The DTM returns to Germany to play its second round of the season on its territory. It will be at the Norisring, the only urban track on the event’s calendar. The track that is located on the outskirts of Nuremberg always offers fast-paced racing, but also some controversy in qualifying due to traffic. Given this situation, the DTM has decided to shape a classification into two groups. Ayhancan Güven and Franck Perera will participate in itthe two new faces on the grid at Norisring, as well as a Sheldon Van der Linde who defends leadership.
The Norisring track is located on the outskirts of Nuremberg. a pclaim to be 2.3 kilometers long and have seven curves, is one of the most appreciated circuits within the DTM. Several high-speed zones, a chicane where you have to brush against the wall to be fast, and two hairpins at both ends are more than enough. to provide exciting racing. Although the track has been Mercedes territory, with wins from 2003 to 2015, it is a track that is half an hour’s drive from Ingolstadt, home to Audi. Under GT3 regulations, anything can happen.
Sheldon Van der Linde will start the weekend as the rival to beat after resisting at the top of the classification in Imola. The BMW driver did not have his best weekend, but he saved some important points that allow him to have a 12-unit advantage over Mirko Borlotti. With everything, equality is maximum and Nico Müller, Lucas Auer or Rene Rast They are also not far behind the leader. In this aspect, Rast is the great local hope when it comes to conquer a victory that he already achieved in the first race of 2019.
Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Marco Wittmann or Maximilian Götz, current DTM champion, also compete at home at the Norisring. However, not all of them arrive with the same sensations at the event on the urban layout. Engel had a somewhat subdued weekend at Imola, while Stolz arrives on a run of races outside the points. For its part, Wittmann climbed to the podium in Imolawhile Gotz was reunited with the points after two races far from the top positions.
On a circuit as short as the Norisring, ITR has opted for a classification format in two groups according to position in the general classification of the DTM, changing the order of these groups between Saturday and Sunday to maintain equality, since the starting position will be chosen not only by the direct time achieved by each of the 27 drivers present at the Norisring. A grid in which there are two important changes, since Ayhancan Güven replaces Nick Cassidy and Franck Perera replaces Rolf Ineichenin this case due to illness of the latter.
Timetables of the DTM 2022 at the Norisring circuit
Photos: DTM