Motodrom Insight // Bosch Hockenheim Historic 2023
A thrilling festival by racing enthusiasts, for racing enthusiasts
The love of the less professional, sometimes rather casual motor sport of days gone by, but always characterised by a great deal of passion and dedication, as well as the commemoration of one of the greatest automobile racing drivers of all time – the “Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival” stands for this combination in a unique way. From 5 to 7 May, the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg will once again be the venue for one of Europe’s largest and most renowned Classic Festivals, which attracted around 30,000 spectators to the venerable Motodrom last year. In 2023, the ADAC will be the sporting organiser for the first time, alongside the Badischer Motorsport Club e.V. This partnership is a pilot project of the ADAC, which is getting involved in historic motorsport on a circuit for the first time.
The smell of petrol, oil and tyre rubber, coupled with the sound of roaring (but far from efficient) racing engines, make for a fascinating journey back to a time when not everything was better in motorsport, but some things were less complicated. The ten race series that make this year’s “Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival” a must for lovers of classic racing also stand for this.
All the more so because, this year, the popular event is being held under the banner of the 55th anniversary of the death of its namesake, Jim Clark. The accidental death of the Scottish Formula 1 World Champion of 1963 and 1965 in a Formula 2 race on 7 April 1968 will forever be a sad part of the history of the Hockenheimring. While death was, unfortunately, a constant companion of motorsport around the world at the time, every accident has at least contributed to making the races on two and four wheels ever safer. This means that the 500 or so participants in the “Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival” in 2023 will be able to indulge their passion on one of the most modern and safest race tracks in the world.
Historic Formula 1
The absolute highlights of the Bosch Hockenheim Historic undoubtedly include the three race series of the Masters Historic Racing series, which has been newly added to the programme. The “Masters Racing Legends for 1966/1985 F1 Cars” offer a unique stage for those racing cars in the premier class that were powered by a 3-litre naturally aspirated engine – and here, of course, the legendary Cosworth DFV dominates. The “Masters Gentlemen Drivers & Pre-66 Touring Cars” are the playing field for historic touring cars, while in the “Masters Endurance Legends” everything revolves around the sports cars primarily used in endurance races.
Also new to the programme are the “Golden Era Touring Cars”, which are reserved for classic DTM cars of the “Pre-Class 1 Era” such as the BMW M3 or the Ford Sierra Cosworth as well as Group A and Super Touring Cars. In addition, there are the cornerstones of the Bosch Hockenheim Historic that have been fixed and appreciated for years, such as the Group C Supercup, the BOSSGP, the Raceclub Germany, the Historic Racecar Association, the Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior racers – and, of course, the Historic Formula 2, whose connection to a Jim Clark Revival is obvious. The “Jim Clark Memorial Race” in Hockenheim was the scene of memorable appearances in the Formula 2 European Championship in the 1970s. Big names such as Stuck, Hailwood, Peterson, Quester, Ickx, Regazzoni, Surer, Winkelhock and Bellof took on tough wheel-to-wheel duels on the long forest straights and in the Motodrom in front of more than 100,000 spectators, and became legends in their own right.
Strong supporting programme next to the track
The “Bosch Hockenheim Historic – The Jim Clark Revival” sees itself as a horsepower festival by racing enthusiasts for racing enthusiasts. Walls or barriers in the paddock do not fit in with this philosophy, nor do exorbitant prices. The paddock and pits are freely accessible to fans. The supporting programme with many exhibitions – including the “Black & Gold Collection” by ChromeCars and the traditional Jim Clark exhibition – a large exhibitor market, the popular Brand Club, the Kids Club, special tours and autograph sessions will also delight visitors.
