After the tests is before the race - DTM starts in three weeks’ time
DTM
Hockenheim. Tension is building up for the DTM fans. From Monday till Thursday (April 2nd till 5th), the final official ITR pre-season test took place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. During four days, the DTM teams and drivers from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz put their cars to the test with the aim of being prepared in the best possible way for the first round of the season, in three weeks’ time, on April 29th.
Numerous journalists and fans watched the testing action and were delighted about the new three-way battle in the DTM. Next to Audi and Mercedes-Benz, BMW became the third German premium brand to join the battle for the title in the most popular international touring car series.
Christian Vietoris was particularly delighted after the ’dress rehearsal’ for the season opener. The 23-year old Mercedes-Benz driver from Germany set the fastest lap time of all 22 drivers. With his AMG Mercedes C-Coupé, Vietoris completed his fastest lap at the 4.567 kilometres long Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg in 1:32.705 minutes. Second-fastest driver on the four days of testing was Vietoris’s fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Jamie Green. The Briton was only 0.02 seconds down. German Mike Rockenfeller was the best-placed Audi driver, his fastest time was 1:33.017 minutes. Fastest driver with a BMW was new signing Bruno Spengler. The Canadian completed his personal best lap in 1:33.491 minutes.
Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk reached the highest top speed. The 30-year old German accelerated his BMW M3 DTM to a speed of 253 km/h.
Jamie Green was the most prolific driver at the track. The Mercedes-Benz driver racked up a total of 226 laps. Italian Audi driver Edoardo Mortara completed the shortest distance in testing: he drove a total of 86 laps at the German track.
Anticipation of the DTM’s ’new era’ also becomes apparent in the pre-event sales figures. Only seldom before have so many tickets been sold prior to the season opening round. After the official DTM presentation in Wiesbaden on April 22nd, action starts in earnest for the drivers one week later. The season opener takes place from April 27th till 29th, traditionally at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.
