Kimi is the only current F1 driver who has raced there :P

The old banking at Monza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Reims in France the old pit lane is still there! Brooklands!!!!!!! This series could be immense

I wonder what's left of the Österreichring today, and the Turkish GP.

Feel like I’m watching top gear! Love it!!!

Jim Clark - still the greatest F1 driver of all time. Even Senna looked up to him as his idol. RIP

For the next track you need a drone to view the old track

I remember the old Hockenheim Ring, especially Mika Hakkinen describing the counterpoint of the stadium section that felt like a football game, followed by the long straights that make you think you're the loneliest man in the world(ah, those Finns ^^ ) and then the breaking form 300+km/h to something around 60 where you have a feeling that the car would just roll over - to the detail that the breaking force would be so heavy that a drop of eye fluid could fly out of your eye to the inside of the visor ... ah good memories. Thanks for that. also, maybe next time bring a drone? :)

I can’t wait for this series to continue. Brooklands and the ones in France that Will Buxton drove by need doing

Matt I totally get it, you have driven thousands of laps around that track virtually (like me) and now you get to do it for real, in a supercar, emotional... glad you are living the dream and i get to live it through you, so thanks i appreciate it.

Production and camera work of this is awesome guys! Keep it up!

There's also a marker for Clark at the spot he died, but it's hard to find.

Its like watching a kid in a candy store. Beautiful.

If I could go back in time, I’d definitely go see a race at the old Hockenheim track and sit in the forest section. It’s absolutely amazing that an F1 track raced through a forest! Shame they had to change it, though.

It’s annoys me how close everything is together in Europe. 7 hours from the UK to Hockenheim??? It takes 8 hours (without traffic) for me to drive from Long Island to Buffalo, and that’s just across New York State!

Why weren't you considered when Top Gear went out of presenters? The work you do and the camera-production work is amazing. Keep up, Matthew!

Can't wait to see the same video for Spa ! Great job guys, keep going 🙂

This is NOT how you drive around roundabouts in Germany 😉✌🏼 3:35

This video was amazing! I would love to see you guys explore more defunct tracks in the future! I also love how Matt was grinning like a little kid while Rory was scared to death while you guys were driving the track.

RIP Jim Clark and Bert Hawthorne

Nice! Went several times for a jopgging lap at the old Hockenheim circuit. Also to mention: What is shown in the video is only the officail Jim Clark Memorial. The real one (the sport where the accident occured) is only accesable by foot deep in the woods, where is a very tiny second memorial.

Amazing! Please go to the old Spa.

Spain has also got old circuits around Catalonia in the northwest. An oval, Sitges circuit, and two city circuits in Barcelona, Pedralbes Circuit and Montjuic Circuit

Deaths like Jim Clarke is probably a reason why current F1 drivers rarely do another races outside of F1 because Jim died while doing a F2 race.

Next up: Sudschleife! Please haha!

My question is why did they have to destroy the rest of the old track? Imagine if Nurburgring destroyed the Nordschleife when they built the GP circuit.

Quality, quality content! The research, the presentation and the editing are all great! Please go on with this series for a long time!

A lovely, nostalgic look at a classic track. I hope this becomes a semi-regular feature. Thanks for posting from an old-timer, whose first Grand-Prix was Jackie Stewart winning in Holland at Zandvoort.

What about the Österreichring guys? I love this format and seeing my home track and the history portrayed by you guys would be amazing

I Remember the old ring and loved it and wish it was still there Loving this series cannot wait to see the tracks you go too next

There was always something very special about Hockenheim as a circuit. Loved how it used to mix up the championship with the makers that were suited to it and used to gravitate to driving it on the first PC games when I was a young man. One day I will visit there myself to pay my own personal tribute to this place.

I have to say Matt the reason I like your show so much is because of your passion for the sport For Your Love of its history and for its great sacrifice of those men who lost their lives trying to prove how fast they were I think it's really cool

Instant like 👍🏻 my grandpa used to fly his plane over the old “Ostkurve” during the late 60’s and early 70’s while the f1 races where going on. I’ve unfortunately been born much later but I’ve first been to the track when I was 3, and I’ve been there every year since. I really love this track dearly. Thanks for this video and exploring the old parts as well!

I remember playing this version of the circuit on F1 Career Challenge on the PS2. Thought it was way more fun than the current version!

Go to the old spa francochamp circuit

This video made me cry , I m 18 I m a race engineering for my formula student team , I m just 18 n I haven't seen the old tracks n how dangerous and bravely sport was f1 , by watching this I feel the rush n proud to be a racer n hopeing that in the coming future I will be there chasing my goals , n my favorite Track is spa francorchamps

So I'm remarkably stoned right now so bear with me. I'm an American and I'm completely and utterly new to F1. Started first paying attention part way through the 2019 season and Hockenheim was the first time I caught the entire race weekend. (The first race I ever saw was Baku 2018 where Verstappen and Ricciardo crashed into each other but I didn't actually decide to start watching until Hockenheim the next year. There's a story behind why I watched Baku but that's for another time.) When Friday practice was over, fairly early in the morning here in the US, I went out and bought F1 2019 and a racing wheel and jumped in and immediately played a 100% race at Hockenheim to become familiar with the track for the weekend. Creating a new tradition I plan to carry through the rest of my time watching F1. The reason I mentioned I was stoned was that this made me a little emotional. Particularly the moments you were actually driving on track. I imagined myself there driving on what is one of my favorite tracks if only for the reason that it was my first full race weekend. I'm sure many people have much deeper ties to their own favorites but this one got to me a little, probably with the assistance of my drugs. Lol. A bit silly to be emotional over a sport I haven't even seen a full season of but that's just who I am.

Oval Monza and historic Spa would be great. I really like historic Le Mans Circuit and historic Silverstone but they are all messed up now.

Please bring the series back! I'd love for you guys to visit spa

The only F1 race I ever attended was the German Grand Prix of 1988 at Hockenheim. I was young naive US GI who hadn't done any research before setting out for the race and had no idea what a ticket would cost. I arrived and found that if I wanted to have any gas-money to get home, the Ostkurve was the only ticket I could afford. I bought the ticket and set off on the long hike through the woods. Getting out to the 'Kurve was an interesting journey, hiking along with many other race-fans, all of us full of excitement and anticipation! We could hear the PA system through the trees as it played music and various announcements. Finally, I found myself out at the sandy slope of the Ostkurve where I was a little dismayed to learn that there were no seats. No matter, and I soon appreciated being able to walk around and see things from different angles- especially since I had a camera with me! It rained at one point and I made a hat out of a plastic bag to at least keep my head dry. The race itself was surreal. I was used to watching F1 on TV, where you see everything. For this race, I heard the PA announcer call the important parts of the action, heard roaring engines in the distance, and then every now and then the cars would flash by in front of me. The anticipation was crazy that first time I heard them coming down the straight, waiting for my first glance at real, in-person F1 cars in action, driven by men I'd only seen on TV. It was truly a great experience! And I still treasure the pictures I took that day. Most are a little poorly-exposed, not professional-perfect by any means, but the capture things like one of the Lotus-Fords (Piquet?) having a little bump in the chicane, Reigning world champ Alain Prost going into the dirt and making the longest rooster-tail I've ever seen as he gave it the beans to get back on-pavement, an 'analog selfie' I took by aiming my 35mm at myself to get a shot of my bag-hat (actually came out pretty good!), and probably my favourite, a shot of three rain-soaked British fans wrapped in a big Union Flag, upon which they'd stitched crudely-cut white letters that spelled out MANSELL GIVES PIQUET THE HUMP. You can see the jubilation and excitement on their faces- they were clearly just happy to be there, a feeling I completely shared. I wonder where those guys are today. And so today when I see the pictures of the Ostkurve being reclaimed by nature, I feel a certain sadness, and I want to go there and just sit on the sandy slope and squint my ears just right to hear the ghosts of the past, maybe even walk down onto where the tarmac was and imagine them screaming past me.

Do Imola. A fantastic old circuit that was a challenge to the drivers. It was also the scene of one of the most epic battles between Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. Not to mention the fact that it took 2 racing drivers in one weekend and threatened to take a third.

I went to the 1981 German GP and sat on the Ostkurve. It was a long walk from the stadium and it was a baking hot day. But there was at truck full of cold beer when we got there. And a sausage stall. And out on the track were legends such as Villeneuve, Pironi, Reutemann, Jones, Laffite and more.

I attended the 1981 German GP, part of my "'81 World Racing Circus Tour" That was the finale. LeMans, Jarama, Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Spa, Hockenheim. Piquet bested Jones and the two Renaults. Spent most of the race at the Ost Kurve.

100% this needs to be a long lasting series. Amazing work.

Did they really need to rip up the old track why could they not have just kept it but add the new layout.

So cool that you made a video of the Hockenheimring which is my hometown! Living in Hockenheim and not noticing you were there... sad... BUT love how you like and feel the emotion of the track and history which is linked to the racetrack and the town. Hope you had a great time here.

Wow this series will be like abandoned circuits of the past, but with actual live commentary. Can't wait!

Hope you guys do more of these they are so interesting!

What an amazing, lovely video. Your passion is really touching!

I really wish they just updated the original track to fit what the FIA wanted. the Original Hockenheimring was amazing. at least we still get the original stadium section. A few years ago I actually managed to sneak onto the track's grand stand at the start finish line. Hockenheim, tho not as good as the original layout, will always be one of my favorite tracks.

You also should've visited the corner in the west directly located in Hockenheim. But still, great vid!

Sad but special video...Still it´s "shocking" too see the how the old section of the track looks like even though the change didn´t happen that long ago.. Top job WTF1 :)

Matt, love your genuine enthusiasm and excitement in this series of videos. Thank you wtf1 for making them.

The Jim Clarke memorial is actually placed right in the middle of the road... where the road was that is... Also the tour guide was wrong. The Senna chicane was located on the current track. Roughly at the end of the strip of red run-off on the outside kerbing after the hairpin, that's about where the entry into the Senna chicane was... There is of course absolutely nothing left to suggest it was there though.

I love the Hockenheim track it has it all.

Great content! Loved every second of it

We need another track like this

Roy Hesketh race track in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The track was abandoned, then rebuilt about ten years ago and is now mostly a place where the residents in the area jog and walk their dogs. Top quality tarmac though!

Valencia Street Circuit, the story behind the circuit's fallout is amazing.

you should bring this series back

Loved this video. I was a the Grand Prix here this summer so seeing some of the history is great. Please do more of this series. Would love to see more of the old Monza track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. does this same thing in America called “Lost Speedways” where they visit old abandoned NASCAR tracks. This is an awesome idea and very cool! Make more make more!

Hey WTF1 one of your best videos yet! Enjoy it everyday Matt!

I love how much you sound exactly like I do if I'm ever lucky enough to drive my road car on an F1 circuit. I get how insanely privileged you feel and how ridiculously funny it is just to be allowed there.

Brooklands, brands hatch , donnington, the old Austrian circuit. Oh so many and you could still do current tracks with forgotten sections

Now this is my kind of series, more of this please! Some suggestions: Reims, North Wilkesboro Speedway, 14km Spa, Valencia Street Circuit

105 likes 0 dislikes!! Amazing ratio and tells the story of how the videos are quality guys!!

I remember watching Scott Russell & Doug Polen race there in world Superbike. Also Mick Dohan, Wayne Raney, & Kevin Schwantz race 500 GP there. I've also driven the old circuit in a couple sims. I hated being passed on the very long streights if I was in a car w/ lower top speed (which i generally prefer overal) w/ absolutely nothing I could do about it. So frustrating. The modern track is also high speed but not nearly as bad as the old track w/ that, at least now you can stay close, in the draft if you get a good drive off the previous corner.

This is honestly one of the biggest things on my bucket list is to travel around to current and abandoned tracks and explore the history and importance of each track.

I didn't expect the "track" looking like this. I actually thought they keept it intact for other races or the public like the Nordschleife. Interesting and nice to see the made biotopes and room for wildlife instead.

The end minutes got right me right in the feels

I once stopped at a random filling station while delivering something for work. Then I read something "Tankstelle Hockenheimring..." Immediately I started walking around the greenery, looking if I could see the Hockenheimring anywhere. But I didn't find it. Obviously I didn't have the time to wander around during worktime. At least I kept the receipt from the filling station. Maybe another day.

Please turn this into a serie where you explore tracks that used to be in F1 and now They are forgotten like Estoril, dijon-prenois, The old spa francochamps i dont know. Love your channel

A pleasure to watch this video! Thanks a lot

Please, please, please, please, please more of this series! Please!

There is actually another Jim Clark Memorial in the woods (where the original memorial was, before the makeover), there is still a memorialplate on the ground. This one was moved out to the new track, so people wouldn't have to go into the forest.

one of the best series ever

Thanks for giving it some thoughts, but to be honest, I expected much much more when I started the video. It is really worth taking a walk around the former first two long straights along the Jim Clark chicane (the gravel trap is still there) and further along the Hardtbachdamm which automatically leads You to the Ostkurve. I appreciate Your efforts, but there's far better videos with th same topic here.

40 seconds in and I already want more of this type stuff!!!!

1st Barricello win in 2000 is probably my favorite F1 race.

Monza and those old bankings next please

Best Channel! Thank you so much

Make more of thos vids pls🙏🙏

Would like someone to explore where the track was in the town, pre-65. I think it's Heidelburger Strasse and Ernst-Wilhelm-Sachs-Strasse. Wonder if there are any traces at all of motor racing use.

The Nordschleife (altough it's still active), Monza, AVUS in Berlin.. There's so much potential for this series. Spa was also a huge track way back, that would be so great

One of the saddest things f1 did was abandon the old layout . I always used the love watching the races

Red Bull Ring. Because Austria is Germany's neighbor.

Old Hockenheim was one of my favourite track with Imola. Sad that they change it but glad that the forest is reclaming it.

I have to drive 1h to the Ring but every time I see a video about it I want to be there just because I love it

love stuff like this

do one of Imola, just because it's an awesome track.

Petition to bring this series back in 2022 please :)

Great video as always!

Maybe AVUS or Pescara, from back in the 50s, the banking on AVUS was insane and Pescara is still the longest F1 circuit ever used.

Dude your doing a great job, keep up bringing those amazing good video's!!! Gimme more!!!

old fuji banking, the old suzuka layout, old spa layout. finding pescara circuit.... the list may be endless have fun in japan.. :3

not an f1 track but,.. it would be awesome to see the old Le mans track that went into the city of le mans that was used in the 1920s.

Superb, glad I stumbled to this channel

Got to meet Ali at Exotics on Cannery Row this year!!! Huge fan of the channel. Keep it up boys. Can't wait for each new video.

The old track was so beautiful!

As always....a great, entertaining video ....thank you!!!