Spielberg will provide new test for Formula One drivers

Only four drivers have race-day experience on historic track, which is hosting the Austrian Grand Prix for first time since 2003.

Scottish McLaren-Mercedes driver David Coulthard steers his car on the Spielberg racetrack on May 16, 2003 during the first qualifying session two days before the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix. AFP PHOTO / MICHAEL KAPPELERShow less

SPIELBERG, Austria // Formula One racing will get an extra whiff of excitement and novelty this weekend when it returns to Austria after a decade-long absence.

Home to champions like Niki Lauda and Jochen Rindt, as well as the dominant team in recent seasons – Red Bull Racing – Austria will once again welcome the cream of F1 drivers at Spielberg on Sunday, on a circuit steeped in history but unfamiliar to many.

The last time the small alpine country hosted a Grand Prix was in 2003, when Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher grabbed his second consecutive win there, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello.

Raikkonen will be one of four drivers with race-day experience on this track on Sunday, alongside Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Jenson Button, who finished fourth in 2003.

For all others, the 4.3-kilometre Red Bull Ring circuit, nestled among green hills in southern Austria, will be a test. “Although I’ve driven the circuit before, that was more than 10 years ago in Formula Three ... so it’s basically like starting from scratch for everyone on the grid,” leader Nico Rosberg of Mercedes said.

“Personally, I love that kind of challenge.”

Teammate Lewis Hamilton, who has been preparing in the simulator, was similarly eager to try a new track: “It’s always exciting to go to a new venue, so it should be an interesting weekend.”

Spielberg hosted its first Grand Prix in 1964 on a bumpy course, but it would be years before the event returned in 1970, this time on a purpose-built track, the Oesterreichring (Austria Ring).

The 1984 race featured the venue’s sole home win so far, when Austrian Lauda finished first despite gearbox problems, on his way to nabbing his third and last championship title.

Dropped from the F1 circuit in 1987, Spielberg made another comeback in 1997 for seven editions.

The series included the infamous 2002 race, when Ferrari ordered leader Barrichello to let teammate Schumacher take the victory, helping him to the season title.

Keen to get a Grand Prix again, Red Bull took over the track in 2004 and redeveloped it, promising to inject money into the region.

The result is “a short track, with only a few turns, but it’s very challenging,” said the team’s four-time champion, Sebastian Vettel.

“There are also a lot of elevation changes, which makes it interesting and fun. The fans will have a great time.”

Rival teams, however, will have to race in the shadow of the Austrian energy-drinks company: the stands are in the team’s colours and the track loops around a massive bull sculpture.

A turn named after Lauda – now non-executive chairman at Red Bull’s rivals Mercedes – was also renamed, to his dismay.

Over 220,000 spectators are expected between Friday and Sunday, with race day alone set to draw 95,000 fans.

The event is known as much for the party atmosphere off the track – with crowds of fans camping in the surrounding fields – as for the race itself and tickets have been sold out for months.

Local hotels have long been fully booked and rooms in private homes have been fetching a good price.

“Spielberg is a historic track, like Hockenheim, Nuerburgring, Spa, Monza or Silverstone,” Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff said. “They belong to F1. They’re the DNA, the backbone of F1.

“I hope we will race there for a long time.”

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