- “Franconian Monaco” is a highlight on the DTM calendar
- Championship leader Thomas Preining out to repeat last year’s success at the Norisring
- Spa-Francorchamps winner Marco Wittmann from Fürth is the local favourite
Munich. The action comes thick and fast in the DTM. The spectacular event in the Dutch coastal resort of Zandvoort is followed this weekend (7th to 9th July) by another motorsport highlight at the Norisring in Nuremberg. The only street circuit in Germany is known as the “Franconian Monaco”, due to its unique flair, and is popular among drivers and fans alike. However, the 2.3-kilometre strip of asphalt around the historic stone grandstands is by no means a stroll in the park. The narrow track, many bumps and hard braking manoeuvres demand the utmost concentration at all times from the drivers. The spectators, on the other hand, are treated to a unique spectacle of motor racing. At no other DTM circuit do the cars pass the grandstands as often as at the Norisring. A lap between the Grundig hairpin and Dutzendteich takes just 50 seconds. ProSieben is showing both races from the Norisring live on free-to-air TV in Germany, with coverage starting at 13:00 – half an hour before the start of the race – on Saturday and Sunday.
Keyfacts, Norisring, Nuremberg, races 5 and 6 of 16- Circuit length: 2.300 metres
- Layout: Four corners (one right, three left), driven anti-clockwise
- 2022 winner, Race 1: Thomas Preining (Porsche 911 GT3 R, KÜS Team Bernhard)
- 2022 winner, Race 2: Felipe Fraga (Ferrari 488 GT3, Red Bull AlphaTauri AF Corse Ferrari)
Tenth home outing for Marco Wittmann – Norisring debut for Laurin Heinrich
Local favourite Marco Wittmann lives in Fürth, just round the corner from the Norisring. The 33-year-old arrives in Nuremberg as the newly-crowned winner of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). Wittmann lines up on the street circuit for the tenth time this year, and is hungry to mark this milestone with a top result. The BMW driver still has very fond memories of his home victory in 2018: “I had to wait a few years for that moment. As such, that win means just as much to me as my two DTM titles.” His recipe for success at the Norisring: “You have to find the right degree of risk, as the walls are lurking next to the track if you get it wrong.” Laurin Heinrich from Würzburg has a little further to travel than Wittmann. However, the 21-year-old has been familiar with the circuit for years. As a young boy, Heinrich regularly used to visit the DTM races as a spectator, and he is now looking forward to his first outing at the Norisring in his Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Good opportunities for championship leader Thomas Preining
It is difficult to make predictions in the DTM, as shown by the four different winners in the first four races of the season. However, championship leader Thomas Preining (A) arrives at the street circuit in the heart of Nuremberg as one of the favourites. The 24-year-old is yet to win a race in the Porsche 911 GT3 R, but has consistently finished in the points and has twice stepped onto the podium. Last year, Preining won the Saturday race at the Norisring and made history in the process: this was the first victory for Porsche in the DTM. Judging by his strong showing in Zandvoort, the Austrian is well capable of repeating last year’s success in his 911.
Franck Perera (F), who is second in the table and made his DTM debut as a last-minute replacement at the Norisring in 2022, has had something of a rollercoaster season so far. Top results on the two Saturdays have been followed on both occasions by finishes outside the top ten on the Sunday. Should his run continue in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, the Perera could be looking at another podium in race one at the Norisring. Ricardo Feller (CH) and Maro Engel (Monaco) have climbed into third and fourth place in the championship on the back of their first wins of the season in Zandvoort. They also arrive in Nuremberg full of confidence in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 and Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The Norisring street circuit – a sprint between two turning points
At just 2.3 kilometres in length, the Norisring is a sprint between the Grundig hairpin and Dutzendteich. The layout – three straights, two hairpins and a chicane – may look pretty simple at first glance. However, apart from the turns, there are now run-off zones, as guardrails and walls accompany the drivers on their laps. Very few other circuits put the brakes on the DTM cars through their paces like the street circuit in Nuremberg. Rapid straights are followed by tight corners and hairpins, on the approach to which the drivers must brake from 250 km/h down to 60 km/h in places. The uneven surface and many bumps make it difficult to hit the exact braking point and fastest line. Mere centimetres can make all the difference here. After the Schöller S, the drivers stick as close as possible to the wall, in order to maintain their speed. In the past, however, this has resulted in the odd wing mirror being left behind on the track.
Qualifying in two groups
Due to the size of the large field, the two qualifyings at the Norisring will each be held in two groups, based on Friday’s free practice sessions. The fastest driver overall will start from pole position, alongside the best driver from the other group. The driver with the second-fastest time in the pole-sitter’s group starts third, with fourth place occupied by the second driver from the other group. As such, the grid positions are not determined solely by the times set, but also the positions in the qualifying sessions. This system is intended to compensate for the different track conditions for the two qualifying groups.
First appearance of the ADAC GT Masters at a DTM event
The ADAC GT Masters returns to the street circuit in Nuremberg for the first time for 15 years on the support programme for the DTM. One of the top favourites is Maximilian Götz (Uffenheim), who is standing in for Arjun Maini at Mercedes-AMG Team HRT and won both races in 2021. However, the 2021 DTM champion is putting in a double shift in Nuremberg, as Götz is also working for ProSieben as an expert and co-commentator. There will be a historic feel to the track this weekend, when DTM Classic lines up for the first time this season. The vintage Group A touring cars from the 1980s and high-tech Class 1 racers from the 1990s will take spectators on a journey through the various eras of the popular racing series. Furthermore, the 455-hp LMP3 cars of the Prototype Cup Germany will also be in action in Nuremberg. Rounding off the programme at the Norisring is the BMW M2 Cup.
Attractive prizes and a packed programme
Thrilling DTM races, top-class support series, and great entertainment – all for just 69 euros at the Norisring. Admission is free for under 16s when accompanied by a paying adult. The ticket includes free travel on public transport in the Nuremberg region, as well as free access to the paddock for all series. Fans can also get the drivers’ autographs and pose for the odd selfie.
All races live on ProSieben
TV partner ProSieben is showing all 16 of this season’s races live on free-to-air TV. All races start at 13:30. Qualifying sessions are streamed live at
ran.de. The DTM is broadcast live on television in over 70 countries around the world. The official TV partner of the DTM in Austria is ServusTV. The private Salzburg-based station is showing all the DTM races live or repeated in full. ServusTV Deutschland will also broadcast a summary of the best action in the evening after each race.