Track reconstruction triggers discussion

For the fourth time since 2000, the DTM is racing at a new track lay-out at the EuroSpeedway. In time for this weekend’s third season round, the first corner after start and finish has been reconstructed. After these measures, the track length is now 3.478 kilometres, which makes it 36 metres longer than last year. The changes were made to allow for additional overtaking manoeuvres and to provide more excitement.

DTM record champion Bernd Schneider sums up: “You can always discuss about reconstructions and differ on them – there will always be issues that can be discussed. But the EuroSpeedway Lausitz was a track with absolutely no possibilities for overtaking. When there is a possibility now, it is at this point, so therefore, the reconstruction definitely is an improvement.”

Audi’s Timo Scheider shares that opinion: “The new first corner still is the main critical point and triggers a lot of discussion among the drivers”, the 28-year old said. “When we were practicing starts, it came like I had feared: Bernd (Schneider) and I were side-by-side and then still both had to brake with maximum force in order to make it through without any damage. When it will be like that in the race, the fans will get to see an exciting start…”

Before the start of the race, however, the focus will be on qualifying on Saturday. Here, it will show to what extent the reconstruction will have its effect on the lap times, because then the teams will have to put their cards on the table. Today, they rather concentrated on finding the best possible set-up for the race, so Spengler’s fastest lap time (1:19.380 minutes) doesn’t mean that much. The official lap record is held by Mika Häkkinen, who set a lap time of 1:17.583 minutes on the old track in 2005. The ARD is broadcasting qualifying live from 13.30 h onwards.