Sachsenring
The Sachsenring (German pronunciation: [ˈzaksn̩ʁɪŋ] ⓘ) 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.
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Location | Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany |
|---|---|
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 50°47′30″N 12°41′20″E |
| Opened | 26 May 1927; 96 years ago (1927-05-26) Re-opened: 26 May 1996; 27 years ago (1996-05-26) (as Grand Prix Circuit) |
| Closed | 1990 (as Road Circuit) |
| Major events | Current: Grand Prix motorcycle racing German motorcycle Grand Prix (1998–2019, 2021–present) East German motorcycle Grand Prix (1961–1972) Sidecar World Championship (2005–2014, 2018, 2023–present) DTM (2000–2002, 2023–present) Former: FIA ETCR (2022) FIA GT1 World Championship (2011) |
| Website | http://www.sachsenring-circuit.com |
| Circuit A Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Length | 3.671 km (2.281 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:13.714 ( Frédéric Vervisch, Dallara F306, 2008, F3) |
| Circuit B OMEGA-circuit (2003–present) | |
| Length | 2.100 km (1.304 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Circuit C (2001–present) | |
| Length | 1.700 km (1.056 miles) |
| Turns | 3 |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2001–2002) | |
| Length | 3.704 km (2.302 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:17.151 ( Kosuke Matsuura, Dallara F301, 2001, F3) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2000) | |
| Length | 3.386 km (2.104 miles) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:14.394 ( Alex Müller, Dallara F300, 2000, F3) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1998–1999) | |
| Length | 3.508 km (2.180 miles) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:20.078 ( Bas Leinders, Dallara F397, 1998, F3) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997) | |
| Length | 3.517 km (2.185 miles) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:24.416 ( Timo Scheider, Dallara F397, 1997, F3) |
| Original Circuit (1927–1990) | |
| Length | 8.618 km (5.355 miles) |
| Race lap record | 2:55.400 ( Giacomo Agostini, MV Agusta 500 Three, 1968, 500cc) |
The first race was held on 26 May 1927 on an 8.618 km (5.355 mi) 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 180 km/h (110 mph) 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 3.517 km (2.185 mi) 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.[1]
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 3.671 km (2.281 mi). 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.
- Original Circuit (1927–1990)
- Grand Prix Circuit (1998–1999)
- Grand Prix Circuit (2001–2002)
- Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
| # Wins | Rider | Years won* |
|---|---|---|
| 11 |  Marc Márquez |
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 |
*German motorcycle Grand Prix was not held in 2020.
- Current
- May: Sidecar World Championship, IDM Superbike Championship [de], Northern Talent Cup
- July: Grand Prix motorcycle racing German motorcycle Grand Prix, MotoE World Championship German eRace, Northern Talent Cup
- August: MZ-Cup [de] – 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.[2]
- September: Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, Protoype Cup Germany [de]
- Former
- ADAC Formula 4 (2015–2017, 2019, 2021)
- ADAC GT Masters (2007–2023)
- Formula BMW ADAC (2000–2002)
- FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup (2022)
- 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)
As of June 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Sachsenring are listed as:
| Year | Spectators | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 142,000 | |
| 1999 | 151,000 | + 6.34% |
| 2000 | 161.000 | + 6.62% |
| 2001 | 177,000 | + 9.94% |
| 2002 | 184,500 | + 4.24% |
| 2003 | 204,000 | + 10.57% |
| 2004 | 207,745 | + 1.84% |
| 2005 | 216,457 | + 4.19% |
| 2006 | 219,848 | + 1.57% |
| 2007 | 226,944 | + 3.23% |
| 2008 | 221,492 | - 2.40% |
| 2009 | 214,711 | - 3,06% |
| 2010 | 224,668 | + 4.64% |
| 2011 | 230,133 | + 2.4% |
| 2012 | 195,695 | - 15% |
| 2013 | 204,491 | + 4.5% |
| 2014 | 209,408 | + 2.4% |
| 2015 | 211,588 | + 1% |
- "DTM Zurück Auf dem Sachsenring". Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- "2008 Sachsenring German F3 - Round 15". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "2017 ADAC Formula 4 Sachsenring Race 2 Statistics". Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- "ADAC GT Masters Sachsenring 2017". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- "2011 Sachsenring FIA GT - Round 4". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "ADAC Masters Weekend Sachsenring 13.05.2011 - 15.05.2011 ADAC Formel Masters Ergebnis Rennen 1" (PDF). 14 May 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- "2022 Porsche Cup Deutschland Sachsenring (Race 1)". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- "2023 IDM Sachsenring IDM Superbike 1000 Race 1" (PDF). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- "2023 IDM Sachsenring IDM Supersport Race 1" (PDF). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- "ADAC TCR Germany Sachsenring 2018 Race 1 Results" (PDF). 8 September 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- "2022 ADAC GT4 Germany Race 1 Sachsenring" (PDF). 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- "FIA ETCR - Race of Germany 23-25 September 2022 Pool Fast - Semi Final 2 300 kW - 40s. PU Final Ranking". 25 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- "2023 IDM Sachsenring IDM Supersport 300 Race 2" (PDF). 14 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- "2021 Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland Northern Talent Cup Race 2 Classification" (PDF). 20 June 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- "2001 Sachsenring German F3 - Round 7". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "DTM 2002 » Sachsenring Round 4 Results". Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- "2002 Formula BMW ADAC Sachsenring (Race 1)". 1 June 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- "2001 Porsche Cup Deutschland Sachsenring". 17 June 2001. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- "ADAC SPARKASSENPREIS SACHSENRING 9.LAUF DEUTSCHE FORMEL-3-MEISTERSCHAFT ERGEBNIS RENNEN 1" (PDF). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- "DTM 2000 » Sachsenring Round 7 Results". Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- "ADAC-PREIS DES MDR SACHSENRING 5.LAUF DEUTSCHE FORMEL-3-MEISTERSCHAFT ERGEBNIS RENNEN 1" (PDF). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- "STW Cup 1999 » Sachsenring Round 2 Results". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "ADAC-PREIS DER FREIE PRESSE SACHSENRING 6.LAUF DEUTSCHE FORMEL-3-MEISTERSCHAFT ERGEBNIS RENNEN 2" (PDF). Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- "STW Cup 1997 » Sachsenring Round 8 Results". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- "XVIII Internationales Sachsenringrennen". Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- "XV Internationales Sachsenringrennen". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- "II Sachsenringrennen". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- Wolfgang Hallmann: Das war der Sachsenring – Geschichte und Gegenwart einer legendären Rennstrecke; Chemnitzer Verlag, Chemnitz; 1996; ISBN 3-928678-32-9
