Oschersleben

• Oschersleben Track History

Germany's third permanent race circuit after the Nürburgring and Hockenheim, Oschersleben became the first such facility in the former East Germany when it opened in 1997. It has become a staple part of the German motorsport scene and has also enjoyed an occasional international focus.

The main pit buildings sat in front of a generous paddock area and featured 29 garages, above which lay numerous office rooms, VIP lounges and a bistro. The adjoining race control tower boasted sophisticated digital remote controlled video monitoring system to ensure safe running of events and also contained the commentator boxes and a modern press centre with around 100 work places for journalists and photographers. Adjacent to the pit facilities sat an 88 room 4 star hotel, the circuit developers mindful that accommodation would be at a premium in the this rural part of Germany.

Construction was completed by the summer of 1997, ready for Motopark Oschersleben's inaugural race meeting in July. By 2002 the finances of the operating company were becoming stretched, as the reality of running a track became apparent. Debts owed to creditors soon mounted and on 10 January 2002 the Motopark applied for bankruptcy at the regional court in Magdeburg.

By summer 2005, the Motopark was finally declared insolvent and new owners were sought. Into the breach stepped a consortium which included Bunte Bau, the contractors who had built the facility, who took ownership in June 2005.

Renaming the circuit as the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, the first significant updates to the circuit came under the new ownership in 2007. In a bid to spice up the racing and aid overtaking a new re-profiled first turn was debuted.

Further Information

Wikipedia

Racing Circuit Info