The waiting is over: with the ‘DTM-Festival’ at the Hockenheimring, the most popular international touring-car series kicks off its new season. From 30th April to 03rd May, the motor-racing enthusiasts that made the trip to the tradition-rich motor-sport venue located in Baden-Württemberg will be provided a truly outstanding four-day motor-racing event. In addition to the new two-race DTM format, the visitors also may look forward to a lot of additional action and activities on and aloof from the track.
DTM has been subjected to a major revamp: in the run-up to the season kick-off of the hard-fought series, the doubled number of races and new regulations promise to make for clearly more excitement, this year. A 40-minute race on Saturday will be added to the one-hour race on Sunday and while a pit stop for a set of tyres is obligatory on Sunday, the drivers may complete the Saturday round on one set of tyres. In addition, the DRS regulations also were revised to allow for more overtaking manoeuvres: with immediate effect, the drivers may tilt their rear wings down for achieving a higher top speed three times per lap.
The 4.574 km Hockenheimring boasts the fastest section of track in the whole DTM season, with cars reaching a top speed of 270kph between the Parabolica and the hairpin. The full-throttle percentage over a single lap is 64%. Seven corners are traversed at speeds of over 100kph, while the remaining four are taken at under 100kph.
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg traditionally hosts both the season opener and the grand finale.
Photos © BMW AG; AUDI AG
