10th April, 2011
DTM presentation in Wiesbaden thrills 120,000 fans
DTM
Wiesbaden. The fans are eagerly awaiting the DTM. The official pre-season launch of the most popular international touring car series, three weeks prior to the season opener at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, attracted 120,000 spectators to Wiesbaden in the course of the day. The fans were treated to a varied show programme around the presentation of the DTM drivers and their cars from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. ARD anchorman Claus Lufen, DTM anchorwoman Verena Wriedt and Daniel Fischer from radio partner FFH guided the fans through the programme. After 2010, this was already the second DTM presentation in Wiesbaden. “What this city has created for us is just unique”, said ITR chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht, impressed by the hospitality in Wiesbaden. On Saturday, Wiesbaden’s Mayor Dr. Helmut Müller had welcomed Aufrecht and the DTM fraternity by saying: “This weekend, the city is yours.”
The drivers from Audi and Mercedes-Benz enjoyed the interaction with their fans and showed themselves in an excellent spirit in bright sunshine. For hours and hours, they signed autographs for the fans. “That is typical for the DTM. We are not hiding, but we are seeking the contact with the spectators”, said Timo Scheider (Audi), the 2008 and 2009 DTM champion. DTM novice Christian Vietoris hadn’t expected so many fans: “I had heard that a lot of people would come, but this was overwhelming”, the Mercedes-Benz driver said, visibly impressed.
Next to autograph sessions and interviews with the DTM stars, the spectators could also watch pit stop competitions and demonstration laps with the DTM cars of Audi and Mercedes-Benz and the race cars from the partner series Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, SEAT Leon Supercopa and Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup. An oldtimer corso and stunt shows on the Wilhelmstrasse competed the programme.
Natasha Bedingfield and the bands ’Kensington Road and ’Sixpack and a Girl’ provided entertainment on the big DTM show stage, “The sun is shining, the show is great, a perfect day”, said 12-year old Felix K. from Wiesbaden about the 2011 DTM pre-season launch.
