#7
Every great undertaking follows a vision...
At the beginning of Saxony-Anhalt’s race and testing track’s success story was – literally – a maize field. Typical for the Börde region in the mid nineties, agriculture dominated the scene around the town Oschersleben at the heart of Saxony-Anhalt, now with a population of around 15,500.
But an ambitious and unique project, planned for years, was already waiting at the starting line: The creation of the MOTOPARK Oschersleben. On around 1 million square metres, the third permanent race track in Germany at the time was built in just one year.
After the symbolic turning of the soil ceremony on 5th April 1995, the opening was celebrated on 25th July 1997. Approximately €58 million were invested.
The beginning of construction on the 8th July 1996
The contractor responsible for the construction of the MOTOPARK was the company BUNTE Bau in Papenburg, who also took ownership of the premises in June 2005. For the architect involved, a race track construction was a new experience. Existing tracks were used as samples, always with the individual design of the MOTOPARK as a priority. The first half year was taken up by ground work. A total of more than 1.25 million cubic metres of Börde soil were moved in this time. For civil engineering works alone, more than 40,000 work hours were needed.
Up to the opening day in the summer of 1997, the contractors involved braved the extraordinary workload fantastically. They tarmaced a 3.667 kilometre long circuit, built a total of 14 bends and a 680 metre long start and finishing straight. For safety reasons, double and triple crash barriers were installed, around 40,000 tyres stacked and screwed together, gravel beds filled, emergency paths built and safety fences errected.
A digital, remote controlled video monitoring system and a signal system consisting of 9 traffic light bridges along the track were installed. The area was filled with a total of approximately 20 kilometres of electric cables and fibreglass wiring, 15 kilometres of waste water pipes and 4.5 kilometres of water supply. The workers put down 12,400 square metres of plaster and spread 87,000 cubic metres of gravel.
But more was yet to be done...
The on site 4 star hotel with 88 double rooms and suites, as well as the 1,018 metre long karting track with its own pits were integrated in the plans from the outset. The karting track was designed to double up for parking space and was extended with a challenging offroad part, suitable for Supermoto events, for instance, later on. Helicopter landing pad and medical centre are in immediate proximity. The generously sized drivers camp provides space for the teams on 60,000square metres.
The approach of the MOTOPARK premises are dominated by the start and finishing buiding with the tower. It accomodates race control, speaker and commentator places and the modern press centre with around 100 work places for journalists and photographers. Above the 29 pits, there was plenty of room for numerous office rooms, the VIP lounges and the hotel’s bistro.
Strict construction supervision
The FIA as higher authority closely monitored and supervised the entire construction. As the equipment needs to conform with international regulations, a control officer was appointed by the FIA. Roland Bruynseraede, former race director of the DTM, made regular visits to the site to supervise the building process.
The Opening
The first event held, attended by numerous invited guests and sceptical members of the media was the Ferrari Challenge. Just one week later, the GTP weekend took place, followed by the premiere event of the BERU Top 10. New events were added continuously, each annual diary filling up. Now, the track is used on more than 280 days annually, under the motto: post season really is pre season.
Take over of the race track
The largest meaningful economic change was experienced on the 10th January 2002, when the MOTOPARK applied for bankruptcy at the regional court in Magdeburg. Usage of the facilities continued unharmed and track management continued to book high ranking racing events such as the DTM right up to the official insolvency in 2005.
In June 2005, a consortium around the BUNTE Bau enterprise from Papenburg in Emsland stepped in as new owners of the premises. Mid season, the re-naming to the „Motorsport Arena Oschersleben“ was realised with all the consequences.
Remodelling and extension of the track
Exactly 10 years after the opening, the 3.667 kilometre long track was altered. Since March 2007, the circuit measures 3.696 kilometres. The largest construction work was done at the alterations to the first bend. Here, the start and finishing straight was changed and now follows a 90 degree curve followed by a bend to the right back into the old track. Additionally, new tarmac was laid and an additional gravel bed was installed. At the so called Triple, the triple left bend in the north west stands area, roll out zones were levelled, extended and partly tarmaced. The tarmac area allows pilots to ease back into the race after an unplanned exit from the track, enhancing safety for the participants and excitement for spectators.
Source
Oschersleben
Warm up: 8 laps
Q1 and Q2: 5 laps
Race: 40 laps
? i just imagine its either maybe a car difference of 1 pixel and then both were crossing the line within same pixel, but lanz with more speed and something like 0.x pixels in front, which is just not visible on the screen.
Fail cup for me sorry audi guys!
Popowitch was a bit faster but...he was overlapped by me..
but still i'm epic happy was about time to score a podium for the BMW's! FORZA MILAN AND FORZA ROSSI! watching both on 2 screens! 
No wonder theres no new guys showing up...i say again, who knows how many new guys "we lost" while this issue is there!!!