DTM – Stars and Stories from the Norisring

• Miroslav Klose enjoys his home event in Nuremberg
• Two-wheel action with MotoGP star Pol Espargaró
• First DTM visit for Paralympic gold medallist Taliso Engel

Football power with Klose, Köpke and Magath
A trio of top-class footballers visited the Norisring on Sunday. Miroslav Klose, coach of 1. FC Nuremberg and 2014 World Cup winner, enjoyed his home event. "I have seen Formula 1 live, but this weekend is my first time at the DTM - and just a few metres from our stadium. I always wanted to get that close to the DTM cars," said Klose, who was a guest of Abt Sportsline and Schaeffler. Goalkeeper Andy Köpke, who won the World Cup with the German national team in 1990, took a look around the paddock and checked out the DTM cars. He too was impressed: "I have often been to the DTM, and the weekend in Nuremberg is always a highlight for me." Three-time German champion Felix Magarth, Marius Wolf from Bundesliga club FC Augsburg, and Wolfsburg player Maximilian Arnold were also at the Norisring for the DTM.

World champion Pol Espargaró sends the DTM field onto the track
Pol Espargaró amazed crowds at the street circuit in Nuremberg with a breath-taking show on two wheels. The Catalan mounted his Red Bull KTM MotoGP bike and raced down the start/finish straight, accelerating to a phenomenal 320 km/h – accompanied by some spectacular drifts and smoking tyres. In doing so, Espargaró gave those present a taste of what they can expect at the Liqui Moly Motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany, which takes place this coming weekend at the Sachsenring. "The walls are very close here, which is something I am not used to as a motorcycle racer. Like the Sachsenring, the Norisring is a truly iconic circuit with an incredible crowd," said the Moto2 world champion. After completing a show run, he took time out to send the DTM field into the Saturday race with the "Drivers start your Engines" sign. On Sunday, Pol Espargaró also presented the trophy to the second-placed DTM driver.

Atmospheric start at the Dutzendteich lake
The DTM headed to the stylish Bootshaus restaurant on the shores of the Dutzendteich lake on Friday evening. Business partners, media representatives and friends gathered in mild summery temperatures to ring in the race weekend in the Franconian Monaco. The DTM drivers also enjoyed having a chat with cool drinks and in a relaxed atmosphere. "People come together, get to know each other, and converse on an evening like this. That is what makes the DTM so friendly and so special," said Lamborghini driver Nicki Thiim, referring to the MotorSport Lounge industry event.

Home outing for "Poldi" at the Norisring
As always, Prince Leopold of Bavaria was not going to miss out on the spectacle at the Norisring this year - an absolute must for the motorsport-mad royal! After more than 60 years in the cockpit, the former DTM driver was in top form and full of enthusiasm. He gave everyone goosebumps before the start of Saturday's DTM race. At the wheel of an iconic BMW 3.0 CSL, he showed fans that classic engineering and pioneering fuel technology can go perfectly hand in hand: the vintage race car is powered by 100 percent e-fuel. "Poldi" of Bavaria enjoyed his outing on the street circuit in Nuremberg. "The Norisring is always a highlight for me, and my home race. I love the unique atmosphere in the Franconian Monaco," said the royal from Starnberg.

First trip to the DTM for Olympic champion Taliso Engel
German para-swimmer Taliso Engel lives in Nuremberg, but visited the DTM for the first time at the weekend. "In recent years I have only ever heard the engines, but now I am here live - it is a mega cool experience," beamed the 23-year-old, who was born with a visual impairment and has twice won Paralympic gold in the breaststroke. However, the real action began for Engel when he was taken out in the Schaeffler DTM Innovation Taxi for a number of laps of the street circuit. "I was very nervous. Thankfully the harness keeps you strapped in, otherwise the cornering speeds and brutal braking mean you would probably be thrown all over the place in the car," laughed Engel. The Schaeffler guest's summary of his first DTM weekend: "Seeing all this with your own eye's takes your breath away. I would love to come back."