The DTM begins the countdown to the start of its 2022 season. It will be next weekend in the Portimao circuit. A track that will also host this Tuesday and Wednesday the second official pre-season test. The twenty-nine drivers present at the event, with Sébastien Loeb as the second AF Corse driver before his participation in the first round of the year, are called to complete two days of testing on the undulating Portuguese circuit. AVL will use this test to make final adjustments to the ‘Balance of Performance’.
The first official pre-season test took place in Hockenheim, but the rain was a persistent traveling companion for the DTM drivers and teams. In fact, persistent rainfall altered AVL’s work plan, company in charge of carrying out the ‘Balance of Performance’ of the category. Finally, the company modified its program to being able to carry out the calibration laps with the six GT3s present at the German event. With the basis of last season and the simulation, almost all the adjustments are done.
In terms of results, ‘rookie’ Marius Zug was the fastest driver in the official DTM test at Hockenheim. The young German driver of the Attempto Racing team imposed his law at the controls of the #66 Audi, although it seems difficult that this result can be repeated in Portimao, even if the weather conditions are just as difficult. With everything, forecasts indicate that at least one of the two days should be played on dry track conditions. A scenario in which the championship roosters should stand out.
And they are not few. Audi has René Rast, Kelvin Van der Linde and Nico Müller, among others. For its part, BMW has Marco Wittmann as spearhead. For Ferrari is Felipe Fraga and Sébastien Loeb, present for Nick Cassidy at the opening round in Portimao. There is no lack of talent among the Mercedes drivers with champion Maximilian Götz, Luca Auer, Luca Stolz or Maro Engel. For its part, Porsche’s bet has Laurens Vanthoor as the most prominent namenot forgetting the always fast Dennis Olsen.
Lamborghini deserves a separate chapter and not because the talent among its ranks is less. In the end, the teams that represent the firm from Sant’Agata Bolognese have pilots of the caliber of Mirko Bortolotti, Rolf Ineichen or Nicki Thiim. However, there is a novelty in his ranks, since the British Esmee Hawkey should be in the game in this test after missing the first official test session. Although the reason was not initially specified, Hawkey later confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19..
Photos: DTM