New challenge in familiar territory: BMW and the DTM visit the tradition-steeped Norisring.

Munich (DE), 23rd June 2015. After a four-week break from racing, the four BMW teams head back to the track in the DTM on 27th and 28th June: At the legendary Norisring on the streets of Nürnberg (DE), the only street races of 2015 await BMW Motorsport.

The DTM event around the Dutzendteich with its unique atmosphere captivates fans and drivers alike. However, there is one driver in the BMW Motorsport squad who is particularly looking forward to races five and six of the season: Marco Wittmann (DE), the reigning DTM Champion, lives just a few kilometres away from the track in Fürth (DE). This makes the event at the Norisring a real home race for Wittmann.

So it comes as no surprise that the BMW Team RMG driver’s calendar has been fully booked over the past few weeks – and mainly with meetings in his Franconian home. However, Wittmann travels to Austria this week for a very special highlight, before fighting for points at the Norisring. On Wednesday he will take part in a Formula One test in the Scuderia Toro Rosso at the “Red Bull Ring” in Spielberg (AT), which BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt surprised him with at last year’s season finale in Hockenheim (DE) as a special reward for winning the 2014 DTM title.

The manufacturers represented in the DTM took part in testing at the Lausitzring (DE) in preparation for the races in Nürnberg. Augusto Farfus (BR), MartinTomczyk (DE), Timo Glock (DE) and António Félix da Costa (PT) were in action for BMW Motorsport. The two BMW M4 DTMs were fielded by BMW Team RMG and BMW Team MTEK. The four BMW drivers covered more than 2,000 kilometres in total on Wednesday and Thursday.

Glock headed straight to Le Castellet (FR) from there, where he contested his first joint race with Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Bruno Spengler (CA) in the BMW Z4 GT3. The trio are currently preparing for their start in the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (BE) on 25th/26th July. The three drivers retired early due to a technical issue on their debut in the Blancpain Endurance Series, but were able to gain valuable insights with regard to the 24 Hours of Spa.

Maxime Martin (BE) was another BMW DTM driver in action at the “Circuit Paul Ricard” in addition to Glock and Spengler – and he had reason to celebrate: Alongside Markus Palttala (FI) and fellow BMW Motorsport works driver Lucas Luhr (DE), Martin finished in third place for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS and made it onto the podium after the six-hour race.

Now all of the BMW DTM drivers will meet again at the Norisring, ready to take a step forward after two difficult weekends in Hockenheim and at the Lausitzring. BMW has celebrated five wins and 15 podium finishes in Nürnberg to date. However, the street circuit, which is made ready for racing by volunteers every year and also includes public roads, proved to be difficult ground for BMW Motorsport last season. On a track that started off wet and went on to dry out later on, only two BMW drivers made it into the top ten. Local hero Wittmann in the Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM finished sixth, making him the top BMW representative.

Quotes ahead of the third race weekend of 2015 at the Norisring.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“We have mainly spent the last weeks looking at a solution for the rest of the season with our tyre partner Hankook. With the return to the old tyre standards, as announced by Hankook, the foundation should be laid for focussing purely on sporting matters once again as of the Norisring. It also makes it easier to analyse our current deficits, since we are not at all happy with the first two weekends of the season. In any case, we are looking forward now. Our clear aim is to return to making things more difficult for our rivals in Nürnberg than we have been doing lately. This will be far from easy. However, we happily accept this challenge at BMW Motorsport.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):

“The Norisring is a cult track. The flair of this track is definitely something special. Naturally we would like to be heading into the third race weekend of the season in a stronger starting position. But we are only looking forward, focussing on delivering a flawless job. Clearly our goal is to be more competitive once again in Nürnberg.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“The Norisring has always been one of the major constants in the German racing year. With only a few turns and at just 2.3-kilometres, the track appears to be easy at first glance – and yet it is a real challenge for drivers and teams alike. The set-up is extremely significant due to the undulating track and many bumps. The track also places extreme demands on the brakes. After a difficult start to the season, we are looking forward to the enthusiastic fans, unique atmosphere and the tradition at our Bavarian home race.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):

“When you look at the circuit layout of the Norisring for the very first time, you can hardly see the big challenge behind it. Street races are always special and so difficult to fully understand. That’s why we are really looking forward to our visit to Nürnberg once more. This track is truly unique.”

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK):

“The Norisring has proven to be a difficult challenge for us in the last two years. However, this season – with a bit more experience and building on the excellent team work seen so far in 2015 – we are hoping to improve on our track record there.”

Marco Wittmann (car number 1, BMW Team RMG):

“The Norisring is always a highlight for me – and I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t live that far from the track. It motivates me to have so many fans, my family, relatives and friends there supporting me. It gives me that extra push. It’s just so much fun driving on the Norisring.”

Maxime Martin (car number 36, BMW Team RMG):

“After a successful race in Le Castellet, I’m confident heading to the Norisring. It’s very different there to the other tracks in the DTM. Despite its relatively simple layout, the track is very interesting. It’s not easy finding the right rhythm. In keeping with tradition, lots of fans will be at the Norisring once again. That makes the race a highlight on the calendar. I’m really looking forward to being able to drive there.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 77, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“Everyone enjoys coming to the Norisring. It’s just such a great spectacle time and again. This street circuit suits some drivers more than others. When you’re sitting in the car and feel the unique atmosphere at the track it is always sensational.”

António Félix da Costa (car number 13, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“The race weekend will be fantastic. Things didn’t go so well for us last year, but I think that the lessons we learned will help us do better this time. In any case, I am highly motivated.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 18, BMW Team RBM):

“The Norisring is a magical place. The atmosphere and the fans are fantastic. The streets of Nürnberg haven’t necessarily been the best ground for us in the past, but perhaps we will have the chance to change that this year. The important thing is that we get the maximum speed and optimum braking out of the car.”

Tom Blomqvist (car number 31, BMW Team RBM):

“I’m really familiar with the Norisring from my time in Formula 3. Pace is crucial, and we need to improve this compared with the other races. I am definitely really looking forward to the Norisring because it’s a fantastic event. There are always a lot of spectators there. I hope that we’ll have something to offer our fans.”

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

“For me, the Norisring is the Monaco of the DTM – and my favourite track by far. I like the atmosphere, and the fans are sensational. The Norisring has always been a bit difficult for us in recent years. But events on the track are different every year. It was fun taking the wheel of the BMW Z4 GT3 again at the weekend. We learned a lot while preparing for Spa-Francorchamps. On top of that, it was the first time I had experienced a rolling start since 2002. And for us as drivers it is always great to have two race weekends back to back.”

Timo Glock (car number 16, BMW Team MTEK):

“In terms of atmosphere, the Norisring is always an absolute highlight and one of the best events of the year. However, it could be another extremely difficult weekend for us. But we will work hard to be successful there anyway. In Le Castellet I drove my first race in the BMW Z4 GT3. The car is so much fun. It was interesting to start in a series like the Blancpain Endurance Series, and this test in race conditions was very important for our preparations for Spa.”