“For us as a Bavarian team, the Norisring is practically a home race,” says ABT Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk. “But many of our partners also come from southern Germany. We are expecting more than 200 guests, whom we naturally want to offer an unforgettable experience. The Norisring is a very special racetrack and cannot be compared to anything else. As always, we will give our maximum.”
Defending champion Mirko Bortolotti describes the 2.162-kilometre city circuit at Nuremberg’s Dutzendteich as his favourite track on the DTM calendar: “Not because of the track itself, but because of the atmosphere of the event. There are lots of fans there and it’s just a very special weekend.”
The Italian, who lives in Vienna, has already stood on the podium twice at the Norisring in the DTM: second in 2022 and third in 2024. His team-mate Nicki Thiim won last year’s Sunday race from pole position and also holds the DTM lap record for GT3 cars with a time of 49.141 seconds.
“I won my first DTM race at the Norisring last year,” says the Dane. “This track will always have a special place in my heart. On paper, the track looks easy with only four corners. But every mistake is severely punished. You have to assess the risk correctly because the walls and crash barriers are very close at the Norisring. That requires precision work and provides an adrenaline rush in the cockpit. City races are becoming increasingly difficult to stage. So a big thank you to the region and all the helpers who make this race possible every year.”
“The Norisring cannot be compared to anything else, ” says ABT Motorsport Director Martin Tomczyk.
Normal road traffic runs on the Norisring all year round. As a result, the asphalt is very uneven and bumpy and constantly changing. “When you’re driving a DTM car at over 250 kph, you sometimes have to take different lines to get more grip,” says last year’s winner. “That’s also part of what makes it so special.”
The brakes are put under extreme strain at the Norisring. At the end of the start-finish straight, the cars decelerate from 250 to 50 kph. There is a second hard braking point at the end of the back straight. “Braking, top speed and good traction are key factors for success,” says Martin Tomczyk. “The team has 25 years of DTM experience at the Norisring and has prepared intensively for the special conditions.”
The team from Kempten has already won the home race in the DTM three times. Laurent Aiello’s victory in the 2002 season with the Abt-Audi TT-R is particularly memorable. After 25 years with Audi, ABT is now competing at the Norisring with Lamborghini for the first time.
Due to the short track, qualifying at the Norisring will be held in two groups. The two races will start at the usual time of 1:30 PM CEST on Saturday and Sunday. In German-speaking countries, the DTM will be broadcast live on Joyn, ran.de, ProSieben and Servus TV while the series can be watched live all around the world on TV and YouTube. All DTM races can also be viewed on Red Bull TV.
Did you know that ...
... ABT’s Head of Sports Marketing Harry Unflath is delighted that all of the team’s partners will be at the Norisring with guests?
... Schaeffler AG will be making a particularly grand appearance at its home race with 150 guests, numerous executives and 500 employees, as it does every year?
… Georg Schaeffler will also be attending the home race of ABT Sportsline and Schaeffler?
… the Nuremberg-based Feser-Graf Group has invited 60 VIP guests and 100 employees to the DTM?
... football legend Felix Magath has become a regular guest at the Norisring and will also be a guest of ABT Sportsline and Schaeffler this year?
... Michael Köllner, another football coach, who has cult status in Nuremberg, will also be a guest at the Norisring?
... Red Bull is bringing MotoGP rider Pol Espargaró and his motorbike to the Norisring to promote the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring?
... DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti will be competing in a race with sim racers at the Raceroom stand on Saturday from 5:30 PM local time?
... both ABT drivers and the team management will be guests at the traditional MotorSport Lounge hosted by B&M Marketing in the Bootshaus am Dutzendteich on Friday evening?
... Mirko Bortolotti won the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend?
... Mirko Bortolotti and Nicki Thiim competed in two 24-hour races in a row at the Nürburgring and Spa over the past two weekends?
… the team has intensively been training pit stops, which are particularly important at the Norisring due to the narrow pit lane and short track?