Home race for BMW at the Norisring in Nuremberg

The fourth race weekend of the 2018 DTM season is the home race for BMW: the race will take place at the Norisring in Nuremberg (GER), only 160 kilometres from the home of BMW in Munich (GER). Races seven and eight will take place on Saturday and Sunday (23rd/24th June) at the only street circuit on the calendar. BMW driver Timo Glock (GER) heads the DTM standings before the races in “Franconian Monaco”. With six races completed, Glock has scored 90 points. The local hero of the Norisring, Marco Wittmann (GER) is in fifth place overall with 51 points, having claimed his first win of the season in Budapest (HUN) on the previous race weekend.

The 2.3-kilometre Norisring is a temporary street circuit around the Nuremberg Dutzendteich. BMW fans had every reason to celebrate there last year: in Saturday’s race, Bruno Spengler (CAN) claimed the first Norisring win for BMW in 25 years. This result was also the 25th win since the DTM comeback in 2012. Maxime Martin (BEL) completed the one-two result by finishing in second place. Martin then won Sunday’s race. This was another milestone: the 75th win for BMW in the history of the DTM.

Quotes ahead of the DTM races at the Norisring.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“It is non-stop for us: right after Le Mans, we are now headed for a real highlight in the DTM. It is not just the fact that this is our Bavarian home race that makes this event something special. The Norisring is a unique circuit and the atmosphere there is just sensational. Of course, we do have happy memories of last year’s historic successes there. It would be perfect if we could repeat that this weekend. However, the season so far has shown that anything is possible in this competitive field. There will be large numbers of fans at the Norisring and they can look forward to some thrilling racing. We hope that some semblance of normality will return to the DTM, following the serious incidents in the pit lane at the Hungaroring.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):

“The races at the Norisring have cult status, simply because the circuit is so special and so difficult. It has been a successful season so far for us, and we would like to continue this in Nuremberg. But it is not easy to predict what the balance of power will be on this unique street circuit. We will concentrate on working hard to take on the challenge of the Norisring and of course we are looking forward to Marco’s home race.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG – 5th place in the overall standings, points: 51):

“Of course I have great expectations. It feels good to be coming off a win ahead of the race at the Norisring. I am really looking forward to the weekend and I am probably the only driver who has a real home race, living so close to the track. Knowing that all the fans, the fan club, my family and friends will be there really spurs me on. However, I still have a score to settle with the Norisring and the podium there. It was a close-run thing last year and I am hoping that I will be able to reach the podium this time around.”

Augusto Farfus (#15 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG – 17th place in the overall standings, points: 8):

“We had an extremely chaotic race at the Norisring last year. I think that our car is much more competitive this year. I am really looking forward to the Norisring as it is always a very special event. The setting at the Dutzendteich is just fantastic and the enthusiastic spectators make for a great atmosphere.”

Timo Glock (#16 DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR – 1st place in the overall standings, points: 90):

“We have struggled at the Norisring in the past, but we took a great leap forward last year. I hope that we can be fast again this year. Of course, we also know that Mercedes is very strong in terms of the top speed, so it will be interesting to see how we set up to combat that. Audi has put on strong performances at the Norisring too but Mercedes is the clear favourite for me. We have to make sure that we are sorted out as well as possible.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):

“The Norisring is a very special circuit. Everything has to be at its best for a fast performance. Minor details can make the difference between victory and defeat, as the field is even tighter than normal on this short circuit. We successfully mastered this challenge last year – and celebrated two wins. So we are really looking forward to going back there. The fans are closer to the action than anywhere else and the atmosphere there is always very special for the whole team.”

Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM – 12th place in the overall standings, points: 23):

“The Norisring is a circuit that I really like. I also enjoy the atmosphere there – street circuits are always special. The circuit only has four turns but it is amazingly difficult to get a good line all the time. Aerodynamics do not play a major role, the track is bumpy and you have to stay close to the walls. I hope that we are as competitive as we were last year. It is always a very special race that has earned the moniker of ‘Monaco of the DTM’

Philipp Eng (#25 SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR – 7th place in the overall standings, points: 41):

“BMW was set up really well at the Norisring last year. We also saw in Budapest how quickly the overall picture can change. Personally, I really like driving at the Norisring. Street circuits are always particularly cool. I hope that it will be as much of a success for us as the second race in Budapest.”

Joel Eriksson (#47 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM – 10th place in the overall standings, points: 23):

“The Norisring is right up there at the top of my list of favourite circuits. I raced there in Formula 3 last year. It was difficult at first but by the end of the weekend we were up to speed and I had developed a good feel for the circuit. It was great to drive there and I am looking forward to returning to the Norisring in the BMW M4 DTM.”