Photo: Daimler Global Press

Robert Wickens heads to Norisring as championship leader

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Mercedes AMG is ready for the fourth round of the 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season, taking place this weekend at the Norisring, the only street track in the calendar. The Stuttgart manufacturer hopes to recover the pulse of the championship at the picturesque track, with Canadian Robert Wickens leading the Drivers’ standings.

The three-point star manufacturer has been the most successful at the Norisring so far, having produced no less than 14 victories since 2003. Last year, Mercedes AMG enjoyed a very successful weekend, with Pascal Wehrlein and Robert Wickens scoring victories.

“We lead the championship once again as we travel to the Norisring just as we did in the run-up to Spielberg and the Lausitzring. While that makes us feel really good, if you look closely at the scores in the standings and take into account that Robert has now taken the lead from Paul, then you begin to quickly realise how close everything is. For us, the Norisring is like our front room. Nowhere else have we been as successful in the DTM, so we have set ourselves extremely ambitious goals for the coming weekend”, said Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes AMG DTM, though remaining cautious. “However, we are also aware that anything can happen in the DTM. The races will certainly not be a foregone conclusion.”

Robert Wickens has had a good season so far. The Canadian hasn’t scored any victories, but counts three podium results in the six races held up until now. Wickens leads the Drivers’ standings with 58 points, three ahead of BMW’s Marco Wittmann, and eyes the victory at the Nuremberg track: “For the first time in my DTM career, I’ll be lining up at the Norisring as championship leader in a race. That feels great and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve always been strong in Nuremberg in recent years. I’ve finished on the podium in every race since 2013. I obviously don’t want to see an end to this series of successes and aim to extend my lead even further.”

Paul Di Resta is fifth in the championship, having been the leader until the arrival in Lausitzring. The Scot feels prepared for the challenge: “I now hope to have a successful weekend in Nuremberg and rejoin the race for the title. The team have prepared well for the track as they do every year, and my focus is on finishing as far forward as possible.”

Mercedes AMG trails fellow rivals in the Manufacturers’ table, in third position with 180 points, 48 behind the leader BMW Motorsport.

The on track action for the DTM starts on Friday afternoon at 17:00 for the first free practice session.