By 2.842 miles long, the Hockenheimring circuit which first opened in 1932, boasts a long-storied racing history, containing F1, motorcycle Grand Prix races.
It we look back at some of the famous winner from past GP races here, we find the names of TT legends like John Surtees, Ernst Degner, Gary Hocking, Hugh Anderson, Carlo Ubbialli, Tarquinio Provini, Jim Redman, Lugi Taveri, Mike Hailwood, Ralph Bryans, Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Hans Georg Anscheidt, Dave Simmonds or Frantisek Stastny.
Last Saturday taking place at the same time as BeNeLux Trophy (Croix-En-Ternois), 24 Heures Motos events, Hockenheimring hosted the DLC (Deutscher Langstrecken Cup) season opener, the 1000 Kilometres of Hockenheim.
Ten times IRRC race winner and 2024 IRRC Superbike Champion, David ‘Datziii’ Datzer appears in the results sheets before his trips next month to Czechia (Stare Mesto and Horice, overall lap record holder of these meetings) and Isle of Man (fastest German TT rider in history).
The cheerful Bavarian road-racer, fresh from extravagant record-breaking performances at Landshaag two weeks ago, competed with Team Harley Davidson Bagger Racing (plus Harley Davidson Sportster S ‘Project Lap Record’ by Dr Jekill & Mr Hyde) aside another experienced German IRRC rider, stunt riding pieces showman, Thilo Gunther.
Datzer, Gunther (start number 131) astride an H-D Road Glide ST Harley, also raced by third team rider Christoph Lietsch clocked up 104 laps before the race’s end but were not classified in the end.
Final race result also includes names like Felix ‘El Klincko’ Klinck (known for his starts in German Twin Trophy races at Frohburger Dreieck), Dirk Walter (IRRC participant) and team-mate of former IDM Champion Martin Bauer for his race, riding Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 ST metal, Markus Barth.
He is a previous TT rider from 2005, multiple Macau Grand Prix entrant and in 2007, took part in the 300 Curves of Gustav Havel, Horice Superbike race, holding back then the magic starting number 666. This plate is known in road racing circles for its association with Peter Hickman’s Trooper Triumph.
For added context about Bagger racing, this is a style of racing, catering for motorcycles weighing around 250 kilograms, born of course in the United States of America. It’s been popularised through participation of former Grand Prix rider, Northwest 200 winner Jeremy McWilliams (2022, 2023 King of The Baggers entrant with Indian Motorcycles) plus ex World Superbike, Moto GP riders Loris Baz and UK’s Bradley Smith in Moto America affiliated events.
A European Bagger series is also expected in-the near future, under the patronage of another ex WSBK/Moto GP rider, Ruben Xaus.
Returning to the DLC topic, the 2025 series continue with DLC2 4 Hours of Autodrom Most (6th July), DLC3 – 300 Miles of Hockenheim (17th August) and finale at DLC4 – 6 Hours of Oschersleben (11th October).
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Jan Vavra
