**Frozen Speed: The Thrill of Racing on Hockenheim Lapland**
For those familiar with the most iconic circuits in motorsport, the curves you’re about to see may already ring a bell. This is Hockenheim Germany, but not as you know it. Located just 50 miles outside of the Arctic Circle, Hockenheim Lapland offers an experience like no other. I chose a day that seemed promising—a “nice warm day” with temperatures hovering around minus 21 degrees Celsius. The track itself? A precise 2.8-mile circuit carved into the ice of a frozen lake, a sight so breathtaking it takes your breath away.
But Hockenheim Lapland isn’t just one-of-a-kind; it’s part of a larger, ambitious project by the company Lack Phony Ice Driving. They’ve transformed a 500-acre site into a playground for car enthusiasts, crafting multiple circuits to challenge even the most seasoned drivers. If you’re willing to shell out around a thousand pounds a day, you too can take a stab at these frozen wonders behind the wheel of one of their supercars.
For my challenge, I opted for a rear-wheel-drive Porsche GT3. The grip from the studded tires was something else, but as I took to the track, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just about speed—it was about precision and adaptability on ice. Early moments were anything but encouraging. There were mishaps, skids, and a crash or two. To add insult to injury, I could have sworn I heard a Frenchman laughing in the background—not exactly confidence-inspiring sounds.
Still, undeterred, I pressed on. My first lap set what I thought was a solid benchmark time—only for it to be shattered when “The Iceman” took the wheel. This Frenchman isn’t just any driver; he’s a reigning World Touring Car Champion and holder of an Arctic racing record with an incredible ten wins under his belt. In fact, he’s so dominant in this niche that they’ve stopped inviting him altogether. Suffice to say, I was in for a master class.
The track itself is deceptively challenging. The combination of tight corners, sweeping straights, and the treacherous ice requires a delicate balance between speed and control. I tried everything: adjusting my approach, feathering the throttle, even moments of desperation where you just hope for grip. But every time I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist—literally.
The Porsche GT3, with its rear-wheel drive, proved to be a double-edged sword. While it offered predictable handling in most conditions, the ice turned that predictability into a game of chance. The studded tires provided grip, but it was a fickle kind of grip—one that could change from lap to lap depending on how the ice had transformed since the last pass.
There were moments where I felt like I knew exactly where I was—only to realize with a jolt that I wasn’t where I thought I was. The track demanded constant adaptation, and for every small victory (like nailing a corner without sliding out), there was a reminder of just how far I had to go.
The challenge culminated in a final showdown. I lapped the circuit in 1 minute and 20 seconds—admittedly slower than the F1 benchmark of 1:15, but a testament to my growing confidence. The Frenchman, on the other hand, was consistently quicker by about 15 seconds—a gap that felt both humbling and inspiring.
In the end, while I didn’t manage to beat “The Iceman,” the experience left an indelible mark. Hockenheim Lapland isn’t just a track day; it’s an extreme test of skill, determination, and adaptability. It’s a place where even the most seasoned drivers can feel like beginners again, where every lap is a new challenge, and where the frozen landscape transforms into a canvas for speed and precision.
As I left the ice, still processing the adrenaline rush and the lessons learned, I couldn’t help but wonder: Can I come back? And if I do, will I be ready to reclaim my spot on this frozen stage? Only time—and more practice—will tell.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe keener viewers amongst you may recognize this particular set of curves as one of the fastest formalin circuits in the world Hockenheim Germany its Hockenheim Lapland just 50 miles outside of the Arctic Circle still at least I picked a nice warm day it's only minus 21 degrees every twist turn and straight along the 2.8 mile circuit is accurate carved into the ice of a frozen lake it is breathtaking and it doesn't stop there the company behind it all lack phony ice driving carve out a multitude of different circuits on a 500 acre site then provided you can afford around a thousand pounds a day you can come play in one of their supercars and of course I chose the rear-wheel drive Porsche gt3 and I'll be using it in a unique challenge to try and beat Frenchmen even moolah not only is he the reigning World Touring Car champion is also won the Arctic equivalent a record ten times in fact he's so successful at ice racing that they've now stopped inviting him he's the Iceman so I need all the practice I can get driving on the grippy studded tires before taking him on this feeling of oh I know where I am but of course I'm not where I am apparently break with us no there's more grip hello I've crashed these were not confidence-inspiring scenes I was feeling awfully underprepared and swore I could hear a Frenchman laughing welcome cold I'd go first to set the benchmark time I like this little left hand but now this married I am I am now when I went Oh you could pass retriever nobody not for sure why I'm unpopular I'm glad someone is not know how to the end come on come on No support us my time so for minute 15-second I think you have a big problem to beat me years ago an f1 car can get round the real Hockenheim with one minute 15 seconds even was never going to beat that but could he beat me beautiful scale it's not the vicious name in Flour uses a much worse break early for you I think I lost time Dominic gonna use one minute 20 seconds so far they've been busy playing with the handset my eyes marry me it was was a bit quicker than me not much I think I've just been bullet and 15 seconds quicker thank you for a master class so I'd been beaten but this millionaires ice rink gave me a track day I'll never forget can it recover from their big moment I used to the live Victoriathe keener viewers amongst you may recognize this particular set of curves as one of the fastest formalin circuits in the world Hockenheim Germany its Hockenheim Lapland just 50 miles outside of the Arctic Circle still at least I picked a nice warm day it's only minus 21 degrees every twist turn and straight along the 2.8 mile circuit is accurate carved into the ice of a frozen lake it is breathtaking and it doesn't stop there the company behind it all lack phony ice driving carve out a multitude of different circuits on a 500 acre site then provided you can afford around a thousand pounds a day you can come play in one of their supercars and of course I chose the rear-wheel drive Porsche gt3 and I'll be using it in a unique challenge to try and beat Frenchmen even moolah not only is he the reigning World Touring Car champion is also won the Arctic equivalent a record ten times in fact he's so successful at ice racing that they've now stopped inviting him he's the Iceman so I need all the practice I can get driving on the grippy studded tires before taking him on this feeling of oh I know where I am but of course I'm not where I am apparently break with us no there's more grip hello I've crashed these were not confidence-inspiring scenes I was feeling awfully underprepared and swore I could hear a Frenchman laughing welcome cold I'd go first to set the benchmark time I like this little left hand but now this married I am I am now when I went Oh you could pass retriever nobody not for sure why I'm unpopular I'm glad someone is not know how to the end come on come on No support us my time so for minute 15-second I think you have a big problem to beat me years ago an f1 car can get round the real Hockenheim with one minute 15 seconds even was never going to beat that but could he beat me beautiful scale it's not the vicious name in Flour uses a much worse break early for you I think I lost time Dominic gonna use one minute 20 seconds so far they've been busy playing with the handset my eyes marry me it was was a bit quicker than me not much I think I've just been bullet and 15 seconds quicker thank you for a master class so I'd been beaten but this millionaires ice rink gave me a track day I'll never forget can it recover from their big moment I used to the live Victoria\n"
