Munich.
The fourth race weekend of the 2019 DTM season is BMW’s home
event at the legendary Norisring in Nuremberg (GER), only about 160
kilometres away from BMW’s home in Munich (GER). Race numbers seven
and eight of the season will be held on Saturday and Sunday
(6th/7th July) on the only street circuit on
the calendar.
After six races Philipp Eng (AUT) in second place overall is the
best-placed BMW driver in the DTM driver’s championship. He has 83
points to his name and trails current leader René Rast (GER, Audi) by
ten points. Norisring local hero Marco Wittmann (GER) heads to the
‘Monaco of the DTM’ in fourth place overall with 68 points. Wittmann
had plenty of reason to celebrate last year when on the Saturday he
celebrated his first home podium at the 2.3-kilometre Dutzendteich
track, then on the Sunday followed that up with his first home win.
Fans can look forward to a special highlight in the support
programme, the BMW M1 Procar Revival. The legendary BMW M1 Procars
will be completing high-speed demo laps on all three days. The 470 hp
BMW sports cars contested one-make cup races in 1979 and 1980. Legends
from back then will take the wheel of the BMW M1 Procars at the
Norisring this year, including former Formula One drivers Marc Surer
(SUI), Christian Danner (GER) and Jan Lammers (NED).
Quotes ahead of the DTM races at the Norisring.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):
“The race weekend in Nuremberg is always a highlight on the DTM
calendar. It is our home event and the Norisring is a unique track at
which the atmosphere is always sensational. We are already really
excited to see our new BMW M4 DTM with turbo drive in action on this
extraordinary street circuit for the first time. We have got a win at
every weekend so far this season – and naturally we want to continue
that in Nuremberg. In any case, we want to deliver exciting races once
again for the many fans at the Norisring. We are also looking forward
to the BMW M1 Procar Revival. It’s great that these legendary racing
cars are part of the Norisring weekend.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):
“We all still remember the Norisring weekend last year with Marco’s
emotional home win. It goes without saying that our goal is to be up
there at the front again in Nuremberg with the new BMW M4 DTM with
turbo engine. We are in a very good starting position with all three
drivers, Marco, Bruno and Timo, having been convincing with their
performance already this season. And with a little less bad luck in
one or two races we could have brought home even more podiums. We are
definitely ready for the challenges that this unique street circuit
has in store for us and are looking forward to the weekend with the
very special atmosphere at Dutzendteich.”
Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Drivers’
standings: 7th, 40 points):
“I have a very special relationship with the Norisring. The crowd and
the atmosphere there are always brilliant. You need to enter the few
turns there perfectly. The gaps there are always very close, so you
can’t afford to make any mistakes and you need to deliver a perfect
race. I’ve won at the Norisring four times and always really look
forward to being able to return to the Norisring, which is one of my
favourite tracks.”
Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG,
Drivers’ standings: 4th, 68 points):
“Naturally I am really looking forward to it. The Norisring is always
special to me, particularly after the win last year. It is always a
great weekend and of course I am looking forward to having my whole
family, my fan club and so many people there supporting me. Also, this
year our new Premium Partner Schaeffler, who also come from the
region, are also widely represented. I’m looking forward to that in
particular as well, and naturally I am hoping for a successful weekend.”
Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’ standings:
12th, 21 points):
“I hope that the luck that has been eluding us so far will return at
the Norisring and that we will have a weekend without issues. It goes
without saying that the track is really special – it is completely
different from every other track, with just four turns. I’m excited to
see how the weekend pans out.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):
“DTM at the Norisring – this is always a fantastic event. The iconic,
unique street circuit at Dutzendteich and the huge number of fans make
the race weekend in Nuremberg a real highlight. Our whole team is
looking forward to returning there once again. Naturally the highlight
was the one-two win with Philipp and Joel, as well as Sheldon’s first
pole position at our home event at Zolder. And in the other races we
showed that we are competitive with the new BMW M4 DTM with a turbo
engine. Naturally we are eager to continue this at BMW’s home event.”
Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’
standings: 2nd, 83 points):
“The Norisring is a major highlight and I am really looking forward
to it. The layout of the Norisring with its four turns looks
relatively easy, but the track is far from easy in reality. In
qualifying in particular you need to concentrate 100 percent so that
you hit every braking point and every entry point perfectly. The gap
between the first and last place in qualifying is just a few tenths of
a second, so there is no room for error. And a lot can happen during
the course of the race – especially in the narrow hairpin bends. It
will definitely be very exciting.”
Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM,
Drivers’ standings: 11th, 25 points):
“I drove at the Norisring in 2016 and am really looking forward to
returning. We have been very close to finishing on the podium a few
times this season and I am a little disappointed that it hasn’t been
enough yet – particularly that it was often out of my hands. But we
know that we have a good pace and that fills me with confidence for
the upcoming race.”
Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Drivers’
standings: 9th, 28 points):
“I am really looking forward to returning to the Norisring. I love
street circuits and I really enjoy driving there. Without a doubt it
is one of the absolute highlights on the entire DTM calendar. I can
hardly wait to see all the fans and the many spectators, and soak up
the atmosphere. Last year we showed that we are very competitive. Our
pace and the results were very good.”
Media Schedule (all times CEST).
Friday, 5th July
14:30-15:00, ITR press conference with Bruno Spengler, Media Center
Saturday, 6th July
16:05-16:15, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Center
Sunday, 7th July
10:00-10:30, Media round table with BMW Group Motorsport Director
Jens Marquardt, BMW Hospitality
16:05-16:15, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Center