German Grand Prix tix questions

You are right that they won't send the tickets until 2 weeks before the race. Can you have the tickets sent to a friend who can then post/courier them on to wherever you are in Europe?

Just found this:

Would this help? I found it here: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ticketshop.php

 

I e-mailed [email protected] and asked them about your situation. Here is the reply I recieved:

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

Looks like you can http://www.hockenheimring.de/index_1.html

I have heard of F1 tickets being counterfeited, but I've never heard of anyone having a problem using them!
You will be able to just turn up on the day and buy a ticket from a tout (although I haven't been to the German GP). If you are willing to wait until 30 minutes before the race starts you should get one cheap.

 

We have purchased European tickets in several ways. Directly from the circuit (often times the lower priced tickets) - San Marino could have been a pick-up at the track but we had them send then via DHL instead; we've used www.gpticketshop.com on many occasions and have always been pleased with their service and last year we had our tickets for San Marino delivered directly to our hotel in Modena (I don't remember the source right off hand - no gpticketshop - but we were in communication via email and phone). There are several ways to get your tickets. Incidently, we got our Hockheim tickets via gpticketshop and had wonderful seats in Nordtribune B at the end of the pits and into the first turn and also across from a large tv.

Carol

 

I went there a few years ago, was told I could buy a ticket at the track. There was plenty available from scalpers, but none at the ticket office at the track - it was a sell out, and this was on the Saturday. I just wasn't game to pay several hundred dollars and not be let in the gate because I'd bought a forgery.

You can get a train from Frankfurt to the town of Hockenheim, though if your German isn't good it's not super easy. Problem is, the track is a fair way from the town. I took a taxi there, forget the fare but it wasn't cheap.

All around the track it's mayhem, so make sure you have lots of time.

Hope you get there, it'll be one hell of a race to see!

 

We stayed at the Best Western in Neirstein - about 96 km from Hockheim. Lovely place on the Rhine River. Very easy, beautiful and fun drive (especially when you encounter the no speed limit sign and you're in a go fast MB) to the circuit. As an extra bonus, the town was having their annual "Wine Festival" so naturally we partook in that in the evening! Lots of food, bought a "sampling glass" and visited the various booths and had a few bottles of wine at great prices! We had absolutely no problems with parking (we always rent cars on overseas trips) nor access to the track. A word of caution is to be headed out very early on race day - lots of traffic but that's common place anywhere. Where we parked was a short walk to the entrance near where we were seated. The nice thing about Hockheim is that each section has it's own restrooms and concession areas (unlike Spa where often times the closest tree suffices as a port-a-potty). The "shopping" area was down past the hotel which is located on the circuit (Best Western) and past the park area. Our seats were wonderful but not under cover (this was two years ago when Europe was having that major heat wave). I'd go back in a heartbeat - in fact we still haven't ruled it out this year. Something else to consider is taking soft drinks/H2O/sandwiches or whatever in your backpack to the circuit.

Just a suggestion on the translation - go to one of the "free language translator" sites and copy past stuff from the circuit site (if it permits you to copy) and it will translate for you. (www.freetranslation.com) - that may help too! Fortunately, German is a pretty easy language to comprehend.

Best of all, enjoy yourself - and have fun in Italy too! (Another one of our most favorite countries!).

Carol

 

Nope, never got to see the race which still hurts when I think back about all the effort I made to get there at the time. I ended up hearing qualifying start from outside the track before trudging off home. It was a long day without a single F1 car being seen :-(

I stayed with a girl friend in a town out of Frankfurt. Frankfurt is a big city, I'd expect there would be no shortage of accomodation there at all.

There is also a huge camping area near the track. I have no idea about how you'd actually stay there. I walked around it for a while, because it was an amazing sight in itself. The Tifosi were staying there in force, and there were huge caravans with TV's and huge beer can piles in front of many. Not to mention the porn and Schumacher posters stuck on some of the vans! It's quite a place.

If I was going to go again, and I want to, I'll certainly be more organised and have both the tickets and accomodation taken care of well in advance. I'd also be cautious about listening to the advice of people who were there "a few years ago" - hey that includes me now!

 

For Best Western hotels go to : www.bestwestern.com

Age might be a factor for you just being 21 (I think 25 is the magic age). We usually rent from Avis and have rented from Hertz. Just go to their respective websites for all the details on age requirements. Absolutely no problem driving - in fact the problem is having to put up with the Texas drivers when we get home. Major rule of the road is NEVER stay in the far inside lane - that's definitely passing only or staying with your left turn signal on signaling that you are fast and remaining there. We have left lane passing only signs on our interstates here but no one seems to adhere to them. In Germany you're a prime candidate for a ticket if you are driving too slow on the autobahn. Car rentals are not cheap like here. We definitely get all the insurance and the VAT is usually high.

Enjoy your visit!!

Carol