Austria GP: The history of the Formula 1 track in Spielberg

umarkamran June 21, 2024

0 6 4 minutes read

In 1970, the highest class vehicles drove in Spielberg for the primary time – in 2023 will probably be that point once more. System 1 returns to at present’s Purple Bull Ring. The racetrack, which is now 4.318 kilometers lengthy, already has a whole lot of System 1 historical past to indicate for it. Every thing concerning the conventional circuit, which discovered its method again into the System 1 racing calendar regardless of mass collisions, gross sales and conversions.

1970: System 1 debut on the Österreichring

It is the 12 months 1970. Sir Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt adorn the System 1 subject – and the premier class is making its first cease in Austria since 1964. To be extra exact, the premier class is holding its first System 1 race there Austria Ring.

System 1 began on the Österreichring as early as 1970, picture: LAT Photographs

A 5.942-kilometre high-speed monitor that featured many quick but additionally harmful corners. The fascination together with native hero Jochen Rindt was unbroken. Round 100,000 spectators discovered their option to the braveness monitor on the Ring’s debut race – which was to stay an integral a part of the System 1 racing calendar till 1987.

As early as 1975, considerations concerning the security of the ring arose. Penske driver Mark Donohue had an accident in flip one, a quick right-hand bend, resulting from a puncture. The American crashed right into a billboard, Donohue initially appeared unhurt – however succumbed to the implications of the accident two days later. As a security measure, the primary curve was defused a 12 months later with the “Hella-Licht chicane”.

Then in 1987 the finale. The 9 meter broad begin/end straight of the Österreichring now not provided sufficient area for the ever-growing vehicles of the premier class. Because of this, there have been violent take-off collisions. The Grand Prix needed to be began 3 times. Within the first two makes an attempt, it rattled shortly after the beginning. The untimely finish of the Österreichring in System 1.

Conversion to the A1 ring and return to System 1

Within the years that adopted, the premier class didn’t return to the Österreichring. In 1996 main renovation work adopted on the route, which has now been renamed the A1 Ring. The course, which was as soon as nearly six kilometers lengthy, has been decreased to 4.3 kilometers and run-off zones have been built-in.

The monitor format was nonetheless partly based mostly on the routing of the previous variant, however with out the quick and harmful corners that gave the monitor its character. System 1 monitor guru Hermann Tilke designed the brand new model of the traditional. Throughout this time, the route was financed and operated by the ÖAMTC.

In 1997 the premier class returned. Jacques Villeneuve received the primary race on the Ring after a ten-year break from System 1 forward of David Coulthard and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. The Schumacher brothers took fifth and sixth place. In 2002, Rubens Barrichello let Michael Schumacher move within the final nook of the final lap and, on orders from the group, gave him victory – boos within the stands of the ring have been the end result.

Nonetheless, the return was to not final for too lengthy, because the ring was once more absent from the premier class calendar in 2004. The rationale? The EU tobacco promoting ban. The positioning was subsequently offered. To Purple Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz…

Vom A1-Ring zum Purple Bull Ring

The Austrian deliberate to construct a motorsport heart on the positioning of the previous conventional monitor. Nonetheless, the venture was rejected. Dietrich Mateschitz’s plan was too dangerous to the surroundings. Solely the state politics of Austria determined to avoid wasting the A1-Ring. The monetary associate? RedBull! In 2008 work on the route began once more. The brand new title has caught to today: Purple Bull Ring. The monitor facility was reopened on Might 15, 2011. The DTM made its comeback on June 5 of the identical 12 months.

Nonetheless, it ought to take some time earlier than the premier class returns. The comeback solely adopted about three years after the reopening. On June 22, 2014, the quickest racing vehicles on this planet discovered their method again to Styria. Nico Rosberg received the race forward of Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The Ring, no matter whether or not it’s nicknamed Austria, A1 or Purple Bull, stays an integral a part of the calendar to today, even round 54 years after its first System 1 race. System 1 can be again in Spielberg in 2023. Now the names are Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso and Leclerc. Legends like Sir Jackie Stewart simply look on, however the fascination stays the identical.