Full throttle ratio	58%
Top speed race	291 km/h
Longest flat-out section	11 sec / 750m
Right-/left-hand turns	8/6
Tyre wear	medium / high
Brake wear	high
Downforce level	very high
Gearshifts per lap	50

Circuit Review: Hungaroring
Although Hungary had hosted a grand prix as early as the 1930s, the onset of the second world war and the Cold War meant that the country would not see the return of motorsport until the 1960s.

By the 1980s, the desire to hold a Grand Prix behind the iron curtain had emerged when negotiations with the Soviet Union began in earnest with the intention of a race in Moscow. In 1983 the attention swayed toward Budapest in Hungary instead when the country’s national sporting authority doubled their efforts to reinstate the country’s position in international motorsports.

Though the original propositions included a street circuit for Budapest, it eventually gave way to the construction of a brand new circuit in a valley just outside of Budapest.

Construction began for the Hungaroring in 1985. A year later, the circuit opened its doors hosting its first Formula One race behind the Iron Curtain in August that same year, boasting a successful turnout of almost 200,000 spectators.

The tight and twisty circuit has come to develop a reputation for hosting some of the greatest races. The most memorable of these include Thierry Boutsen’s win in 1990 pipping the great Ayrton Senna and Damon Hill’s battle in an Arrows with Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari which saw the latter falter on the last lap from a mechanical failure denying him the victory in 1997.
 
The Hungaroring borders the small village of Mogyorod and lies just over 22km north-east of Budapest. It is accessible by road in the direction of Miskolc and by train from the Hungarian capital.  

The BMW Sauber F1 Team on the Hungarian Grand Prix:

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“The home race for BMW and our team is followed by a GP practically on Robert's doorstep. We are expecting large numbers of fans to travel to the race in Hungary from neighbouring Poland, just as they've done in the last few years. Robert made an impressive F1 debut at Budapest in 2006 in a wet and very turbulent race. Nick finished third that weekend, giving us our first ever podium and was third at the Hungaroring again in 2007. Last year, however, we had to be content with a single point from the race. Our aim at the last GP before the summer break is to return to successful ways in Hungary and put on a show not only for our Polish fans.” 
 

Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
“After Monaco, the Hungaroring has the lowest average speed of any circuit. One corner follows quickly after another and the start/finish straight is relatively short. Plus, no sooner is the sand cleared from the track one day than it is back again the next, and grip is consequently in short supply. Understeer is therefore a constant threat. As far as the car set-up is concerned, particular attention must be paid to the middle section with its variety of corner combinations. Another factor to consider is that the rear tyres are under heavy loads throughout the race.”

Robert Kubica:
“The 2008 GP was a difficult one for me. We were very slow and I didn’t have enough grip over the race as a whole. One point was better than nothing. There are sure to be a lot of Polish fans at Budapest again in 2009. Hungary is the closest GP to Poland, which makes it a bit like a home race for me. It was also where I had my first F1 race in 2006, so I have a special connection with the track. However, I like it for other reasons as well. You’re steering almost constantly, have barely any time for a rest and the straights are very short. The Hungaroring is a challenge, but that’s what F1 is all about.”