Mercedes heads to Zandvoort wary of tyre performance
Mercedes AMG arrives in Circuit Park Zandvoort this weekend after having dominated the previous round of the 2015 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season in Norisring two weeks ago. The particular characteristics of the track, together with the increase in the performance weights, are a cause for concern in Stuttgart.
From one unique circuit to another: Mercedes set the mark in the bumpy urban track of Norisring two weeks ago, winning both races and taking five of six podium finishes available. Now, the DTM field arrives to the sandy and windy Zandvoort, where the unique layout and proximity to the beach are key features.
Tyre degradation is the main issue at the Dutch track. The eight Mercedes AMG C63 DTM on the grid have increased performance weights, which adds another spin to the things to take into account here. Despite the challenges ahead, Ullrich Fritz, Head of DTM, is positive about their expectations: “Because of its very specific track characteristics, however, the Norisring cannot be regarded as a yardstick for the rest of the season. In Zandvoort, the balance of power will once again have shifted, in part due to adjustment of the performance weights. Nevertheless, we are going to Holland with the objective of scoring points and fighting for podiums. It will certainly be interesting to see how long the tyres last on this track. Zandvoort is the toughest track on the calendar in terms of tyre wear. In the past, all of the teams have struggled with rapid tyre degradation. We need to take this into account in our race strategy.”
Pascal Wehrlein is the best placed Mercedes driver in the standings. The young German won in Norisring and feels Zandvoort is a circuit that particularly suits him. But the HWA AG driver remains focussed on the task at hand: “You have to be realistic and understand that Zandvoort and the Norisring are two completely different tracks. We’ll certainly do everything in our power to make sure we put on a good show against our opponents in Holland, but it’s going to be much more difficult. I’m currently third in the championship, and so we have set ourselves correspondingly ambitious targets. It’s therefore important not to lose contact with the opposition.”
Robert Wickens, also a winner at Norisring, targets the podium as an acceptable result: “I’m looking forward to Zandvoort. I hope we can keep the momentum going, but it’s not going to be an easy task. It is a really different circuit with a lot of high speed and a lot of tyre degradation, so hopefully we can get a handle on our car setup as quickly as possible.”
The DTM round in Zandvoort kicks off at 15:45 CEST (GMT + 2) on Friday afternoon, with the first free practice session.
