BMW M3 DTM on the streets of Nürnberg

Munich (DE). After a four-week break, the 2013 DTM season picks up speed again with the race at the Norisring (DE). On 14th July, the four BMW teams will be back in action at the only street circuit on the DTM calendar in Nürnberg (DE). Despite having a difficult weekend recently at the Lausitzring (DE), BMW lines up at the fifth race weekend of the year as the leading manufacturer on 177 points. Reigning DTM champion Bruno Spengler (CA) is second in the Drivers’ Championship on 59 points, the same score as Audi driver and current leader Mike Rockenfeller (DE). In the team standings, BMW Team Schnitzer leads with 81 points to its name.

Thrilling duels and excitement right down to the last corner: the rain-dominated thriller at the Norisring was one of the most exciting races of the last DTM season. Two BMW drivers made the podium in 2012: Martin Tomczyk (DE) as runner-up and Spengler in third place. This year’s DTM race in Nürnberg once again promises to be another genuine highlight. Nowhere else do the cars come so close to the crash barriers as on the street circuit around the Dutzendteich lake. A total of 135,000 fans followed the action on the 2.3-kilometre circuit over the course of the weekend in 2012. The Norisring made its debut on the DTM calendar in 1984 and has been popular with spectators and fans alike ever since, thanks largely to its unique atmosphere.

One BMW driver is particularly looking forward to his outing in the city in the Franconia region of Germany: Marco Wittmann (DE). The DTM rookie grew up just 40 kilometres away in Markt Erlbach (DE) and moved to Fürth (DE) this year. The street circuit, with its different surfaces offering only limited grip, is also a happy uniting ground for Spengler. It was here that he claimed his first DTM victory in 2006. In total, the Canadian has won three times in Nuremberg. BMW has five DTM victories at the Norisring to its name.

Quotes ahead of the race at the Norisring:

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “The DTM break is finally over – and few other circuits could offer a better stage on which to end the first half of the season than the Norisring. This circuit can look back on a long tradition and enjoys cult status with the spectators. After the tough weekend at the Lausitzring, everyone in our team is now extremely motivated to get back to winning ways. We are also looking forward to the unique atmosphere at this street race, and particularly to the BMW fans who turned out in huge numbers to support us in 2012. Last year we experienced one of the most nerve-wracking DTM races ever at the Norisring. We want to do our bit to ensure the spectators will see another exciting weekend this season.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer): “Long straights, two hairpins, and an S bend – at first glance, the Norisring looks to be a really simple layout. However, the first impression is deceptive. As on any street circuit, the track surface is extremely bumpy in some sections. On top of that, the Grundig and Dutzendteich hairpins are very challenging. For the drivers, it is crucial to find exactly the right braking point and to then position the car very precisely. They have to be early on the gas, in order to take enough momentum onto the following straights. Given his good results on this circuit in the past, Bruno Spengler goes into the weekend full of confidence. Dirk Werner scored his first point in the DTM at the Norisring in 2012 and is also very motivated.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM): “This is certainly an interesting and very different track to most of the others on the DTM calendar. It is good to have a wide variety of tracks and we have certainly always enjoyed racing on street circuits. As such, I am hopeful we can do well at the Norisring, where we have a very large and enthusiastic crowd. Last year our car showed good speed in qualifying. Unfortunately Augusto Farfus was involved in a crash in the very first corner and subsequently had to retire. I know both Augusto and Joey Hand enjoy this sort of track.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG): “We are really looking forward to the Norisring. We used the break to clear our heads, work hard, and to finally put together all the pieces at the end of the first half of the season. Martin Tomczyk finished runner-up in difficult, wet conditions in 2012. Andy Priaulx also finished in the top ten, coming home seventh. That shows how comfortable our drivers feel at the Norisring. As such, everything should hopefully fall into place at last.”

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK): “We learned the hard way recently at the Lausitzring. However, that is to be expected as a new team in such a fiercely-competitive series as the DTM. We have drawn the right conclusions from that weekend. The Norisring is completely different to the other circuits on the DTM calendar. For this reason, we will have to wait and see how we cope there. Generally speaking, however, I have a good feeling ahead of the weekend. The outing at the Norisring is particularly special for Marco Wittmann, as it is his home event. And Timo Glock has proven on more than one occasion over the course of his career that he is at home on street circuits.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 1, BMW Team Schnitzer): “The Norisring is my very favourite track. I have won here three times and almost always finished on the podium. The atmosphere is simply sensational. Nürnberg is the DTM’s own Monaco – a street circuit, which really puts us drivers through our paces, despite the layout looking simple at first glance. You have to drive very close to the walls, watch out for bumps, and brake late – only then do you have any chance of winning. The fans in Nuremberg are mad about motorsport. I like that a lot.”

Dirk Werner (car number 2, BMW Team Schnitzer): “After a four-week break, I am glad to get back to business. I am looking forward to the race at the Norisring and especially its great atmosphere. Driving on a street circuit in front of so many fans is a very special feeling. I have fond memories of last year’s DTM race, in which I came home tenth to score my first point in the series. The Norisring is also not too far from Würzburg, so my family and friends will be there to support me.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 7, BMW Team RBM): “The circuit in Nürnberg is very different, but very nice. Last year we had a great qualifying. I was the best-placed BMW driver in third. Then the rain came and reshuffled the cards. A collision shortly after the start meant I had to retire after just a few laps. Despite this, BMW was performed very well in Nuremberg in 2012. I hope we can repeat that performance this year.”

Joey Hand (car number 8, BMW Team RBM): “I love street racing, as there is always plenty of action on a street circuit. It is pure motor racing. As a driver, you have to focus for the entire 83 laps of the Norisring. You cannot afford to make even the slightest of mistakes, otherwise you are in a wall. That is what makes street races so fascinating for fans and drivers alike. The emphasis at the Norisring is definitely on the two hairpins. You have to get the line right there to clock a fast lap.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 15, BMW Team RMG): “The Norisring weekend is always one of the highlights of the year. It is the only city circuit on the calendar and DTM races have a long tradition there. At first glance the track looks easy, but it is not. It may only have four corners, but they are quite difficult to get right. Generally speaking, the circuit is very bumpy. I am really looking forward to seeing a lot of BMW fans who will once again make the race a fantastic experience for us drivers.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 16, BMW Team RMG): “I just love street circuits. Macau is my all-time favourite track, but the Norisring is a great substitute. The more difficult a track is the more I enjoy my racing. It is also nice to go back to a track where you had a good result, as I did in 2012 at the Norisring. I can hardly wait to get back in the car.”

Marco Wittmann (car number 21, BMW Team MTEK): “The race at the Norisring is the ultimate highlight of the season for me for two reasons. On the one hand, it is my home race. I was born in the Franconia region and grew up down the road in Markt Erlbach, so I will have a lot of friends and relatives at the circuit supporting me. Furthermore, I won two races there during my time in Formula 3. All that makes the Norisring my favourite DTM circuit.”

Timo Glock (car number 22, BMW Team MTEK): “The Norisring is one of many tracks on the DTM calendar that I last raced on ten years ago during my time in single-seaters. I remember it as good fun. At 2.3 kilometres it is is a very short, bumpy and really tricky track. It will be an interesting weekend. Hopefully the Norisring will suit our car better than the Lausitzring did recently.”

BMW