05.02.2024
The DTM will be even more diverse in the 2024 season: the field will grow to seven brands for the 40th anniversary of the racing series. For the first time in the history of the DTM, the British cult brand McLaren will take part in all races of a season. The McLaren 720 GT3 Evo will face tough competition from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and defending champion Porsche in the 2024 DTM. In its anniversary season, the DTM will start at the Ring from August 16 to 18. All races will be broadcast live in Germany by ProSieben. > more info & tickets "McLaren is a spectacular new addition to the DTM, and fans can look forward to seven brands in the 2024 DTM. The driver line-up will also be strong, defending champion Thomas Preining and his rivals Mirko Bortolotti and Ricardo Feller have already announced that they will be back in the DTM in 2024. In the coming weeks, we can also look forward to some more news for an exciting 2024 DTM season," says ADAC Head of Motorsport Thomas Voss. The super sports car from England with Formula 1 genes impresses with its spectacular looks and technology. The mid-engined sports car is the only vehicle in the field to be built on a carbon chassis. McLaren is also breaking new ground under the carbon fiber bodywork with the 720S GT3 Evo, the only car in the DTM to be powered by a four-litre V8 bi-turbo engine. Information on the McLaren team and drivers will follow shortly.
19.10.2023
While the fans will experience the DTM title showdown next weekend, ticket sales for the 2024 season will already start on Sunday (October 22). Online ticket sales for the 2024 season will then start directly after the last finish of the 2023 season at 3 p.m. on dtm.com. > more info & tickets Tickets will still be available from 39 euros next year, and children and young people accompanied by an adult will also be admitted free of charge in 2024.It pays off to order DTM tickets for the 2024 season quickly: Whoever secures tickets on dtm.com by November 13, can secure the fast-lane discount of 10%. ADAC members will also receive a 10% membership discount for the upcoming season and thus benefit twice: Together with Fast Lane discount, ADAC members save more than 36% compared to the box office price. Tickets will be available online at dtm.com for all ticket categories and for seven of the eight DTM events from October 22. Unchanged is the free admission to the standing-room areas at all circuits for children and youngsters accompanied by a paying adult. The DTM will also present itself as open and fan-friendly in the 2024 season: all tickets allow free entry to the DTM paddock and the DTM Fan Area."We developed a completely new pricing structure for the 2023 season, which was very well received by the fans. This year, the DTM was particularly popular with families; one third of our visitors in the past season were children and young people. We are consequently continuing this way. Ticket prices will remain stable, and next year, too, fans will be able to experience the thrilling action in the DTM for as little as 39 euros. A fan-friendly paddock and autograph sessions offer motorsport to touch, and on the track, top international drivers ensure top-level racing," says ADAC Head of Motorsport Thomas Voss. Eight events from April to October make up the 2024 DTM season, with the season opener taking place at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben from April 26 to 28. For the finale, the popular racing series traditionally travels to the Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg. With the Red Bull Ring in Styria, Austria, and Circuit Zandvoort on the Dutch North Sea coast, two Formula 1 circuits from other European countries are on the calendar. Other stops include the DEKRA Lausitzring, the Norisring,the Nürburgring and the Sachsenring.
06.08.2023
Welcome to the green hell. The Nürburgring marks the halfway point of the 2023 DTM season. Here is an overview of all the important information for visitors. Fan ZoneThe centre of the paddock: the DTM Fan Zone. Chill out and enjoy the DTM on a big screen, have fun on the bouncy castle, face painting and tattoos for kids, the BWT Water Station, the DTM Reaction Wall, the latest DTM merchandise or Meet the Drivers: a visit to the Fan Zone is always worthwhile. Event StageOn Saturday and Sunday, the event stage in the DTM Fan Zone will feature an extensive programme, including a DJ, VIP talk and much more. The programme will be hosted by Jennifer Braun on both days. The exact schedule is available here. ADAC Members' LoungeAll ADAC members have free access to the ADAC Members' Lounge in the paddock at the Nürburgring, where they can enjoy free coffee from partner Eni, use the WLAN or take part in a prize draw on the wheel of fortune. Ran Fan FeedYou want to be part of the action? Simply start filming and capture your fan moment on the big screen! Download the Snappers app here and you'll be able to appear on the video board in the Fan Zone. Event guideAt the entrances to the track, all visitors will receive the free event guide with spotter guide, schedule and participant lists. "DTM Champion Sparkling Wine" from Ralf Schumacher for all visitorsYou know it from Formula 1: the traditional champagne shower. After the trophy presentation, the top three finishers in the DTM will celebrate the traditional champagne shower with the "Sparkling Rosé" from the winery of former Formula 1 and DTM racer Ralf Schumacher. Try the sparkling wine "Sparkling Rosé" or a white wine and red wine yourself in the Fan Zone on the Heli-Port. eSports AreaVisitors will have the opportunity to test their driving skills at the RaceRoom simulators. The simulators are available free of charge in the Fan Zone. Rally Legends ExhibitionClassic fans watch out! Historic rally cars will also be represented at the DTM race at the Nürburgring. From the Renault Alpine A110 1600S to the Audi Quattro A2 Group B and the Lancia Delta Superdeltona. A total of 13 Rally Legends cars will be on site and on display in the old paddock. Meet The DriversOn Saturday and Sunday, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the fastest drivers in the series at a "Meet the Drivers" autograph session in the Fan Zone in the paddock. Saturday10.00 to 10.20 a.m.: Porsche Carrera Cup Germany11.30 to 11.50 a.m.: BMW M2 Cup16.15 to 15.45 hrs: DTM Sunday10.30 to 10.50 a.m.: ADAC GT4 Germany15.15 to 15.35 hrs: NXT Gen Cup Arrival and parking at the NürburgringVisitors can park their vehicles at the Nürburgring in the signposted car parks for a parking fee of 12 euros. The following routes are recommended for arriving by car: from Cologne: A1 to the end of the motorwayfrom Trier/Luxembourg: A48 to motorway exit Ulmenfrom Koblenz: A61 to motorway exit Wehr Further information about parking at the race track can be found here. PitwalkOn Saturday and Sunday, the pit lane will be open to spectators for a pitwalk. Fans can then enter the pit lane and watch the race teams up close. The Pitwalk is free of charge for all visitors. Saturday: 12.05 hrs to 12.40 hrs Sunday: 12.05 hrs to 12.40 hrs Supporting programmeFull programme: In addition to the DTM, the ADAC GT4 Germany, the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, the BMW M2 Cup and the NXT Gen Cup will also start at the Nürburgring. Starter listsThe provisional starting lists of the series can be found here: DTMADAC GT4 GermanyPorsche Carrera Cup GermanyNXT Gen CupBMW M2 Cup TicketsTickets for the DTM are available from 39 Euros in advance online untilThursday evening 23:59. ADAC members save another10% off there. From Friday on, tickets will still be available online at the normal price as well as at theand at the box office at the Nürburgring. Children and young people under 16years of age will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. TV timesAn overview of all TV times can be found here. TimetableThe current timetable can be found here.
06.08.2023
Maximilian Paul and the GRT Grasser Racing Team celebrate first DTM success at the Nürburgring Porsche driver Thomas Preining wins half-time championship after finishing in fifth place 49,300 spectators experience fast-paced race weekend with typical Eifel weather First victory at the second DTM event - Maximilian Paul (Dresden) achieved a sensation on Sunday at the Nürburgring. The 23-year-old started 13th in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 and showed a sensational recovery in increasingly heavy rain. He took the lead on lap 26 and was flagged off as the winner after 35 laps. With this triumphant drive, Paul secured the first DTM success for himself and the GRT Grasser Racing Team. "That was a perfect race. My start went really well, the pit stop went flawlessly and the speed was there the whole time thanks to a correctly chosen car setup. It was important that I stayed calm behind Lucas Auer and then seized the opportunity at the right moment. It also paid off that I was able to use the ADAC GT Masters race weekend in mid-July as preparation for the DTM races," said Paul. This means that after the first eight rounds of the season there are eight different winners - a record in the DTM. Laurin Heinrich (Würzburg) rewarded himself for a strong performance. The 21-year-old Porsche driver made up nine places and stood on the podium for the first time in the DTM. Lucas Auer (A) in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 confirmed his good form in the Eifel and, after finishing second on Saturday, made it onto the podium again in third place. Key facts, Nürburgring, season race 8 of 16 Track length: 3,629 meters Weather: 12 degrees, rain Pole position: Ricardo Feller (Abt Sportsline, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 #7), 1:29.562 minutes Winner: Maximilian Paul (GRT Grasser Racing Team, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 #19) Fastest race lap: Marco Wittmann (Project 1, BMW M4 GT3 #11), 1:35.871 minutes At noon on Sunday, almost all drivers started to the eighth DTM round of the season on rain tires in light precipitation. Pole setter Ricardo Feller (CH) in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 initially maintained his lead ahead of the two Mercedes-AMG of David Schumacher (Salzburg) and Lucas Auer (A). But after just a few laps Feller had to relinquish his top position to Auer, who was then able to pull away a little from the field. Behind him, there were numerous overtaking maneuvers and many position changes on an increasingly wet track. Paul and Heinrich moved closer to the front lap by lap. After a spin by Alessio Deledda (I) in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 and a subsequent caution period, Auer, Paul and Heinrich completed the mandatory tire change shortly before the end of the pit stop window. The youngsters then switched to attack mode: on lap 26 Paul overtook the leading Auer, and on the 31st lap Heinrich followed suit and moved up to second place. Shortly before the end, Arjun Maini (IND) slid off the track, the safety car was deployed and led the field to the finish with Paul, Heinrich and Auer at the front. Maro Engel (Monaco) in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 crowned another strong performance with fourth place, while championship leader Preining (A) secured the half-time championship behind him in the Porsche 911 GT3 R with a tactically mature performance. Feller was the best Audi driver in sixth place, his brand colleague Luca Engstler (Wiggensbach) finished seventh. Thierry Vermeulen (NL) steered his Ferrari 296 GT3 from grid position 23 to eighth. Schumacher, on the other hand, lost six places and finished ninth on the 3.629-kilometer traditional circuit. Lamborghini driver Franck Perera (F) from SSR Performance, whose team-mate Mirko Bortolotti (I) was unable to start after his victory on Saturday due to technical problems with his car, made up 14 places and completed the top ten. Laurin Heinrich: "The overtaking maneuver against Lucas Auer was racing at the highest level. My first DTM podium is a dream come true for me. On Saturday the caution period cost us a good result, this time I pitted late and was able to benefit. We kept a cool head in challenging weather conditions." Lucas Auer: "I was running really well in the early stages. Unfortunately, after the pit stop I didn't get the tires into the optimum window. As a result, I couldn't keep up the pace at the front. Overall, though, it was a successful weekend for us and we're traveling to the Lausitzring, where I won my first DTM race in 2016, with a good feeling." Result, race 2, Nürburgring 1st Maximilian Paul (D/GRT Grasser Racing Team).2nd Laurin Heinrich (D/Team75 Motorsport), +0.600 seconds3rd Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Winward), +1.320 seconds4th Maro Engel (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter), +1.954 seconds5th Thomas Preining (A/Manthey EMA), +3.248 seconds The full race results are available at dtm.com/en/results.
05.08.2023
33-year-old Italian celebrates his first DTM victory at the Nürburgring New DTM record: seven different winners after the first seven races Lucas Auer finishes second after tactically strong performance Huge cheers for Mirko Bortolotti (I) and his SSR Performance team. The Italian clinched his first DTM victory on Saturday at the Nürburgring in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 and moved up to second place in the overall standings. Bortolotti had started as pole setter and held his nerve until the end in a turbulent race with intermittent rain. After 39 laps, the Lamborghini driver crossed the finish line in first place with a lead of 1.199 seconds. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. So far it's been a perfect weekend for me as fastest on Friday and pole setter as well as race winner on Saturday. It was important that I didn't make any mistakes during the short rain shower on the slick tires on the one hand and was also able to maintain my lead on the other," said Bortolotti. Lucas Auer (A) in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 crowned a tactically strong performance with second place, while his compatriot Thomas Preining finished third in the Porsche 911 GT3 R to extend his championship lead to 18 points. Key facts, Nürburgring, season race 7 of 16 Track length: 3,629 meters Weather: 18 degrees, cloudy/light rain Pole position: Mirko Bortolotti (SSR Performance, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 #92), 1:25.118 minutes Winner: Mirko Bortolotti (SSR Performance, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 #92) Fastest race lap: Lucas Auer (Mercedes-AMG Team Winward, Mercedes-AMG GT3 #22), 1:26.667 minutes In the seventh DTM race, Bortolotti controlled the field after a good start and was able to continuously extend his lead. Behind him, Preining and Ricardo Feller (CH) held their positions ahead of Auer, who improved from eighth to fourth place. Jack Aitken (GB) in the Ferrari 296 GT3 completed the top five. After half an hour it started to rain lightly. Then a collision between Porsche drivers Christian Engelhart (Starnberg) and Ayhancan Güven (TR) was followed by a yellow period, which was used by most drivers for the mandatory pit stop. Despite the precipitation, almost all drivers opted for Pirelli slicks, which proved their worth on a track that dried quickly. Things got turbulent in the 28th lap. Alessio Deledda (I) slid into the gravel and the safety car was deployed for two laps. Perera, who was in 22nd position, played a decisive role: after his pit stop, the lapped Frenchman came onto the track directly behind his leading teammate Bortolotti and was ahead of the pursuers Preining and Feller. On the subsequent restart, fourth-placed Auer pushed past those in front of him and moved ever closer to Bortolotti. However, the Lamborghini works driver made no mistakes and Auer took the chequered flag in second place. Behind Preining and Feller, Dennis Olsen (N) in the Porsche 911 GT3 R finished fifth after a controlled performance. Best BMW driver was Marco Wittmann (Fürth), who improved from tenth on the grid to sixth. His brand colleague Sheldon van der Linde (ZA) made up eight positions behind him in seventh. However, his brother Kelvin van der Linde (ZA) managed the catch-up of the day. After a collision on the first lap, the Audi driver fought his way from last place to the front with spectacular overtaking maneuvers and rewarded this energetic performance with eighth place. Patric Niederhauser (CH) finished ninth in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2, Thierry Vermeulen (NL) completed the top ten as the best Ferrari driver. The second race at the Nürburgring starts at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The German free TV station ProSieben will be reporting from the Eifel from 1:00 p.m. onwards. The decision on the starting grid for Sunday's race will be made in qualifying, which starts at 9:05 a.m. and, just like the race, can be seen live in the stream on ran.de and the DTM YouTube channel. Worldwide, the DTM will be broadcast live or re-live in over 150 territories. Lucas Auer: "What an intense race. The crucial thing was that both the start and the re-starts went really well for me. In addition, the team put in a super performance at the pit stop. Those were the key scenes. Of course I was still hoping for a mistake from Mirko Bortolotti at the back, but he had everything under control." Thomas Preining: "That was an exciting and chaotic race. I had to defend a lot, but I managed that well. On the second re-start Mirko Bortolotti and Franck Perera worked together cleverly. As a result, there were suddenly several cars next to me and I had no chance of keeping Lucas Auer behind me. Third place is still a good result with a view to the championship." Result, 1st race, Nürburgring1st Mirko Bortolotti (I/SSR Performance)2nd Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Winward), +1.199 seconds3rd Thomas Preining (A/Manthey EMA), +2.572 seconds4th Ricardo Feller (CH/Abt Sportsline), +3.117 seconds5th Dennis Olsen (N/Manthey EMA), +4.327 seconds The full race results are available at dtm.com/en/results.
04.08.2023
The DTM sets the course for the 2024 season at an early stage and presents the race calendar for the coming year. As the promoter of the DTM, the ADAC is thus creating planning security for the participants. Eight events with a total of 16 championship rounds are planned. The DTM will be held from April to October on tracks in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. The season opener will take place from 26 to 28 April at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The finale of the popular racing series is traditionally held at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (18 to 20 October). TV partner ProSieben will broadcast the DTM live again next year, in Austria the DTM races can be seen on ServusTV. After the season opener in Oschersleben in April and the following race weekend at the DEKRA Lausitzring (24 to 26 May), the Formula 1 circuit Zandvoort (7 to 9 June) on the Dutch North Sea coast will be the first foreign stop. Afterwards, the DTM drivers will compete against each other on the streets of Nuremberg: The Norisring enjoys cult status and, as Germany's only street circuit, is one of the highlights on the calendar from 5 to 7 July. With the Nürburgring (16 to 18 August) and the Sachsenring (6 to 8 September), two more popular traditional tracks from Germany are included. Before the season finale in Hockenheim, the Formula 1 circuit at the Red Bull Ring (27 to 29 September) in Spielberg (Austria) will host the DTM. "It is important for us to create planning security for the participants in good time. We have succeeded in doing so with the early confirmation of the calendar. The concept of the DTM under the umbrella of the ADAC has been well received by the fans so far this year, and we are building on this for 2024. We are also currently examining the option of adding an additional event in another European country to the 2024 calendar," says ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss. DTM 2024 race calendar 26.04.-28.04.2024 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben24.05.-26.05.2024 DEKRA Lausitzring07.06.-09.06.2024 Circuit Zandvoort / NL05.07.-07.07.2024 Norisring16.08.-18.08.2024 Nürburgring06.09.-08.09.2024 Sachsenring27.09.-29.09.2024 Red Bull Ring / A18.10.-20.10.2024 Hockenheim Baden-Württemberg
04.08.2023
Lamborghini driver is the only driver to stay under 1:26.000 minutes in free practice Championship leader Thomas Preining in fifth place confirms good form of recent weeks Cool temperatures ensure late best times in Friday's sessions Mirko Bortolotti delivered a strong performance in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 at the opening round of the fourth DTM stop at the Nürburgring. The 33-year-old from Team SSR Performance set the day's fastest time of 1:25.977 minutes in the second free practice session on Friday afternoon and was the only driver to stay under the 1:26.000 mark. "This was a productive day for us. We successfully completed our program in the test sessions. But the decisive two days of the weekend are still ahead of us. Then it's a matter of translating our good work into results," said the Italian. Second fastest was Dennis Olsen (N), who had set the top mark in the first session in the morning with 1:26.153 minutes. The Porsche driver competes for Team Manthey EMA, which is based in Meuspath just a few minutes away from the Eifel circuit. Third place went to Lucas Auer (A) in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, Franck Perera (F) was fourth in the second Lamborghini from SSR Performance. Front runner Thomas Preining (A), Olsen's teammate, steered his nine-eleven to fifth place.The 25-year-old thus underlined his ambitions to start the second half of the season as the unofficial half-time champion after races seven and eight on the Eifel circuit. Both practice sessions were held on Friday in cool weather under cloudy skies. With a maximum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, the drivers needed a few laps to get the Pirelli tires into the optimum working window. The top three drivers set their best times on laps 20, 21 and 22, with only Perera setting his top mark on the 3.629-kilometer short circuit of the Grand Prix circuit as early as the tenth lap. The complete results of both sessions are available at dtm.com/results. Qualifying on Saturday starts at 9:35 am. The battle for the best grid positions will be broadcast live on ran.de. TV partner ProSieben will show all 16 races of the season live on free-to-air TV. Worldwide, the DTM will be broadcast live or re-live in over 150 territories.
01.08.2023
Of all the DTM drivers, Jusuf Owega has the shortest journey to round four of the season at the Nürburgring (4th to 6th August). The 21-year-old from Mercedes-AMG Team BWT was born in Cologne and is contesting his first season in the DTM. In an interview, Owega speaks about his special relationship with the Nürburgring, the role of ADAC racing series in his career, and wheel-to-wheel battles with his brother Salman Owega. As someone from Cologne, what connection do you have with the Nürburgring?First and foremost, they are two home races for me. The Nürburgring is also the first circuit, with which I came into contact as a young boy. In the past, I often drove on the Nordschleife with my father and brother. Together with the Nordschleife, the Nürburgring has an incredible history. Formula 1 raced there for many years, and the 24-hour race is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. When you think of motorsport in Germany, the first thing that enters your head is the Nürburgring. The circuit is famous all over the world. At the Nürburgring, we will discover who leads the DTM at the halfway point. What does the circuit have to offer?The combination of corners at the Nürburgring are very unique. Unlike in Oschersleben or at the Sachsenring, for example, the corners do not really flow into each other. That is very clear to see in the first section of the track, among other places. It starts with a hairpin, then there is a long left-hander into the Mercedes Arena. That is a slower but very technical sector. In the end, you want to be the fastest at every circuit – it doesn’t really matter what the layout is. Where are the key areas at the Nürburgring?The last corner will be pivotal. If you do not exit it well, then you are lacking speed and can be overtaken towards the end of the start/finish straight. As a driver, you also have to carry your speed out of the Bit turn towards Hatzenbach, then you can go on the attack before or in the chicane. You arrived in GT racing via ADAC GT4 Germany – was that a key move in your career?Definitely. The move from Formula 3 to ADAC GT4 Germany was certainly challenging. For me, it was all about adapting quickly to the new conditions. For example, GT4 cars are far more closely based on production cars than Formula 3 race cars. That was my introduction to GT racing, so it was an important year for me. What role did the ADAC GT Masters play in your development?I took the next step of my career in the ADAC GT Masters. During those two years, I also got to know a lot of drivers away from the track, who are now in the DTM. In my opinion, it is helpful to know the driving style of your opponents. Out on the track, that allows you to better gauge how a driver will react in certain situations. Plus, I led the ADAC GT Masters for the first half of the season – that is good for your confidence and I have taken that positivity with me into the DTM. How would you sum up the season so far, after the first six DTM races?It is my first DTM season and also my first year as a Mercedes-AMG Junior driver. As such, the races have thrown up a lot of new things for me to take in. Despite this, we have already been able to show our potential. I have finished in the top ten twice – at the season-opener in Oschersleben and in Zandvoort. Everyone in the team goes about their job in a very focussed manner. For this reason, I am confident that we will get even better as the season progresses. What can you still aim for this season?The goal is definitely to finish on the podium. I believe we are also capable of winning. The field is incredibly closely matched, so you obviously need a bit of luck on your side. However, if the overall package is right, we can mix it at the very front of the field. Your brother Salman Owega drives in the ADAC GT Masters. Last season, you were rivals. How does that feel?It is quite fascinating to race against your own brother. We take no prisoners out on the track. However, I am relatively certain that my brother would not take me out. Salman and I get on superbly. I find it easier to clear up any contentious manoeuvres after a race with my brother than with a driver I don’t know. We did once have a tricky encounter on the track: we were more or less door-to-door for a few corners, before I managed to overtake him. It sounds as though motorsport is a hot topic in the Owega family?Definitely. I came from a family that is mad about motorsport. My father attends every race. He has always been very interested in motorsport and has taken part in a lot of tourist runs. We chat a lot and, with him being a psychologist and neurologist, I definitely have the best mental support on my side. As someone who was born in Cologne, what connection to you have to carnival and 1. FC Cologne?I really like the city, but am not your typical person from Cologne. I am obviously pleased when 1. FC Cologne wins its matches. However, I follow the Premier League far more closely, particularly Liverpool. Unfortunately, I have not yet been to Anfield, but I definitely intend to at some point. The atmosphere there must be amazing. Tickets for the weekend at the Nürburgring are available online. Access is free for under 16s when accompanied by a paying adult. ADAC members also benefit from a ten percent discount when purchasing tickets in advance online. The two DTM races at the Nürburgring both start at 13:30 on Saturday (5th August) and Sunday (6th August). ProSieben is showing all of this season’s races live on free-to-air German TV. The qualifying sessions are also streamed live at ran.de.
30.07.2023
After the heat battle at the Norisring, the DTM will be back on the grid at a traditional German circuit next weekend (4 to 6 August) for its fourth tour stop. The Nürburgring is the venue for rounds seven and eight, which conclude the first half of the season. Spectators and fans will see who will claim the unofficial title of half-time champion on the sprint track of the Eifel circuit. Porsche works driver Thomas Preining (A) as the current overall leader and his fiercest rival Sheldon van der Linde (ZA/BMW) have the best prospects. However, if the statistics with six different winners from the first six races continue, new faces will be seen at the top of the podium at the Nürburgring as well. ProSieben will be showing both races live on German free TV, starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, half an hour before the start of the race. The NXT Gen Cup will be making its debut at the Nürburgring: for the first time, an all-electric series will be part of the supporting programme of the DTM. > tickets & more information Key facts, Nürburgring, Nürburg, season races 7 and 8 of 16 Circuit length: 3,629 metres Layout: eleven corners (seven right-hand, four left-hand), driven clockwise Winner 2022, Race 1: Sheldon van der Linde (BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport) Winner 2022, Race 2: Luca Stolz (Mercedes-AMG GT3, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT) Will the top duo pull away after the first half of the season?Preining took his first win of the season at the Norisring after an energetic overtaking manoeuvre against BMW works driver René Rast (Bregenz) and at the same time regained the lead in the standings. Preining's lead is ten points, and his Manthey EMA team is particularly motivated at the home race at the Nürburgring. However, the 25-year-old has to expect strong resistance from Sheldon van der Linde, who is second in the standings. The South African's knot burst at the Norisring: With his first victory on the street circuit in Nuremberg and third place in race two, the 24-year-old got back into the title fight. The BMW works driver from Schubert Motorsport won on the Eifel circuit last year and made history together with Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Audi). For the first time in DTM history, two brothers stood at the top of the podium. Ricardo Feller (CH/Audi) and Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG), who are tied on points, are 27 points behind Preining in third and fourth place. The duo wants to make up ground in the Eifel to close the gap to the top. This also applies to the Lamborghini drivers from SSR Performance, Franck Perera (F) and Mirko Bortolotti (I), who together are only one point behind with 60 points. Bortolotti has been convincing so far with consistent performances and, with the exception of an eleventh place, has always finished among the top eight. A victory at the Nürburgring could be the liberating blow for the 33-year-old. Rast is also a force to be reckoned with after his recent strong performances. The 36-year-old has already won three times in the Eifel and, following his first pole position for BMW at the Norisring, is looking to follow this up with a debut victory in the BMW M4 GT3 at the Nürburgring. Local heroes and home teams at the NürburgringAs a Cologne native, Jusuf Owega has a home game at the Nürburgring. As a young boy, he made his first acquaintance with racing on the legendary circuit and often raced on the Nordschleife with his father and brother Salman. In the ADAC GT Masters, the 21-year-old gained further experience on the Eifel circuit in recent years. This season he will be competing there for the first time as a DTM driver and Mercedes-AMG Junior driver. "The first section is very special with its unusual corner combinations, but, if you want to be at the front, the track layout can't play a role. I was able to finish in the top ten twice at Oschersleben and Zandvoort. I'm convinced that more will be possible for us in the course of the season," Owega commits himself. His brand colleague Luca Stolz also wants to attack the front at his home race. The driver from Brachbach lives 130 kilometres away from the Nürburgring, but is a frequent guest there. The 28-year-old also celebrated his first DTM victory in the Eifel in 2022. Then as now, Stolz competed for the Mercedes-AMG Team HRT, which is based in Drees, only about six kilometres from the Nürburgring. Even closer to the racing action is Manthey EMA. The Manthey team from Meuspath wants to make championship leader Preining the half-time champion in their own living room. Third home team is Toksport WRT from Quiddelbach, for whom Porsche drivers Christian Engelhart (Starnberg) and Tim Heinemann (Fichtenberg) are chasing points. Varied Sprint Track - Unpredictable Eifel WeatherThe DTM has been racing on the 3.629-kilometre sprint circuit at the Nürburgring since 2002. The short track guarantees the fans a varied and easily visible race course with the best overtaking opportunities at the end of the start-finish straight. While the first part of the track is a bit more winding, the second section is followed by fluid passages with fast straights and corners. The unpredictable Eifel weather can be a decisive factor at any time. Sudden rain, hail or thick fog have often caused turbulence on the traditional circuit in the past. But that is exactly why the Nürburgring is so popular with fans and enjoys cult status worldwide. All-electric DTM premiereWith the NXT Gen Cup, a special series celebrates its debut in the supporting programme of the DTM at the Nürburgring: In both races, the all-electric LRT NXT 1 with up to 230 hp will be used, which is based on the road-legal Mini Cooper SE. In the Swedish racing series, only young, up-and-coming talents are behind the wheel. The ADAC GT4 Germany, the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland and the BMW M2 Cup will also ensure a spectacular weekend in the Eifel with a total of six races. All championship races live on ProSiebenTV partner ProSieben will be showing all 16 races of the season live on free-to-air television. Qualifying can be seen in a live stream on ran.de. Official TV partner of the DTM in Austria is ServusTV. All races can be seen live or re-live on the Salzburg-based private channel. ServusTV Germany will broadcast a summary on the evening of the race day.
