After some solid points finishes in races five and six of the 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) season, former champion Marco Wittmann is not yet thinking about just who will be in the hunt, to become this year’s “DTM-Meister.”
The Fürze-based driver, who is one of five individuals that have won from pole position this year, says that it’s “great” to see just how uncertain the championship is, which is giving something back to the fans.
“We really have a mixed field, and it’s great to see it, as it’s good for the sport and the DTM,” explained the Team RMG driver to TouringCars.Net at the end of the Motorsport Festival Lausitzring on Sunday evening.
“Personally, for me, it was a good weekend, as we didn’t expect to be as good here in Brandenburg, which is a track that has never suited us, but I finished P4 and P6, meaning some more good points.”
But the challenge of the DTM is as pressurized as ever, as Wittmann stated that there is no time to relax, like in other championships.
“In DTM, it’s tough during the whole race, as we’re all so tight, and you need to focus to get the absolute best lap time, to hit the maximum, not make any mistakes, otherwise you can be caught and be overtaken.”
He also went on to explain that the preparation is a key factor in being at the very top, which we saw from the 26-year-old in 2014, as he showed incredible consistency to take the drivers’ title in his second season.
“Here, you need to be focused and fully concentrated on both races. That is the most challenging, as well as being hot in the car, but at the end of the day, we all train, which is part of our daily routines.
“It’s key to keep your focus and concentration at a high level, which is quite tough.”
Wittmann now heads to his home race at the Norisring, which could see Mercedes-AMG DTM take charge at a track that has served them well.
But will he be able to show his true potential once again in front of friends and family? We’ll find out in three weeks.