DTM “surprised” by Nüremberg decision, Spa opener confirmed

Marcel Mohaupt, the managing director of DTM promoter ITR, has expressed surprise at the decision by authorities in Nüremberg to block the planned 2020 season opener at the Norisring.

The street circuit had been named as the opening event on a new-look calendar that was announced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, before the announcement was made by the local government barely 24 hours later that it wouldn’t grant permission for the race to take place.

As a result, the Belgian circuit of Spa will now host the opening rounds of the season on the first weekend of August, with the local government there having now granted permission for the race meeting to take place after a series of plans were put in place to deal with the ongoing threat of coronavirus.

“The decision not to grant governmental permission for the DTM races at the Norisring came as a surprise to us, Mohaupt said. “However, we respect the decision by the City of Nuremberg. For the DTM, too, safety of everyone involved has the highest priority. Now, we are looking forward to the new season opener at Spa-Francorchamps.”

The cancellation of the Norisring event means the season will now run over nine race weekends.