The Sachsenring is a motorsport racing circuit located in Hohenstein-Ernstthal near Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany. Among other events, it features the annual German motorcycle Grand Prix of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship.
History
The first race was held on 26 May 1927 on an 8.618 km (5.355 mi) layout on public roads, running also through the village of Hohenstein-Ernstthal itself. It was dubbed "Sachsenring" in 1937.
The East German motorcycle Grand Prix was held there from 1961 to 1972. The local two stroke MZ bikes of Zschopau were competitive during this time. The quickest lap was achieved by 15 time World Champion Giacomo Agostini on a MV Agusta with a 180 km/h (110 mph) average. After West German Dieter Braun won in 1971 and the East German fans sang the West German National Anthem in celebration (as is the case in sport, the winner's National Anthem is played after the event), the event was limited to East European entrants for political reasons.
In 1990, with faster Western machinery now available, racing through the village became too dangerous with some fatalities (this can be compared with the Isle of Man TT).
To accelerate redevelopment of eastern Germany in the new unified Germany, a 3.517 km (2.185 mi) short track berg corner was built in the 1990s to bring international motorsport to the eastern part of Germany. In 1996, IDM motorcycle racing and the ADAC Super Tourenwagen Cup resumed racing here. The DTM raced here in 2000, with Klaus Ludwig winning at age 51, but the DTM did not return after 2002, preferring international venues. DTM returned to Sachsenring in 2023 after its take-over by ADAC due to its preference of using national venues again.1
Since 1998, the German motorcycle Grand Prix moved to the Sachsenring from Nürburgring. In recent years, the track has been made faster and longer again, with the length now being 3.671 km (2.281 mi). Since 2007, the Sachsenring is part of the regular schedule of ADAC GT Masters. In 2011 the FIA GT1 World Championship held one of its race weekends at the Sachsenring.
Layout history
Most wins
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
| # Wins | Rider | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Marc Márquez | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
Events
Current- May: ADAC Sachsenring Classic
- July: Grand Prix motorcycle racing German motorcycle Grand Prix, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Northern Talent Cup
- August: Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, ADAC GT4 Germany, NXT Gen Cup
- ADAC Formel Masters (2008–2014)
- ADAC Formula 4 (2015–2017, 2019, 2021)
- ADAC GT Masters (2007–2023)
- ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship (2016–2022)
- Austria Formula 3 Cup (1998, 2005)
- FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup (2022)
- FIA GT1 World Championship (2011)
- Formula BMW ADAC (2000–2002)
- Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2004–2005)
- German Formula Three Championship (1997–2002, 2004–2005, 2007–2014)
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing
- East German motorcycle Grand Prix (1961–1972)
- IDM Superbike Championship [de] (1996–1997, 2003–2006, 2008–2013, 2020, 2023–2024)
- MotoE World Championship
- German eRace (2019, 2023–2024)
- Protoype Cup Germany [de] (2024)
- Sidecar World Championship (2005–2014, 2018, 2023–2024)
- Super Tourenwagen Cup (1996–1999)
- V8Star Series (2003)
Lap records
As of September 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Sachsenring are listed as:
Spectators at the MotoGP since 1998
| Year | Spectators | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 142,000 | |
| 1999 | 151,000 | + 6.34% |
| 2000 | 161.000 | + 6.62% |
| 2001 | 177,000 | + 9.94% |
| 2002 | 184,500 | + 4.24% |
| 2003 | 204,000 | + 10.57% |
| 2004 | 207,745 | + 1.84% |
| 2005 | 216,457 | + 4.19% |
| 2006 | 219,848 | + 1.57% |
| 2007 | 226,944 | + 3.23% |
| 2008 | 221,492 | - 2.40% |
| 2009 | 214,711 | - 3,06% |
| 2010 | 224,668 | + 4.64% |
| 2011 | 230,133 | + 2.4% |
| 2012 | 195,695 | - 15% |
| 2013 | 204,491 | + 4.5% |
| 2014 | 209,408 | + 2.4% |
| 2015 | 211,588 | + 1% |
Bibliography
- Wolfgang Hallmann: Das war der Sachsenring – Geschichte und Gegenwart einer legendären Rennstrecke; Chemnitzer Verlag, Chemnitz; 1996; ISBN 3-928678-32-9
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sachsenring.- Traffic safety center Sachsenring site (German page)
- Official website
- Map and history of Sachsenring at RacingCircuits.info
- Satellite View of Sachsenring from Google Maps
References
"DTM Zurück Auf dem Sachsenring". Retrieved 30 December 2022. https://www.sachsenring-circuit.com/media-service/sachsenring-news/dtm-zurück-auf-dem-sachsenring ↩
"2008 Sachsenring German F3 - Round 15". Motor Sport Magazine. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2022. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2008-sachsenring-german-f3-2/ ↩
"2024 DTM Sachsenring - Prototype Cup Germany - Race 2 - Result List" (PDF). 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024. https://res.cloudinary.com/adacmkv/image/upload/ADAC%20Motorsport/Ergebnisse/2024/PCG/06_Sachsenring/Prototype_Cup_Germany_Race_2_ResultList_1.0_ijc66n.pdf ↩
"2017 ADAC Formel 4 Sachsenring Result List Race 2" (PDF). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2024. https://res.cloudinary.com/adacmkv/image/upload/25840.pdf ↩
"ADAC GT Masters Sachsenring 2017". 17 September 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2021. https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Sachsenring-2017-09-17.html ↩
"2011 Sachsenring FIA GT - Round 4". Motor Sport Magazine. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2022. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2011-sachsenring-fia-gt-2/ ↩
"2004 Formula Renault 2000 Germany Sachsenring (Race 2)". 15 August 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2024. https://www.racingyears.com/race/2004_Formula_Renault_2000_Germany_Sachsenring_(Race_2) ↩
"ADAC Masters Weekend Sachsenring 13.05.2011 - 15.05.2011 ADAC Formel Masters Ergebnis Rennen 1" (PDF). 14 May 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2022. https://res.cloudinary.com/adacmkv/image/upload/12136.pdf ↩
"2022 Porsche Cup Deutschland Sachsenring (Race 1)". 24 September 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022. http://www.racingyears.com/race.php?GP=2022%20Porsche%20Cup%20Deutschland%20Sachsenring%20(Race%201) ↩
"2023 IDM Sachsenring IDM Superbike 1000 Race 1" (PDF). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023. https://results.bike-promotion.com/Results/Official%20results/01%20IDM%20-%20Int.%20Deutsche%20Motorradmeisterschaft/2023/IDM-01%20Sachsenring%20(12.05.-14.05.2023)/IDM%20Superbike/Race1/RaceResult/2023-05-14_IDM_SBK_Race1_Result.pdf ↩
"2023 IDM Sachsenring IDM Supersport Race 1" (PDF). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023. https://results.bike-promotion.com/Results/Official%20results/01%20IDM%20-%20Int.%20Deutsche%20Motorradmeisterschaft/2023/IDM-01%20Sachsenring%20(12.05.-14.05.2023)/IDM%20Supersport/Race1/RaceResult/2023-05-14_IDM_Supersport_Race1_Result.pdf ↩
"ADAC TCR Germany Sachsenring 2018 Race 1 Results" (PDF). 8 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2021. https://res.cloudinary.com/adacmkv/image/upload/27356.pdf ↩
"2022 ADAC GT4 Germany Race 1 Sachsenring" (PDF). 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022. https://res.cloudinary.com/adacmkv/image/upload/ADAC%20Motorsport/Ergebnisse/2022/ADAC%20GT4%20Germany/05-Sachsenring/ADAC_GT4_Germany_Race_1_ResultList_1.1_dzi5mc.pdf ↩
"FIA ETCR - Race of Germany 23-25 September 2022 Pool Fast - Semi Final 2 300 kW - 40s. PU Final Ranking". 25 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022. https://www.its-results.com/etcr/2022/96e8c382-7b61-4c24-834d-9419fe42c2bf ↩
"2023 IDM Sachsenring IDM Supersport 300 Race 2" (PDF). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023. https://results.bike-promotion.com/Results/Official%20results/01%20IDM%20-%20Int.%20Deutsche%20Motorradmeisterschaft/2023/IDM-01%20Sachsenring%20(12.05.-14.05.2023)/IDM%20Supersport%20300/Race2/RaceResult/2023-05-14_IDM_SSP300_Race2_Result.pdf ↩
"2024 DTM Sachsenring - NXT Gen Cup - Race 4 - Result List" (PDF). 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62c01f1a724bdb47d12c39ea/t/66ddbcd481259571da9f3413/1725807828988/210_NXT_Gen_Cup_Race_4_ResultList_10.pdf ↩
"2001 Sachsenring German F3 - Round 7". Motor Sport Magazine. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 30 April 2022. https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2001-sachsenring-german-f3-2/ ↩
"DTM 2002 » Sachsenring Round 4 Results". 2 June 2002. Retrieved 26 September 2022. https://www.touringcars.net/database/race.php?id=1636 ↩
"2002 Formula BMW ADAC Sachsenring (Race 1)". 1 June 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2024. https://www.racingyears.com/race/2002_Formula_BMW_ADAC_Sachsenring_(Race_1) ↩
"2001 Porsche Cup Deutschland Sachsenring". 17 June 2001. Retrieved 30 March 2024. https://www.racingyears.com/race/2001_Porsche_Cup_Deutschland_Sachsenring ↩
"ADAC Sparkassenpreis Sachsenring 9.Lauf Deutsche Formel-3-Meisterschaft Ergebnis Rennen 1" (PDF). 5 August 2000. Retrieved 21 May 2022. https://formel3guide.com/images/ergebnisse/2000/2000-sachsenring-r1.pdf ↩
"DTM 2000 » Sachsenring Round 7 Results". 6 August 2000. Retrieved 26 September 2022. https://www.touringcars.net/database/race.php?id=1495 ↩
"2000 German Porsche Carrera Cup - Aug 6 - Sachsenring". 6 August 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2024. http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/2000/results.html#gpcc ↩
"ADAC-Preis Des MDR Sachsenring 5.Lauf Deutsche Formel-3-Meisterschaft Ergebnis Rennen 1" (PDF). 23 May 1998. Retrieved 21 May 2022. https://formel3guide.com/images/ergebnisse/1998/1998-sachsenring-r1.pdf ↩
"1999 Super Tourenwagen Cup Sachsenring (Race 2)". 9 May 1999. Retrieved 5 May 2024. https://www.racingyears.com/race/1999_Super_Tourenwagen_Cup_Sachsenring_(Race_2) ↩
"ADAC-Preis Der Freie Presse Sachsenring 6.Lauf Deutsche Formel-3-Meisterschaft Ergebnis Rennen 2" (PDF). 15 June 1997. Retrieved 21 May 2022. https://formel3guide.com/images/ergebnisse/1997/1997-sachsenring-r2.pdf ↩
"STW Cup 1997 » Sachsenring Round 8 Results". 15 June 1997. Retrieved 30 April 2022. https://www.touringcars.net/database/race.php?id=1191 ↩
"XVIII Internationales Sachsenringrennen". 17 July 1966. Retrieved 16 July 2022. http://www.racingyears.com/race.php?GP=XVIII%20Internationales%20Sachsenringrennen ↩
"XV Internationales Sachsenringrennen". 18 August 1963. Retrieved 15 July 2022. http://www.racingyears.com/race.php?GP=XV%20Internationales%20Sachsenringrennen ↩
"II Sachsenringrennen". 27 August 1950. Retrieved 15 July 2022. http://www.racingyears.com/race.php?GP=II%20Sachsenringrennen ↩