German Grand Prix

Hockenheim

How to get there

There are plenty of flights from the UK into Frankfurt, with Stuttgart being another possibility. Alternatively, you can travel by road, with an early morning channel crossing getting you into the area by late afternoon. There are a number of possible routes, but going via Reims is generally quicker and easier than negotiating Brussels and the roads past Bonn on a friday.

Where to stay

Hockenheim itself is a small town with limited choice. The nearby industrial town of Mannheim is much bigger but our choice is the old University town of Heidelberg, some 20km away. Stay in or near Altstadt to be within walking distance of the tourist attractions, bars and restaurants.

What else to do

Heidelberg offers the old town, river and impressive castle to explore, together with some interesting shops and bars along Haupstrasse. It's a popular tourist destination and particularly busy on a race weekend.

Transport to the circuit

Heidelberg is some 20km from Hockenheim so you can drive, but beware the usual queues trying to leave the circuit car parks. Alternatively take a train via Mannheim. These run every 30 minutes even on a Sunday, cost less than 20€ return and take around 50 minutes. Shuttle busses run from the station to just outside the circuit at the north entrance, or it's about 30 minutes walk.

Which grandstand

The last corner grandstands are popular, but the Mercedes grandstand offers a great view over the whole of the back half of the circuit, together with various displays and entertainment provided by Mercedes. The higher seats will offer the best overall view.

Circuit facilities

There's plenty of food and drink stalls around the circuit, although not as much merchandising as at some European venues. The small museum is also worth a look, although has more for the motorbike racers who form the core of the circuits regular users. The Mercedes area has separate, good quality facilities, including this year some of their cars doing high speed runs on a separate, internal track.