With some welcome results at the Lausitzring three weeks ago, BMW Motorsport heads to the Norisring just 20 points behind Audi Sport in the manufacturer’s title, as the battle of the brands gets ever closer in the 2016 season.
It has been a very demanding schedule for all involved, with the first four race weekends taking place over seven weeks, as Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt expressed that the Munich efforts were allowed a brief respite.
“The previous weeks had been very intense. After the successful Motorsport Festival at the Lausitzring, the next spectacle awaits us in Nuremberg,” he said, stating that the atmosphere is always unique when the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) heads to the banks of the Dutzendteich.
“The field will naturally be bunched even closer together than usual on the short circuit, which is only 2.3 kilometres long. This means that our teams and drivers must be fully focussed on the job in hand – the Norisring punishes any carelessness immediately.”
Team MTEK’s Bruno Spengler took his first podium at this very track a year ago, which saw the Franco-Canadian spearhead BMW’s comeback towards taking the constructors’ crown at the Hockenheim finale.
The Franco-Canadian, who has won there three times previously with Mercedes, is looking forward to going to a track that he has “super memories” of.
“Last year, I started Sunday’s race from pole and finished third. That was a huge relief for me, my team and everyone at BMW Motorsport. From then on, the season improved dramatically for us.
“I love the circuit and the atmosphere. It is just fantastic to race there.”
His teammate Augusto Farfus is of the same mindset as the entire field, as one wrong mistake, no matter how slight, will be severely punished.
“The Norisring seems, at first glance, to be a simple racetrack. However, it is extremely difficult to find the right set-up there,” explained the Brazilian, who is looking to turnaround his season after a difficult spell.
“The challenge here is greater than at almost any other circuit. I have had some crazy races at the Norisring. The event is magnificent, and I am really looking forward to it.”
Local hero Marco Wittmann is looking to carry his good form from the Lausitzring to Nuremberg, even with the reality of a difficult challenge at the 2.3-km circuit.
“I am really looking forward to my home races. The atmosphere both on and off the track is absolutely unique. I know an awful lot of people there, such as the marshals and members of Motorsport Club Nuremberg.
Many friends and relatives will also be there. I am particularly pleased to go into the weekend with plenty of momentum, on the back of good results that have taken me to second in the Drivers’ Championship.”