DTM prepares for Dijon debut
This weekend sees the DTM make its debut at Dijon, the former home of the French Grand Prix in the picturesque Burgundy region. Between 1974 and 1984 the Circuit Dijon-Prenois played host to the French round of the Formula One World Championship on four occasions, but now the iconic circuit, famed for the 1979 battle between Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux, prepares to welcome the DTM.
Dijon becomes the second French circuit to host the modern era DTM, joining Le Mans, which hosted races in 2006 and 2008, while Magny Cours has also hosted rounds of the series in its ITC guise, in 1995 and 1996.
Located 15 kilometres outside the city famed for its mustard, the circuit was built in 1972, but modernised into its present format in the 1990s under the direction of former DTM driver Danny Snoebeck. A further DTM link comes in that Dijon was the scene of present day team owner Keke Rosberg’s sole F1 win during his 1982 championship season.
Featuring just eight corners, the 3.081 kilometre track includes the famous banked Parabolique curve, which inspired the Audi and Mercedes drivers when they tested at the track in pre-season. Oliver Jarvis came out on top, ahead of Mike Rockenfeller and Jamie Green in the first day’s testing at Dijon back in April, before Timo Scheider recorded the quickest time of the test on the second day’s practice, a 1:09.738.
Reigning champion Scheider heads into the Dijon weekend, the penultimate round of the series, knowing he could be crowned champion just by finishing on the podium in France. The challenge now is for his rivals to see if they can cut the mustard in Dijon and take the title battle down to the wire at Hockenheim later this month.
