DTM Nurburgring preview: the battle heats up
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters enters the final part of its 2015 season, with the series visiting the Nürburgring this weekend for the penultimate round of this year. Pascal Wehrlein leads the standings with 14 points over Mattias Ekström as they level up on performance weights.
20-year old Wehrlein exited Oschersleben with the most comfortable lead so far for him this season, after an overly difficult weekend with no points for Ekström. The young Mercedes gun feels confident and has a clear message: “I definitely once again will fight for the wins, at the Nürburgring.”
Twice champion Ekström has delivered when it has mattered most and the bad fortunes from Oschersleben have allowed his RS 5 DTM to shed 10 kilos, making him 2.5 kilos lighter than his rival. The Swede doesn’t hide his intentions either: “I got rid of 10kg and consequently will be able to really push at the Nürburgring.”
Undoubtedly one of the fiercest battles for the title in recent years will continue under the permission of Audi’s Edoardo Mortara and Jamie Green and BMW’s Bruno Spengler, all within 36 points of the leader. Almost anything could happen with 100 points still to be awarded this season.
The series visits the short layout in the Grand Prix track, with a total length of 3.629 kilometres. Reigning champion Marco Wittmann holds the track record, already set back in 2013.
The whole grid is separated by 17.5 kilos for the Eifel, one of the most levelled so far, with Pascal Wehrlein at the wheel of the heaviest car. The much discussed effect of the performance weights will have a new spin here, with the Audis being in the middle of the table. BMW is already foreseen some struggle, but the Bavarian squad, boosted by their results in Oschersleben, which catapulted them to the Manufacturers’ standings lead, vows to keep up the fighting spirit in this final leg of the season.
The usual agenda has been altered this weekend, due to the busy on track schedule. The two free practice sessions are taking place on Friday, with the Saturday race programmed for the early afternoon, rather than on a twilight timetable.
The DTM agenda for the Nürburgring is as follows, all times are CEST (GMT + 2):
Friday 25th September
12:05 – 12:55: Free Practice 1
16:15 – 17:05: Free Practice 2
Saturday 26th September
10:15 – 10:35: Qualifying for Race 1.
13:25: Start of Race 1 (40 minutes plus one lap).
Sunday 27th September
9:00 – 9:15: Warm up.
10:55 – 11:15: Qualifying for Race 2.
13:35: Start of Race 2 (60 minutes plus one lap with one compulsory pit stop).
