GERMANY: MOTOR RACING - FERRARI FANS DECEND ON HOCKENHEIM AHEAD OF THE FORMULA ONE GERMAN GRAND PRIX.

Record ID: 646981

  • Title: GERMANY: MOTOR RACING - FERRARI FANS DECEND ON HOCKENHEIM AHEAD OF THE FORMULA ONE GERMAN GRAND PRIX.
  • Date: 23rd July 2005
  • Summary: HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY (JULY 23, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. HOKCENHEIM SIGN, SPECTATORS WALKING OUTSIDE CIRCUIT 2. PEOPLE'S FEET 3. FACES OF PEOPLE WALKING 4. MAN DRESSED IN FERRARI HAT AND RED SHIRT SHOWS TICKET 5. GIRL TALKING WITH MAN DRESSED AS SATA CLAUS 6. FAN DRESSED AS SANTA WALKS AWAY 7. MERCHANDISING TENT 8. MAN IN FERRARI HAT TRYING GLASSES, LOOKING ON MIRROR 9. FERRARI FANS GETTING THROUGH TRUNSTTILES 10. MAN DRESSED WITH BIG HAT ADORNED WITH FLASG OS FERRARI AND GERMANY 11. MAN FAN WALKING WITH FEMALE COMPANION, SHOWS RED WIG 12. FERRARI FANS SEATED AT TABLE, DIRKING BEER, TOASTING 13. TWO FANS, ONE CARRYING FERRARI FLAG, CLOUDS IN SKY, UPSIDE DOWN VIEW OF CIRCUIT Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA3H10WG9J5S0OOUZER10UEVPXW
  • Story Text: Ferrari fans descend to Hockheim hoping that Michael
    Schumacher is not finished yet.



    Legions of Michael Schumacher fans who over-run the
    small village of Hockenheim on Saturday (July 23) with
    Ferrari flags and red shirts, could be on the eve of
    watching his final German Grand Prix as reigning champion.

    About 110,000 spectators are expected for Sunday's
    grand prix, packing into the sleepy village of 20,483 that
    lies south of Frankfurt.

    A year ago, Schumacher claimed his 11th victory in 12
    races at Hockenheim and ended up taking first place 13
    times. This year, he has won just one race and is 34 points
    behind the championship leader Fernando Alonso with eight
    races left
    Spain's Alonso may be leading the championship but at
    the main Renault merchandise outlet four bored sales clerks
    with no customers watched quietly as thousands of
    red-capped Schumacher fans in Ferrari shirts streamed past
    into the arena.

    Business was brisk, by contrast, at the Ferrari outlet
    where shirts cost 85 euros ($103) and red jackets are 170
    euros.

    With Schumacher's record-breaking string of five
    consecutive Formula One world championships about to be
    broken this year, he has already conceded that his chances
    of a fourth career win here in front of home fans are
    remote and his hopes are for third place.

    The masses of loyal Schumacher supporters, however, are
    confident they are not witnessing the twilight of his
    career.

    They are certain Sunday's race will not be his last
    German Grand Prix as defending champion and doubt that the
    36-year-old with seven titles in 14 years will quit before
    reclaiming his crown.

    As fans drank and clouds filled the skies, the
    seven-times world champion was hoping for heavy rain to
    rescue even his faint hopes of finishing even a modest
    third at the German Grand Prix.




  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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