Development
Short, historycal review
At the of the 1980’s, when Bernie Ecclestone decided to bring one of the races of the Formula One World Championship to Hungary, the Championship’s greatest concern was to insure the acceptable safety of the races. In previous years and decades there were in average about 2 fatal accidents per year, which they couldn’t be resigned to accept.
FOCA started their war on two main fields: to get the cars’ safety and the tracks’ safety on to higher levels. This was the age of the first turbo-world championship (1983), and Mr Ecclestone being the owner of the Brabham-BMW team, also the boss of the world champion Mr Piquet, proved his right with tests that the BMW-Brabham is the world’s safest car in Formula One.
Of course it was natural that he kept his highest principles in sight during the planning of the Hungarian GP and three years later the building of the Hungaroring. Namely: slow, difficult, „city” tracks, where the highest standard of safety could prevail. Mr Ecclestone personally followed the planning while the building was in progress and Hungaroring became the track as we have know it until 2003 in line with his personal wishes.
Since the Hungaroring is finished, only one significant change has been made, in 1989, when they cut out („took out”, and the original cordon is still there, visible) one one of the curves from double S-curve, after the start-finish line, as it would have made the cars to slow down far too much.
There was another change which didnt alter the line of the circuit, was made in 1997, when they widened the start-finish line towards the grand stand , which resulted the boxes gaining more room.
The drivers never really favoured the Hungaroring, because of the its slowness and the races could only be completed after two hours of hard work. It was different with the advertisers, who could gain an extra 30 minutes of advertising time compared to other races. Bernie Ecclestone always stood by the Hungaroring and on more than one occassion the made a statement on TV, saying „The Hungaroring is the world’s best track!”. And it was, as never any accidents happened here worth mentioning.
The world has changed an awful lot during the last nearly 20 years.
Back at the beginning, the Hungaroring has been built to last (with a bit of luck) two contractual periods int he championship, which is 10 years. Nobody ever hoped for more than this. It is in its fifth „five year project” at the moment and very near in gaining the sixth. It only managed to get into this position because it went through a lot of re-constuctions in the last few years to keep up with the new millenium’s very harsh requirements, and because of this, virtually the whole track has been rebuilt. Only the track’s line stayed unchanged until 2003.
Projects for 2003
The Formula One has changed many times significantly during the last few decades.
Especially the cars’ construction and characteristics has changed during the last few years. Some tracks has been changed to some degree due to the „catastrophically” boring 2002 season in which the Ferrari’s domination was significant. This resulted in making new plans to reform the championship. The FIA and the FOM suggested to the Hungaroring Sport Zrt to make some changes so the track could be faster. This was the basis for the track’s reconstruction work, which was planned in two phases.
Two neuralgic points
The previous years’ races made it crystal clear that the Hungaroring has two neuralgic points from the Formula One races points of view.
One is the home straight, or rather the curve at the exit of the home straight (which is really two right-curves joined into one), and the other is at the other side of the track , the 12th curve and its surrondings behind the main building. The home straight wasnt long enough for for all the speed-differences to prevail for overtaking, and its exit curve’s arc was too big, so the drivers werent really forced for a powerful brake.
It became regular for cars to leave the track at the 12th curve, despite modifications made to it every year, and still the problem wasnt solved. Radical changes became necessary.
Modifications of the 1st curve
The modification’s first priority was to make the home straight longer, as well as developing the first curve under the regulations used to make these curves. By lengthening the home straight in combination with the tightening of the first curve, makes the overtaking easier for the drivers. The home straight became longer by 202 meters, with the the modifications, the curve’s radius, with a 145 degrees break, became 27 meters. Contrary to the track’s 14 meters width, the curve’s band width was made to 18 meters. The new segment of the track is 614 meters long. The modification affected the old track from the area of the Marlboro bridge to the overpass which was leading to the depot. It has also affected the whole area of the previous main entrance, respectively drawn in areas outside the track which border was the public road next to the MOL petrol station.
Modifications of the 12th curve
The modification meant that the old curve was relocated southwards by 170 meters, with the development of a tarmac area on the outside arc of the curve. With these changes applied, the straight preceding the curve, became significantly longer, taken into account a new curve’s developing regulations. This resulted int he increasing of the curve’s break (117 degrees) and the decrease of its radius (25 meters). This change has affected the track and its surroundings from the beginning of the 11th curve till the end of the 13th curve.
The area’s development has been extended to the 13th curve’s often critisized tarmac area, which had to be restructured.
Other restructuring works
As the result of the re-developing of the 1st curve, the previous main entrance had to be closed. A new one has been placed further out, near the MOL petrol station on the public road which is the continuation of the „Bernie Ecclestone Avenue”.
There is a new road leading from the main entrance of the Hungaroring through a tunnel (which is under the first curve) to the boxes, as well as to the areas of depot.
The Super Silver Grand Stand has been relocated next to the newly reconstructed start-finish line which gives the best spectator seats. This new Grand Stand became the Gold IV. New roads have been built so the spectators can reach the Grand Stand via a walkway from the public road.
Details of the new and the old track
The Hungaroring Sport Zrt. would like to finance from its own rescources, including bank credit, the whole re-construction work, which amounts to HUF 1 billion. The STRABAG company has been choosen to carry out the re-construction work at both corners.
The expenses which incurred for the planned reconstruction work, the Hungaroring Sport Zrt. wants to finance it from its own resources, including bank credit.
Due to the reconstruction work, which has been carried out with the agreement of FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) and FOM (Formula One Management Ltd.), also with the NSA, the Hungaroring race track’s home straight has been lengthened by 202 metres, which made the whole track 4381,08 meters long.
| till 2003 | nowadays | |
| Circuit length | 3971,8 meters | 4381,08 meters |
| Number of turns | 14 | 14 |
| Smallest radius | 20 meters | 20 meters |
| Largest radius | 400 meters | 400 meters |
| Elevation difference | 36 meters | 36 meters |
| Length of start-straight | 586,29 meters | 788,9 meters |
| Greatest slope | 6,2 % | 6,2 % |
| Larges decent | 7,0 % | 7,0 % |
Developments for 2008
Further developments have been carried out during 2008 to give better service to the teams and to modernize the track. This mainly included the paddock area, the service facilities and the building of a new route.
Reconstruction of the main building
1. New premises on the ground floor for commentators and sound engineers
2. New VIP waiting room for the winners behind the podium on the first floor
3. Outside restroom behind the tower building has been demolished
4. The insulation of the roof on the main building
Expansion of the boxes
1. 12 new boxes have been built with space for motorhomes behind it
2. 4 nex boxes (56-59) have been built without space for motorhomes
3. 2 passageways have been built (between boxes 23 and 34, and boxes 39 and 40) with:
- Staircase to the Paddock Club’s roof tent
- Mail and female restrooms (for the use of the Paddock Club and Paddock)
- Mail and female restrooms on the side of the box street
4. 1 passage box (after box no.55) with
- The usage of separate elevators for equipment and guests
- Staircase to the Paddock Club’s roof tent
- Male restroom on the side of the box street
- Passageway, which is 4,20 metres wide, for technical vehicles
The expansion of the upper depot
The new depot, which is located behind the new boxes, has been expanded with 2500 m2.
From this expansion they allocated an area of 440 m2 for the motorhomes. The whole area of the depot has been resurfaced with a drainage for the rainwater.
1. A ramp has been built to reach the new depot.
5. There are no light posts on the area of the depot (it can be divided as necessary), sunken lights provide lighting at the sides of the roads during the night.
Reconstruction of the lower depot
1. The ramp and the pavement leading from the lower depot to the supplementary race depot has been given a new surface
2. A new ramp has been built between the offical FIA car park to the road.
3. An area has been provided for a main generator to be used by the depot and the boxes.
4. A power distributor has been built at the entrance of the tunnel (under the depot).
5. A new fence has been built with concrete footing at the road on the lower depot’ level
Restaurant
A new room to be used as a restaruant, has been built with panoramic view to the track above the last 4 boxes (56-59) and the last passageway.
1. This is an air-conditioned, ventillated 336 m2 area.
2. A footbridge has been constructed between the above mentioned restaurant and the spectator’s area (this could be used by commentators, guests of the Paddock Club).
Level -1 (basement level)
On the level under the last 4 boxes (56-59) and the last box-passageway facilites have been constructed, which are:
1. Male and female restrooms and shower rooms
2. Boiler room, storage room
3. Staircase leading to the Paddock Club’s roof tent
4. 1 elevator with the capacity of 8 people
5. 1 elevator to carry equipment/people with a limit of 1000 kg or 12 people
6. The elevators operate between the basement and the restaurant’s top leve (4 floors)
Exit for the supplementary race depot
A ramp has been built for the Supplementary Race Depot (which is located at the 1st corner) to join it with the race track .
Track alterations (FIA regulations)
1. A new asphalt crash area has been built at the 14th corner (with a 75 m long, 2 m wide grass inlay)
2. New positive 5 cm curb has been built into the track at the 6th and 7th corner, (replacing the old positive stone curb which was 10 cm), with a concrete area behind it.
3. All together 550 meters of conveyor belt has been placed on rubber stands at various places
4. In addition to the existing start grids, 4 more has been painted on the track, so the pole position is 10 meters from the starting lights.
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