosphere.

4. The Hockenheimring is a very fast track, hard on the engines with a high percentage of time at full throttle.

5. The track is a combination of slow sections, like the “stadium” and long straights.

6. In sector 1 engine power is very important while sector 3 focuses on slow speed and traction. Sector 2 is a combination of both.

7. The asphalt is abrasive and offers good grip.

8. In 2001 Hockenheim was almost halved by removing the long and difficult straights, which went through the Black Forest.

9. Corner 6, the hairpin, is the best opportunity for overtaking.

10. In 2014 Racing Engineering’s Stefano Coletti finished third in qualifying and won the Sprint Race.

Norman Neto on Track with his GP2 racing engineering

1. At the Hockenheim Ring speed is crucial. Whereas in F1 the average speed is 335 km/h in GP2 it comes down to 197 km/h.2. F1 drivers will change gear 46 times per lap against the 34 times a GP2 driver has to shift gear.

3. Race distance differs only by two laps: F1 go around the circuit for 67 laps and GP2 do a total of 65 laps over two days- 38 laps in Feature Race and 27 in the Sprint Race.

4. If we compare pole position times, a GP2 car is a little bit slower than a F1 car. Pole position in F1 was set in 2014 at 1:17.631 – Pole position in GP2 was set in 2014 at 1:23.383.

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David Martin-Janiak Motorsports has always been a passion for me, I've raced in Karting and now I have my own Motorsports news website, so i can help other racers convey their passion to the world!