The DTM kicked off its 2022 season in Portimao, an unprecedented setting for the event until then. Although the drivers and teams were able to complete a two-day test session on the Portuguese track, the chosen times -with night stages- did not help their knowledge of the track to be much greater. For that reason, Lucas Auer believes that what happened in Portugal should be viewed with caution and that it will be at Lausitzring where it will be seen who has rhythm and who found success in Portimao as a flash in the pan.
At the end, the Lausitzring circuit is one of the venues where the DTM drivers and teams have the most experience. Although it is true that the event has used various track configurations, the secrets that the German track hides are minimal. It is true that this year the layout with the banked curve 1 will be used after its first use in 2021, but this should not be a problem for, according to Lucas Auer, a more representative image of the championship is drawn.
«At Lausitzring it will be seen immediately who can perform at such a high level again as in Portimao and which drivers had a good set-up or took advantage of the tests in Portimao. Lausitzring will put everyone in their place as it will show which drivers achieved success in the blink of an eye. The DTM drivers and teams know the Lausitzring track inside out and it should be clear who can deliver again. I hope that I am not one of the riders who had a good pace in Portimao as something punctual », he assured lucas auer.
Conversely, Maro Engel considers that the global image of the DTM and the state of the grid will be seen later: «I think it will be necessary to compete at other tracks, not just at Lausitz, to find out which riders are the real stars of the season.. In Portimao we had a first image, but I am sure that there will be other drivers who did not have a perfect weekend in Portimao who will come out ahead. I think that many of the riders we saw in Portimao will surely repeat at the top, but there will also be others».
Nico Muellerlike Nicki Thiim, believes that the development will not be as linear and there will be different scenarios throughout the season: «I’d be surprised to see the same five or six cars in the top ten every weekend. There will be days when, even if you are one of the best drivers or part of one of the best teams, you will struggle to score points. The grid is very competitive, the level of performance can change a lot from one weekend to the next. You have to make the most of every situation.”
Source: autosport
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Photos: DTM