An enthralling motor-racing motor-sport festival – that’s the best way to describe the DTM season kick-off held last weekend at Hockenheim. The 24 DTM drivers provided fascinating motor sport at the highest level, took themselves and their cars to the very limit and beyond. And now, with the results of the first two rounds not even fully digested, the touring-car racing spectacle already is about to contest its second race weekend. From 20th to 22nd May, when DTM makes its second stop of its 2016 season in Austria, the usual idyll in the picturesque Alps village Spielberg is over. And it looks as if DTM is going to provide another absolute motor-racing highlight, at the Red Bull Ring. Furthermore, the DTM protagonists representing the Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz colours aren’t the only ones making the trip to Styria. They will be accompanied by the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany that are guaranteeing enthralling motor racing in the DTM support programme.
Paul Di Resta travels to the Red Bull Ring with massively boosted confidence. The Scot won the Sunday race at the Hockenheimring in superior style, finished fourth on Saturday and took the championship lead with these results. “Things are looking really good,” says Di Resta. “I just can’t wait for the next race meeting.” His manufacturer is similarly confident. With second-placed Robert Wickens, there’s a second Mercedes-Benz driver holding a very promising position. “It goes without saying that we are very happy with our achievements but the fans were true winners,” says Ulrich Fritz, Mercedes AMG DTM Team Principal. “It was thrilling motor racing from the start to the finish. And now, the entire team just can’t wait for Spielberg. Success makes hungry.”
Following an impressive season opener and the win of Edoardo Mortara, the Audi drivers were somewhat disillusioned following the Sunday race as only Nico Müller and Mike Rockenfeller made it to the points. Particularly frustrated due to two retirements was Timo Scheider. “We have to compensate as fast as possible for what we produced at Hockenheim,” he says. “Now we have to score by all means.” The same applies to Mattias Ekström who hasn’t got more than a ninth place on his tally, to date. “I really am looking forward to the trip to Spielberg,” reveals the Swede. “The circuit in Austria always represents one of my season highlights. I’m counting the days to the Spielberg meeting.” But Edoardo Mortara and Nico Müller travel to Austria as Audi’s best-placed drivers in the championship. Müller in particular seems to really have familiarised himself with DTM, in his third season. He currently is fourth in the championship, just four points behind Mortara.
Should the tendency displayed by BMW in the season kick-off be continued, the competitors will have a rather hard time, at Spielberg. From Saturday to Sunday, the Munich based manufacturer upped the ante at Hockenheim by an impressive margin. The podiums for Augusto Farfus and Maxime Martin as well as five cars in the top 10 speak for themselves. “What a fantastic performance. We witnessed great motor racing with thrilling battles. That makes you wish for more. Spielberg may come,” says BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
Due to the extreme competitiveness on the grid, being regarded as favourite doesn’t mean too much, in DTM. The outcome of the two qualifying sessions and the two races is absolutely open. Everybody, really everybody can make it to the top step of the Red Bull Ring podium.
In the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, the situation is similar. With 12 of the 30 races contested, no driver was able to open a clear gap on the rest of the field. Again and again the crowds could witness other drivers cheering on the podium. At Spielberg, the field of the hopeful young guns will contest another three spectacular races. Dramatic race action is a daily occurrence, in this series. The next support-programme highlight of the Spielberg weekend once again is the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany. The two races in this makes cup will be extremely close as they will be contested with identical racing cars.
In addition, the Spielberg meeting also will provide numerous attractions aloof from the track: autographing sessions with the DTM drivers on Saturday and Sunday, grid-girl photo shoots, race-taxi rides, pit walks, competitions, live interviews and the chance of promenading in the paddock make for a lot of variety. Furthermore, the Austrian musician Lemo will play live in the pit lane on Saturday (from 15:55hrs CEST) and Sunday (13:20hrs CEST).
TV hint: (all times CEST)
Saturday, 21st May 15:20hrs – qualifying live on Einsfestival From 17:35hrs – the race live on ARD 22:30hrs DTM – the race (magazine) on Sport1
Sunday, 22nd May 12:45hrs – qualifying live on Einsfestival From 15:00hrs – the race live on ARD 22:30hrs DTM – the race (magazine) on Sport1
Press release DTM
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