For the first time since 1994, this season features a single Formula One race held in Germany - and it's entitled the "European Grand Prix" to boot. BMW and Nick Heidfeld are looking forward to their home race on the Nürburgring, and Robert Kubica is also confident of a good result for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in the Eifel on 22nd July.

While full concentration on the job is on the agenda in the actual pit lane, fans in the BMW Sauber F1 Team Pit Lane Park will have an opportunity to put questions to Formula One experts and even try their hand at changing tyres and refuelling. They can also clock up some race laps in the Formula One simulator, get the low-down on F1, and see and handle various exhibits, including a Formula One engine.

Demonstration drives in the Formula One race car will take place several times a day, this time with Jörg Müller - the current FIA World Touring Car Championship leader - behind the wheel, as well as demo rides in Formula BMW cars. Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and reserve driver Sebastian Vettel will also be visiting the high-tech theme park to give interviews and sign autographs.

As last year, the Pit Lane Park will be set up in zone A7 and will be open daily from Friday to Sunday. Admission is free even without an F1 entry ticket. The Pit Lane Park will be open from 10.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. on Friday, 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on Sunday. On Saturday night from 7.45 p.m. it will be party time in the Pit Lane Park. Media with F1 accreditation are welcome to the BMW M Power Night, the highlight of the BMW M cars meeting.

As part of the support programme for the European Grand Prix, Formula BMW Germany will be staging rounds seven and eight as the season's highlight. Starting next season, Formula BMW Europe will be launched. Last year's rookie champion Jens Klingmann (Leimen) currently dominates the championship with five wins in six races. Heading the rookie rankings is Marco Wittmann (Markt Erlbach).

"I am very much looking forward to the race on the Nürburgring. That's where the greatest number of my fans have always turned up, and thanks to this year's good results there will probably be a few more. When I drove the Formula One car round the Nordschleife at the end of April, the atmosphere there was fantastic.

It's a good feeling having that kind of support, and one or other family members will also be coming along to the Ring. As a young kid I already had a lot of outings to the Nürburgring with my father and my two brothers as it isn't far away from Mönchengladbach. Later on there were race wins in various classes to add to those pleasant childhood memories.

"I think we're pretty well prepared for the Ring. Our performance potential is a great motivator. Naturally it's a lot more fun when you know you're essentially in contention for points and good placings. If qualifying turns out better for me than at the last race in Silverstone, I should also be back in the running for the race."

"Obviously when we go to the Nürburgring this will be the only grand prix in Germany this year. I am sure there will be a big crowd and a lot of people who will be fans of our team. I have to be honest and say I don't find the track spectacular.

This will be my first grand prix on this track, but I have driven on the old track, when the first corner was a chicane, and practically every year since 2001 I have been racing on this track.

Because of this I know the track pretty well and I also know the shorter version that the touring cars are using with the short cut after turns 6 and 7. I think it will be a good weekend and maybe after that my feelings for the track will change."

"The grand prix at the Nürburgring is the only Formula One home race for us in 2007. Naturally we are very excited at the prospect of this weekend. But you can't afford to lose your concentration. Home races don't earn you any more points than elsewhere.

"Our relationship with the Ring is a very close one. Every upcoming BMW production model is tested on the Nordschleife: that's part of our development programme. BMW has celebrated spectacular touring car successes in the Eifel, it has a Driver Training branch based there, as well as the Ring Taxi for the Nordschleife, and the Adventure World has the only permanent BMW race car exhibition.

At the end of April we already had a clear example of the terrific enthusiasm of the racing fans in the Eifel when Nick drove a few demo laps around the Nordschleife in a modern F1 car before tens of thousands of spectators. It was the first time in 31 years that anything like this had happened - a unique experience we will all enjoy looking back on.

"The home race on the Nürburgring also gives us time for an interim appraisal. We have every reason to be satisfied with what we have achieved so far. Our goal for 2007 was to make it onto the podium on our own merit. Nick already managed that in Montreal with his second place, at the same time claiming our best individual result so far. I am confident this will not be our last podium finish this year.

We have clearly established ourselves as the third strongest team and we have no intention of relinquishing that position during the remainder of the season. For 2007 we have already notched up 56 points. Last year we finished the season with 36. We have come away from every grand prix with points.

"I'm particularly pleased with all of this since we haven't yet completed our two-year development phase. The Hinwil factory extension won't be ready until the end of the year: that's when we will be operating at full power. I am convinced that the route we have chosen is the right one."

"The salient features of the Ring include sweeping turns that require medium speeds, leading to the understeer that is so typical of the Nürburgring. The key question is: how do you set the car up to stop it pushing over the front wheels too much?

That can be resolved by an optimal aero balance combined with the corresponding mechanical set-up. The downforce level isn't at its peak but it's high. The grip level on the Nürburgring improves markedly over the course of the weekend. As the track surface then affords plenty of grip you can run on softer tyre compounds.

"The end of the start/finish straight offers a passing opportunity with the following right-left combination allowing for several racing lines. If you come out on top in the first turn it doesn't necessarily mean you'll be in front in the second. Another feature of this track is the differences in elevation: from turn 7 onwards there's a long uphill acceleration, which means engine power plays an important role."

After nine out of 17 World Championship rounds, the BMW Sauber F1 Team is third in the constructors' standings with 56 points.

Many chapters of success in BMW's motor sport history were written on the Nürburgring. Among them are 18 overall wins (including eight one-two victories) in the 24-Hour Race and a one-two finish in the 2003 Formula One GP.

As a partner of Nürburgring GmbH, BMW runs a state-of-the-art test centre at the foot of the legendary Nordschleife. Arguably the best known BMW Driver Training base is also at home at the Nürburgring, offering a comprehensive range of courses to promote safe and sporty driving. The Nürburgring Adventure World next to the start/finish area boasts the world's only permanent BMW race car exhibition, while visitors can keep pace - literally - with the fascinating experience of the Nordschleife as a passenger in the BMW Ring Taxi.

2007 marks the 37th Formula One Grand Prix to be held on the Nürburgring. The first track variant was opened on 18th/19th June 1927. On 29th July 1951, Formula One made its first appearance in the Eifel for the German Grand Prix. In the late 1950s and early 1970s, the German GP temporarily moved to the Berlin Avus track and to Hockenheim respectively. Niki Lauda's horrendous fireball accident on 1st August 1976 spelt the end of the legendary Nordschleife's career as a Formula One circuit.

Today the winding track that stretches for more than 20 kilometres still hosts numerous touring car races, and on many days of the year visitors can pay to take their own car or motorcycle out for a few laps of the circuit.

The new Nürburgring was opened on 12th May 1984, since when the Eifel has played host to Formula One for 11 European Grands Prix, two Luxembourg Grands Prix (1997 and 1998) and one German Grand Prix (1985).

1999 to 2001 saw the modernisation of the start/finish area, including the erection of a new pit building and press centre. 2002 marked the opening of the Mercedes Arena, a stadium-like section which extended the circuit by some 600 metres. Following this year's Formula One appearance, further major extension work is due to be carried out.

- Joerg Kottmeier -