The DTM summer break is over and the pinnacle of touring-car racing is back. Conveniently, the second half of the season will be kicked off at a circuit with a special ambience. Zandvoort always has been standing for a family atmosphere with sun, beach and the sea on one hand and thrilling motor racing on the other. The 11th and 12th rounds of the championship, held at the ‘Circuit’, promise to be extraordinary and stunning in many respects. And the new track surface of the Dutch dune circuit at the North-Sea cost also will prove to be crucial. And several celebrities attending the event will represent the icing on the cake.
The entire field is looking forward to racing at the arguably most challenging circuit on the calendar. And this applies in particular to Audi ace Mattias Ekström. The Swede already celebrated four race wins at Zandvoort, the last to date in 2014. At the 4.307-kilometre circuit located not far from Amsterdam, the two-time DTM Champion, current championship leader and reigning World Rallycross Champion who currently has got 113 points on his tally wants to defend and possibly extend his championship lead. « Zandvoort is absolutely cool, » says ‘Eki’ whose lead over fellow Audi driver René Rast amounts to just one point. « The new tarmac is supposed to make for a high grip level. If you believe the crystal ball this should be an advantage for our rivals. Nonetheless, I will try hard to secure good grid positions. » Rookie Rast, his toughest rival in the battle for the championship lead, made his DTM debut last year at Zandvoort and raves: « It’s a real racetrack for men. Tight run-off areas, a lot of fast corners. That’s exactly what racing drivers really like. »
Maro Engel, the surprising winner of the last race at Moscow is of a similar opinion: « A fantastic racetrack, relatively fast and you really feel and sense the pace of the DTM cars. Furthermore, the atmosphere also uses to be fantastic, » underlines the Mercedes-AMG driver. For Bruno Spengler, the race meeting in the Dutch dunes represents a special anniversary: on Saturday, the BMW driver will contest his 150th DTM race. « Zandvoort always is special, » he says. » « The atmosphere is great as the Zandvoort race meeting always is attended by many true motor-racing enthusiasts. In addition there is the wind that always is blowing wind onto the track. Therefore, the conditions can change from one lap to the other. But that’s a part of this event. »
According to Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe, the new tarmac might represent a particular challenge in wet conditions. « We have already been racing on the new track surface with other series and we didn’t detect anything noticeable. But new tarmac uses to ooze oil and that can make for a tricky oil film on the track. Nonetheless, the main issue at Zandvoort remains the sand that is permanently blown onto the circuit. As a result, the cars have to cope with less grip and tend to skid. Consequently, the tread temperatures and the wear of our DTM control tyres Ventus Race are increased. »
Because of all this, it comes as no surprise that the Dutch Formula ace One Max Verstappen also thinks that attending this enthralling touring-car racing event is a must. « DTM certainly once again will make for an outstanding spectacle, at Zandvoort, » says the Red Bull Racing driver who will be interviewed on Sunday during the starting-grid presentation, with the interview being shown on the video alls. Afterwards, he will drive the winner of a competition in a convertible around the circuit. And during the DTM presentation ceremony on Sunday, Verstappen will present the winner with his trophy.
A Prince, a former Formula One driver and an actor will compete in Audi Sport TT Cup races held in the support programme: Prince Bernhard van Oranje, the second son of von Pieter van Vollenhoven and the Dutch Princess Margriet van Oranje-Nassau, former Dutch F1 driver Giedo van der Garde and Daniel Roesner, in Germany well known as Detective Superintendent Renner in the RTL crime series ‘Alarm für Cobra 11’ all want to demonstrate their racing skills. The three FIA Formula 3 European Championship rounds with Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 World Champion Michael as well as the GT 4 European Series Northern Cup races complete the motor-sport action.
Press release DTM
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