Lausitzring comes hot on the heels of Hockenheim

Looking back at a positive start: BMW returned to the DTM with a promising performance at the Hockenheimring (DE). On Saturday four out of six BMW M3 DTM cars secured a top-ten grid position with Dirk Werner (DE) finishing third. After the first race of the season, BMW currently has eight points to its name, courtesy of Andy Priaulx (GB).

The pack will be shuffled again at the Lausitzring this weekend. The three BMW teams may have spent some days testing there last year, but this test happened quite early in the development of the BMW M3 DTM. Therefore, the drivers must take full advantage of the free practice sessions, in particular, to reacquaint themselves with the track and work on the set-up of their race-spec BMW M3 DTM cars.

Martin Tomczyk, BMW Team RMG BMW M3 DTM

Photo by: xpb.cc

The DTM is a regular at the Lausitzring. The first DTM race was staged at this circuit in 2001. The crowds quite literally have front-row seats there: the imposing grandstand next to the start-finish straight provides views of almost the entire track. Few circuits in Germany offer as many circuit variants as the Lausitzring. The DTM race will be held on the 3.478-kilometre track, which consists of parts of the tri-oval and the round circuit.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

"The dust has barely settled after our DTM comeback, and already the adventure continues: this weekend we move on to the Lausitzring for race two. There is no time to catch a breather between races. Our teams all worked hard in Hockenheim, and they will have their hands full to repair the damaged cars in time for the first practice session ahead of the next race. The Lausitzring will demand a great deal from everyone. However, the whole team is motivated, as they can all see that we are heading in the right direction.

"The overall package is working well and the performance is promising. At the same time, Hockenheim showed that we still need to improve some areas. That is normal for a newcomer. We are looking forward to the second race of the season. We want to back up the fine performance at the season-opener in front of the fans at the Lausitzring. The crowd of 142,000 in Hockenheim just goes to show how the 2012 DTM has captured people's imagination."

Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG):

"Last year I won at the Lausitzring. That was a special moment. However, we will have to wait and see how the BMW M3 DTM goes at this very special track. The season-opener in Hockenheim showed that we are competitive. Only Saturday's qualifying will show to what extent the same is true at the Lausitzring. I obviously hope we are quick there too."

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG):

"I am glad that I now have all the debuts behind me: my first DTM practice, my first qualifying, my first race, and much more. It goes without saying that you cannot help but think about all those things in the run-up to the first race in a new series. At the Lausitzring, I should, to a certain extent, be able to revert to something of a routine. I will concentrate on working with BMW Team RMG to find the optimal setting for the BMW M3 DTM in Lausitz. Then we will see what happens come the weekend."

Bruno Spengler, BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 DTM

Photo by: xpb.cc

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer):

"The Lausitzring is one of my very favourite tracks. I have had several podium finishes there. This year, however, we are obviously entering uncharted waters with the BMW M3 DTM. That is why it is so important for me to get as many laps as possible under my belt during in free practice. I hope the car runs as well as it did last weekend."

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer):

"It goes without saying that not all the experience we gained in Hockenheim can be applied at the Lausitzring. We hardly have any time to prepare for the race. For this reason, it will be crucial to find a good set-up for the BMW M3 DTM as quickly as possible. If we manage that, we will hopefully be in good shape again. I have taken a lot of positives from Hockenheim, particularly qualifying, and am now hungry to get back out on the track."

Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM):

"I have very special memories of the Lausitzring. It was there that I sat at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM for the first time. The grip level is relatively low there, and there are a few bumps. The circuit offers some very good overtaking opportunities. I reckon it will be very close again, particularly in qualifying. The sixth place in Hockenheim has given me a real boost. I am ready for my second DTM weekend."

Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM):

"I only came away from our test sessions with positive impressions of the Lausitzring. The track surface is special and very undulating. The whole venue is very impressive. Obviously the huge grandstands were empty during the tests, but when thousands of fans are there for our second race, there is bound to be an electrifying atmosphere. We made a promising debut at the Hockenheimring. It is now a question of continuing the positive start to the season and making full use of the experience we gained there."