German GP Jordan preview

"Hockenheim is a distinguished track in comparison to other F1 circuits on the calendar. It is almost like racing on two separate tracks as the short, slow and twisty infield section is so different to the long and fast straights that form the majority of the track. This makes car set-up very challenging and a good compromise needs to be found in order to gain maximum speed on the straights but sufficient downforce in the motodrome. A good qualifying position is very important as overtaking is quite difficult here. You make it up to sixth gear on the straight leading up to the first corner and it's important to get this turn right and power out early as it's on the exit that you try to gain all the momentum for the following straight which is the longest and quickest on this circuit. Shifting up to seventh with a speed of around 350 kms per hour, you brake heavily in to the first chicane at the 100m sign and quickly shift down to second. Accelerating out of the chicane you shift back up to seventh and reach approximately 330 kms per hour before Ostkurve which is the slowest chicane at Hockenheim. It's very bumpy through there with a lot of camber changes so it can be difficult to keep the wheels on the ground. You shift back up to seventh again and then brake for the last chicane - the Ayrton Senna Kurve - into second gear. After this comes the final short straight and a quick fourth gear right hander into the small stadium section which is quite twisty. The quickest way through here is by having good downforce. The atmosphere is incredible - like a soccer stadium - with the crowds making a fantastic noise, often louder than the engines. There is a lot of grip in this section. You take the 180 degree turn in third which leads into the double right hander and then accelerate out onto the start-finish straight."

Heinz-Harald Frentzen on the German Grand Prix

"Hockenheim doesn't compare to any other circuit on the calendar. The long and fast straights are great but you always want more power to go faster still. The short infield stadium section at the end of the track is so different from the rest of the circuit that it's almost like racing on two different tracks. This makes it challenging to find a good compromise with the car's set-up. It would be good to have another podium finish here, especially as it's my home turf."

Jarno Trulli on the German Grand Prix

"Jordan has always performed quite well at Hockenheim. I raced at this circuit six times in the German Formula 3 Championship and won six times. It's also the track where I scored my first Formula One points (with Prost in 1997), so all this adds to my confidence on this track and optimism for the Grand Prix weekend there. The German crowds still recognise me from my F3 days and I always receive a good reception in Hockenheim which is great. Together with Monza, Hockenheim has one of the best Grand Prix atmospheres, with so many people camping in the woods and the huge crowds filling the incredible grandstands in the stadium area."

Travelling through the small village of Hockenheim you could be forgiven for thinking that you've taken a wrong turn on the way to the Hockenheimring, before seeing the circuit's main entrance which almost looks out of place. Nestled deep in the forest, the circuit is one of the fastest on the F1 calendar with incredibly long straights that force teams to use a low downforce wing set-up in order to achieve maximum straight line speed. However, in the interest of safety, this fast loop' is broken by three chicanes and the low downforce may need to be compromised as it hampers the cars' handling through the twisty and slow stadium section of the track. All of the circuit's grandstands are located in this area and when full, provide an awesome noise and sight. The best opportunities for overtaking are under braking at the end of the long straights, although the track is quite narrow. Hockenheim was originally built as a proving ground for Mercedes road cars and the circuit will undergo revisions after this year's Grand Prix. The new track will cut through the forest to reduce its length to 4.5 kilometres, allowing for better access and spectator viewing.

-Jordon