Non-stop for the DTM as Nürburgring host third race in a row
The DTM stays at the Nürburgring for the second week in a row, hosting the sixth round of the 2020 season on the sprint layout.
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver Nico Müller has made the most of the packed schedule to lead the championship with 205 points, 29 ahead of his team-mate Robin Frijns.
Müller’s triumphant march over the 2020 DTM season hasn’t been exempt from problems, as a faulty sensor last weekend caused the Swiss to drop to finish fifth in the second race.
The season hasn’t gone as expected for reigning champion René Rast, with the Team Rosberg driver third in the championship, 46 points behind Müller despite two race victories.
Müller still feels Rast is the reference driver: “For me, it is René, as the reigning champion, who is still the one to beat. He and his team have done such an impressive job over the past three years and he’s a fierce opponent for the title again this year.”
The points difference doesn’t make it easier for the Swiss: “Even if he’s not leading the championship at the moment, he’s always up there with you. We still have four weekends ahead of us, a lot can still happen.”
BMW Motorsport is still on the back foot due to a general lack of pace, having achieved two victories so far with Team RMR driver Lucas Auer and Team RBM driver Sheldon van der Linde. But the wins have come rather thanks to extreme strategies than outright pace.
The South African remain the best-placed BMW driver in the championship in sixth place with 72 points.
“We know that the current season isn’t easy for us and that Audi is very strong,” said Team RMG driver Marco Wittmann. “But we aren’t giving up, we continue to work, and we try to find the details on the car to reduce the gap. Therefore, we hope for another good weekend.”
The sixth round of the DTM season will be the third time that on-site spectators will be admitted. DTM’s umbrella organisation ITR’s managing director Marcel Mohaupt believes having spectators at the track is also a small victory for the series.
“Last weekend already, the drivers’ parade right in front of the spectators was an emotional affair for both sides,” said Mohaupt.
Wittmann agrees: “I am already massively looking forward to seeing fans in the grandstands again. That was really cool, especially during the starting grid procedure.”
Audi Sport leads the manufacturers’ table on 690 points, with BMW 400 points behind.
Timetable
Friday 11th September
13:00 – Free Practice 1
16:30 – Free Practice 2
Saturday 12th September
10:40 – Qualifying for Race 1
13:30 – Race 1 (55 minutes plus one lap)
Sunday 13th September
10:30 – Qualifying for Race 2
13:30 – Race 2 (55 minutes plus one lap)
