Lausitzring preview: The DTM heads for the border
For the fourth round of the 2013 DTM season, the series heads to the Lausitzring in the Eastern German region of Brandenburg which lies on the Polish and Czech borders, some 130 kilometres south of Berlin.
A fixture on the calendar since 2001, the 52-lap race’s roots can be traced back to a Germany divided between East and West, and communism and capitalism.
In the final years of the communist regime, it was decided that a racetrack to replace Berlin’s ageing and outdated AVUS – Automobil-Verkehrs-und Übungsstrasse, or in English, Automobile Traffic and Training road – circuit was to be built, so around the mid 1980s, plans to convert one of the region’s many coal mines into a race track began to be set in motion.
As communism collapsed and Germany reunited, the idea for an East German circuit were – naturally – shelved. However, come the late 1990s during the time of Germany’s economic boom, the plans re-emerged and come the year 2000, the Lausitzring was opened.
Since its inclusion on the calendar twelve years ago, The 3.5 kilometre circuit has mostly been Mercedes territory, with the Stuttgart manufacturer taking eight victories from 13 starts.
The only men to have broken the Three Pointed Stars’ stranglehold on the circuit are Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk who took victories behind the wheel of an Audi A4 in 2004, 2006 and 2011, and reigning champion and last year’s winner, Bruno Spengler, who won for BMW on its DTM return after 20 years.
Heading into the weekend, however, both men head into the weekend under extremely different circumstances.
Spengler, who won last time out in dominant style in Salzburg will be carrying this momentum – and a slim, but sufficient 12 point championship lead over Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller – to the Lausitzring. With the undoubted psychological factors these provide, and arguably the best car in the form of the BMW M3, then the Canadian is the standout candidate for the victory.
“I really like this track a lot,” said Spengler.
“I claimed the first pole and victory for BMW there last year, so I obviously have very nice memories of the circuit.
“It is a very technical track from a driver’s point of view, as you need to know where to brake. I believe we should be able to overtake with the DRS, and the car is also very good at the Lausitzring.”
A clear warning shot then, from BMW who leads the drivers’, teams and manufacturers’ championship.
Meanwhile, Ekström’s task at the Lausitzring is much more difficult.
The 2004 and 2007 DTM champion heads into the weekend 9th in the championship, 37 points behind Spengler in the drivers’ championship, and 25 behind the best placed Audi driver, Mike Rockenfeller.
Furthermore, the Abt team has endured a tough start to the season, with incidents affecting its drivers in the previous three races. As a result, the former championship winning outfit has finished second best to Phoenix team who runs Rockenfeller.
The task for former championship winning Audi outfit is simple, then; to have a clean weekend. This is something that principal Hans-Jurgen Abt outlined before the weekend, and a statement with which Ekström agrees.
“I’ve got many fond memories of the Lausitzring,” said the Swede.
“Subjectively, I feel like it’s the track I’ve raced on more often than on any other [one] in my DTM career, and I was always running well there.
The aim is to have a good, clean race weekend from the beginning to the end for the first time this year, irrespective of the position.”
However, the weekend certainly won’t be about just Audi and BMW.
Whilst Mercedes has struggled in qualifying this season, its strike rate of eight wins from 13 starts around the Lausitzring, as well as its strong race pace, will propel them into contention for the win come Sunday.
“The Lausitzring is one of my favourite tracks and I always enjoy driving there,” said Christian Vietoris, who lies fifth in the championship as the best placed of the Mercedes drivers.
“There is one especially fast corner plus several slow ones where you have to brake hard and late.
“You need good traction when you accelerate and the right balance on the front axle at low speeds.
“We keep proving how good our car is under race conditions, but we need to raise our game in qualifying.
“If we can just start from further forward on the grid, we will then be in a position to compete for the race win, [because] over the race distance, our performance is really good.
“Our car is easy on the tyres, and our strategy has helped me move up the field on several occasions this season. Now it’s important to carry on improving our whole package.”
On paper then, it looks like the Lausitzring will be one of the most open races of there years as there is still no clear dominant car or driver, and nor will it be a battle between just Ekström, Spengler and Vietoris.
Augusto Farfus, who scored his maiden DTM career podium there last season, will be out to get his title challenge back on charge after two quiet outings, as will Britons, twice Lausitzring winner Gary Paffett and Jamie Green, who have endured a penalty hit opening three races.
Then there is the matter of Mike Rockenfeller, who will be seeking to claw back the 12-point gap between himself and championship leader Spengler, as the 2010 Le Mans winner continues his quest to take his first DTM title.
So, whilst the Lausitzring might be difficult to get to, expect it to, once again, hold a completely open and thrilling DTM race.
Spielberg facts:
Track length: 3.478 kilometers
Laps: 52
Lap Record: Paul di Resta, Mercedes 1m.18,938s (2008)
Weather: Unpredictable
Previous winners:
2001: Peter Dumbreck (Mercedes-Benz)
2002: Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2003: Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2004: Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2005: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2006: Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2007: Mika Häkkinen (Mercedes-Benz)
2008: Paul di Resta (Mercedes-Benz)
2009: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2010: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2011: Martin Tomczyk (Audi)
2012: Bruno Spengler (BMW)
Schedule:
Friday, June 14
18:45–19:00 Roll-out
Saturday, June 15
09:20–10:50 Free practice
14:40–15:50 Qualifying
Sunday, June 16
10:05–10:35 Pit stop practice
13:30 Race
TV Schedule (“Das Erste” live)
Saturday, June 15
14:30–16:00 Qualifying
Sunday, June 16
13:15–14:55 Race
