Formula 1 European Grand Prix History
History - Facts - Winners - Schedule - Circuit
The original Nurburgring, known as Nordschleife ran for an awe-inspiring 22.5 kilometres (14 miles). In the beginning, It was such a long and complicated run that drivers simply could not remember a racing line.
The Nurburgring was, two circuits: the Nordschleife and the Sudschleife. It was safety which sealed the demise of the legendary track. After Niki Lauda's horrible accident in 1976 in which he suffered terrible burns and the track’s license to hold Formula One races was withdrawn.
The track itself had major redevelopment to create a new circuit and in the spring of 1984 a race was held featuring 20 identical Mercedes 190Es and a grid composed of some of the best-ever Formula One drivers. Niki Lauda, Carlos Reutemann, Keke Rosberg, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, James Hunt, Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, Phil Hill, John Surtees and Denny Hulme were just a few of the names to take part. Senna, then a relative youngster, won from Lauda and Reutemann.
The European Grand Prix was held at the new track in 1984 and again in 1985, but it disappeared again after commercial difficulties. With the ascendancy of Michael Schumacher from nearby Kerpen, the track was once again back in Formula One in 1995. Posing as the Luxembourg Grand Prix for 1997 and 1998, it has, since then, taken the name of the European Grand Prix.
For the 2007 calendar the Grand Prix has once more changed names and location. This year it will be held at the Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit which is part of the most remarkable and demanding tracks in Formula One.