Sachsenring (Schaltung)

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 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 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 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.

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 . 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

File:Hohenstein-Ernstthal Sachsenring circuit map.png, Original Circuit (1927–1990)
File:Sachsenring 1998–1999.png, Grand Prix Circuit (1998–1999)
File:Sachsenring 2001-2002.svg, Grand Prix Circuit (2001–2002)
File:Sachsenring.svg, Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)

Most wins

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Events

; Current

* May: Sidecar World Championship, , Northern Talent Cup
* July: Grand Prix motorcycle racing ''German motorcycle Grand Prix'', MotoE World Championship ''German eRace'', Northern Talent Cup
* August: ' – based in Germany, this low-budget one-make amateur racing series for un-, up to mildly tuned '' MZ Skorpions'' celebrated its 25th jubilee in 2021. From 2023 on it also opened up for off ranking guest participations of other selected ''Supermono'' bikes.
* September: Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany,

; Former

* ADAC Formel Masters (2008–2014)
* ADAC Formula 4 (2015–2017, 2019, 2021)
* ADAC GT Masters (2007–2023)
* Austria Formula 3 Cup (1998, 2005)
* FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup (2022)
* 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)
* FIA GT1 World Championship (2011)
* Super Tourenwagen Cup (1996–1999)
* V8Star Series (2003)

Lap records

As of July 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Sachsenring are listed as:

Spectators at the MotoGP since 1998

References

Bibliography

* Wolfgang Hallmann: ''Das war der Sachsenring – Geschichte und Gegenwart einer legendären Rennstrecke''; Chemnitzer Verlag, Chemnitz; 1996;

External links

Traffic safety center Sachsenring siteGerman page


Official website



Satellite View of Sachsenring from Google Maps

{{Authority control

Motorsport venues in Saxony
1927 establishments in Germany
Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
Hohenstein-Ernstthal
Sports venues completed in 1927