A lap of Hockenheim with Kimi
This weekend, the F1 circus moves to Germany for the German GP at the circuit of Hockenheim. It's the 12th stage of the 2006 Formula One season. Kimi Raikkonen, the McLaren-Mercedes star, takes us for a ride along the circuit in his MP4-21.
Kimi Raikkonen "Powering down the pit straight at the revised Hockenheim circuit, you reach 305km/h in sixth gear before dabbing the brakes for the fast Nordkurve. Taken at 211km/h, it is important to maintain your speed through this right-hander. Jumping the curbs as you exit, you accelerate along to Parabolica, a tight right hander, which we believe will be negotiated at 93km/h in second and marks the beginning of the new section of the track.
A slight left hander immediately follows Parabolika and flicks you onto a long sweeping left curve. Taken flat out, it is estimated that you will reach speeds of 326km/h in sixth gear, before braking dramatically for the right-handed hairpin that has replaced the Ostkurve. Probably taken at some 59km/h, it is the tightest corner on the track and sees you rejoin the old circuit momentarily.
Accelerating out, it is estimated that you will reach 285km/h in sixth before braking for the new Spitzkehre complex. This begins with a fast right hander that will probably see speeds of 96km/h in second gear. A quick burst of power follows along a short straight, before negotiating a tighter left hander.
A slight left kink is followed by a sweeping right hander, which will take you back onto the original back straight. You will again build up speed at full throttle as you burst out of the forest and into the Stadium complex. The Mobil 1 Kurve marks the entry to the complex and this fast right hander is taken in fourth gear at 205km/h.
Next is the long left hairpin of Sachs, shifting down into second it is negotiated at 111km/h. The track then sweeps through a slight left-right kink on the approach to the final section of the Stadium complex and the lap, the S¨¹dkurve. This double apex right hand hairpin is taken at some 169km/h in third and leads you back onto the start-finish straight to begin another lap."
