Hella Licht

Hello - I'd like to see if any one has any pictures like the one below, but in colour, and larger. I've seen a big full page picture in my 1985 F1 Season Review, but unfortunantly, the spine of the book runs through the middle of the photo.



I'd also like to know, when was the last race held on the Osterreichring? Obviously the last F1 race was in 1987, but I'd be interested to hear more.

DNQ,

Although majorly re-designed, the Osterreichring still lives as the A1-ring. This was the site of last years famous fixed finish by Ferrari!

Mark

Oh certainly - I wasnt aware that the track is still referred to as the Osterreichring these days. Anyway, I dont think one can compare the new track to the old

The new track does produce some of the better racing on the calendar, but its a typical tilke track

IIRC, the last major international meeting taking place at the old Österreichring, including Hella Licht-S, Flatschachkurve etc. was the "Preis der Stadt Wunstorf" on May 26-28, 1995, with rounds of the German STW-Cup, GT-Cup and Formula BMW Junior.

I was there at the time to report on it and I still remember watching free practice together with BMW motorsport boss Marc Surer sitting on the grass up the hill at the Hella Licht S, seeing many drivers taking different lines through the corners. "Here, you can see who has the best car control", Surer said. One evening, I did a couple of laps on a mountain bike and got a slight sense of how fast some of the corners were, and how steep the run up to the Hella Licht S was!

In 1996, I returned for a Formula Opel Euroseries event and found the new track completely lacking the fascination of the old one. That said, I still like the environment and the atmosphere. I know hardly any circuits with a restaurant where you can have lunch at the terrace and have a view of the entire track. And the A1-Ring still makes for some pretty good racing - the DTM-round we had there last year will go down in history as one of the most spectacular ever!

I know we're probably not supposed to mention them, but the last race I recall using the full Osterreichring was a World Superbike race. I believe it was the year before the A-1 Ring. There was a lot of grading visible as preparations were well under way. But, it used the full course. I sat and watched it on TV because I realized it was the last time to see the old course.


Jim Thurman

Come to think of it, why did the F1 Austrian GP disappear for 9 years?

I had just started to follow F1 at the time, I still remember that race (not just the two start-line wrecks)...but what a beautiful racecourse. The 90-degree turns now used at the A-1 Ring are just too Mickey Mouse, in my opinion.

Come to think of it, why did the F1 Austrian GP disappear for 9 years?

The race was cut due to safety concerns. The 2 starline wrecks in 87 did the GP track finally in and it wasn't until the track was redesigned that F1 returned. Enjoy this years race as I may be the last time we'll see a GP in Austria for a long long time.

Hmm...I thought the start-line wrecks may have had something to do with it, but I figured it had to be more than that (FIA contract broken, circuit not up to FIA Grade 1 spec, financial loser, et cetera).

I love the old Osterreichring for its high speed and beautiful scenery. But I'm always puzzled by its fatal design (the main straight being the narrowest piece of road of the circuit, with barriers on both sides no less).

Thanks for the feedback, but come on, someone must have a picture of this great corner