Not just in the summer of 2026: When Europe and motor racing are sweating

For a whole week in the last week of June 2026, large parts of Europe groaned and suffered under temperatures of up to 40 degrees. And the next spell of hot weather is already just around the corner. However, the duration of these hot spells is still relatively mild compared to what Germany had to endure at around the same time 50 years ago.

Memories are stirred of what felt like a seemingly endless period of hot days coupled with extreme drought in late June/early July 1976. Only the temperatures were somewhat more moderate back then. With nearly three weeks of sustained heat between 33 and 35 degrees, five weeks without any significant rain and rationed water supplies, central and southern Germany in particular found themselves in a sort of state of emergency.

The world of motor racing, too, experienced the second-longest heatwave since weather records began. Those were truly terrible weeks for organisers and drivers alike. At Hockenheim, the Norisring and even the high-altitude Nürburgring, drivers collapsed, half-fainting, from their sweltering cockpits and had to be treated with oxygen by the race doctors.

I remember this so clearly because, at the time, the staging of several events set in woodland areas – such as Hockenheim, the Nürburgring and a number of hill climbs and rallies – was in serious doubt due to the high risk of forest fires, or in some cases even had to be cancelled entirely under pressure from the forestry authorities.

Often the cancellations came at such short notice that the racing contingent had to turn back empty-handed and set off for home. I, too, travelled there in vain on several occasions back then to cover the races or report on the events.

Even at the Nürburgring, which is usually considerably cooler, outside temperatures of around 30 degrees and up to 70 degrees in the cockpits were recorded for days on end. However, the Nürburgring and Hockenheim in particular were under close scrutiny from the forestry authorities, as both circuits are flanked by woodland over long stretches to the left and right of the tracks.

The relevant forestry authorities ultimately decided whether a race could go ahead or not. The risk of flying sparks and the resulting fires seemed too great. Consequently, the traditional Südwestpokal race organised by MSC Stuttgart, scheduled for early July at Hockenheim, was cancelled and rescheduled for October of the same year. Several smaller national events, as well as a number of hill climbs taking place in areas with dense woodland, also fell victim to the heat.

Even the European Touring Car Championship round at the Nürburgring in mid-July 1976 was in the balance. The protracted negotiations between the forestry authorities and the ADAC Saarland dragged on agonisingly for a long time. The decision on whether to cancel the event or go ahead with it – subject to some strict conditions – was not made until two days before the scheduled date.

Camping and campfires were strictly prohibited around the circuit, and fire watchers monitored the area from the air. For the drivers, the European Championship race – shortened from six to four hours – was a veritable ordeal in outside temperatures of over 30 degrees. Driver changes were often made after just a few laps.

Despite all the safety precautions, a tragic incident occurred during Friday’s practice session as part of the European Championship round’s supporting programme, which may have been caused by the parched grass on the embankment and proved fatal. Formula Super V driver Ernst Rätz crashed on the ‘Flugplatz’ section of the track and was thrown from the cockpit upon impact with the embankment.

The racing car burst into flames – and the parched grassy embankment went up in flames too. Although the fire brigade and emergency services managed to extinguish the burning vehicle, they were initially unable to bring the widespread embankment fire under control. Once the grassy area had finally been extinguished, Ernst Rätz was found dead on the embankment. It remained unclear whether the accident itself or the subsequent fire on the embankment was responsible for his fatal injuries.

The heatwave only came to an end in the second half of July. The precarious situation gradually eased as temperatures fell and rain set in. Officially, the summer of 1976 was regarded as one of the hottest and driest of the 20th century. According to official weather statistics, only the hot and dry summer of 2003 was even more unbearable and remains the record holder to this day.

Incidentally, it was a close call: the heat at the end of June 2026 almost prevented the 24-hour classic at Spa from taking place. Due to the ‘health hazard’ posed by high temperatures peaking at 41 degrees, the regional Belgian authorities considered all options – from shortening the race to cancelling it altogether.

The fact that this did not happen and everything went well was ultimately down to the discipline, prudence and level-headedness of everyone involved. The Austrian Toni Mathis (78), one of the formerly most sought-after fitness trainers in motor racing, also believes he knows the reason why the Spa heatwave race went off almost without a hitch.

“The lads are in much better physical shape these days than they were 30, 40 or 50 years ago. The cars, with all their technical aids and on-board cooling systems, are much more pleasant and comfortable to drive even at such high temperatures than they were back then. Cooling vests didn’t exist back then either, and the drivers’ fitness levels have also improved over the years. I don’t see any problem with holding races today, even in extremely high temperatures.”