Photo: DTM Media

Preview: High stakes as the battle intensifies at the Hungaroring

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The DTM heads to the Hungaroring this weekend for the third round and first outing outside of Germany this season, with Lucas Auer being the driver to beat as Mercedes AMG dominates all three championship tables.

The new tyre and technical regulations, starting a new homologation cycle this season, have brought more exciting races to the DTM, with tyre management becoming a key factor.

Despite this, victories at Hockenheim and Lausitzring were shared between Mercedes AMG’s Auer and Audi’s Jamie Green, becoming the clear favourites for the championship after only four of 18 races held so far. The Austrian from Team HWA leads the standings with 69 points, 16 ahead of Green.

The new regulations have also brought experienced veterans into the fight, such as Mercedes’ Gary Paffett and Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller, third and fourth in the standings. Fifth is the Briton’s team-mate Robert Wickens, who has brought himself into contention after a strong weekend at the Lausitzring.

Mercedes AMG lead the teams and manufacturers’ classifications, with the new C63 DTM having been strong, reliable and fast in all races held this season.

Audi Sport are not far off from their Stuttgart-based competitors, second in the championship, 10 points adrift. BMW Motorsport has struggled with the new regulations and tyres, lying third with a 123-point deficit, with the Bavarian manufacturer hoping to make the most of the special characteristics of the track to catch up their competitors. Last year Audi Sport dominated the Hungarian weekend, taking the top six positions in Saturday’s race and a 1-2 result in Sunday’s.

The C63 DTMs will be the heaviest cars at the beginning of the weekend, with a weight of 1,130kg, with the M4 DTMs ten kilos lighter at 1,120kg. The RS 5 DTMs will the lightest at 1,115kg.

The 4.381-kilometre track, located Northeast of Budapest, presents a new challenge yet this season for teams and drivers in terms of tyres. Despite having been resurfaced last year, the winding layout, with ups and downs, short straights, heavy acceleration and braking promises to put to the test the new-for-2017 Hankooks, with drivers expecting a higher degradation than in the previous two rounds.

The track’s features allow for little overtaking opportunities, with qualifying being crucial for a good race result.

Timetable

Friday 16th of June
17:00 – Free Practice 1

Saturday 17th of June
9:40 – Free Practice 2
11:40 – Qualifying for Race 1
14:48 – Race 1 (55 minutes plus one lap)

Sunday 18th of June
10:00 – Free Practice 3
12:00 – Qualifying for Race 2
15:18 – Race 2 (55 minutes plus one lap)