This weekend will mark the fiftieth race of the DTM in the Eiffel Mountains. Those, say, older fans will remember the fights between Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Alfa Romeo in the 90s at the Nordschleife, in a time when the series would visit Nurburg twice in a year.
To mark this anniversary, The organizers will have live music, courtesy of Belgian star Milow, a barbecue and a Saturday night party, for those willing to dance the night away between days filled with electrifying motor sport.
As for the series itself, things are tight at the front of the drivers’ standings. Marco Wittmann (BMW, 130 points), Robert Wickens (Mercedes-AMG, 118) and Jamie Green (Audi, 104) are the trio of drivers with the best chances of achieving the title, at the moment. But we can’t forget there’s been nine different winners in the first ten races, and that precisely Wittmann and Wickens have been two of the three who have won twice (the other being Audi’s Edo Mortara, fourth in the standing, also with 104 points) in the 12 rounds completed thus far.
Wickens, confident of winning at the Nürburgring. Credit: DTM Media.
“The Nürburgring always is worth the trip,” says Wittmann, winner at Nurburg in 2014, the same year he became the Series Champion. “For me it is my second home race meeting – after Norisring – as my squad, BMW Team RMG, is based not far from here. To date, we have been rather successful, here. Following my win at Moscow, I’m travelling to the Nürburgring with a positive feeling.”
Wickens, solid victor in the Russian rain, last time out, considers that “If the practice results don’t lie, I can say following our Moscow results that really anything is possible. That’s making me very confident for the final third of the season that is kicked off at the Nürburgring, thus taking the season into its crucial stage.”
Finally, Green, even thought he never won at the Nurburg, feels that “The Nürburgring is one of my favourite racetracks on the DTM calendar. I always feel good at this circuit and I am confident that we will deliver, here. Our championship chances still are alive and so, we have to put everything at stake, now.”
Jamie Green could get his first victory in the Eiffel track. Credit: DTM Media
Last time out, BMW’s Maxime Martin and Audi’s Miguel Molina were the winner in both heats, but we can’t take those results as an absolute truth, this time. The new regulations have proved anything can happen and the sinuous 2,55 mile track, which will hold dry races this weekend, if we have to trust the current weather forecast, may work in favour of anyone.
The Saturday Race will start at 13.50 UK Time, and Sunday’s round will do so at 14.13, UK Time.
