Hockenheim: Georg Seiler hands over the scepter
NEW MANAGEMENT The Hockenheimring is something of a home track for the German-Swiss motorsport team. As of September 1, Georg Seiler is handing over its management to a duo. Many Swiss motorsport drivers completed their training course at the Hockenheimring (they still do today) and then also their first racing kilometers. When the Swiss Automobile Championship still included circuit races, the Motodrom [...]
Many Swiss motor sportsmen completed their training course at the Hockenheimring (they still do today) and then also their first racing kilometers. When the Swiss Automobile Championship still included circuit races, the Motodrom Hockenheim was also the preferred venue for quite a few organizers such as the ACS or the no longer existing clubs SAR and FRC.
Unforgotten for the author are, for example, the SAR season-opening race, the ACS Prize of Nations, the FRC Gold Cup race (with well over 300 participants) and the FRC 3-hour race as a special season finale. Unfortunately, all of that is history.
The signs at the Hockenheimring point to change
Whether driver or organizer - quite a few came into contact with Georg Seiler on this occasion. After 41 years, he will be taking well-deserved retirement at the end of August. On September 1, Jochen Nerpel and Jorn Teske will jointly take over the management of Hockenheim-Ring GmbH. After an intensive recruitment process with more than 40 applicants, the shareholders decided on a dual leadership consisting of the two experienced executives, according to a statement.
An ex-racing driver at the dual helm
Jochen Nerpel has been Head of Engineering and Operations at Hockenheim-Ring GmbH since 2016. The 35-year-old engineer is responsible for and coordinates all infrastructural, constructional and technical projects within the company as well as track rental. He also knows motorsport from the other side: In his youth, the native of Sinsheim drove successfully in various kart and formula classes.
Jorn Teske has been head of the marketing department for more than 13 years and, as an authorized signatory of Hockenheim-Ring GmbH, has explicit corporate knowledge, extensive industry expertise and experience in dealing with municipal circumstances. In the future, he will therefore take over management in the area of administration.
Make even more attractive
Both are aware that they are stepping into big shoes left by the previous managing director Georg Seiler with his more than 40 years of experience in the industry. In addition, racetracks are currently facing special challenges due to changing attitudes towards sustainability, automobility and leisure behavior.
Jochen Nerpel: "My goal, together with the entire team, is to make the Hockenheimring an even more attractive racing and major event venue. In the future, it should offer the optimum conditions for all conceivable types of events, without neglecting the subject of racing."
Fully booked all year
The Hockenheimring, which today has up to 700,000 visitors a year, has been around since 1932. The best-known events are the German Grand Prix (2019 from July 26 to 28), the two DTM races at the beginning and end of the season, and the NitrOlympiX for dragsters each August (2019 from 16 to 18). In addition, driver training sessions, club events, test drives by the automotive industry, track days and a number of non-automotive events ensure that the race track is fully booked throughout the year.
