Formula One news

Da Matta misses old Hockenheim

Cristiano da Matta misses Hockenheim's old F1 layout. The Brazilian raced an F3000 charger twice on the 'special track' which was entirely made up of massive straights, chicanes, and the stadium section.

Now, after '01 revisions, only the impressive stadium section remains. ''It had very particular characteristics,'' Toyota's ace recalled.

''... completely different to the [new] one, which is safe but it's just a normal track - like any other. To drive around it is comparatively easy.''

The old track was fabled for staging exciting races but da Matta insists the new Hockenheim actually 'compares favourably' with other tracks for overtaking. 

''We have a long straight [here],'' he said, ''into a hairpin. It makes a very good overtaking point.''

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