DTM events in 2015: Nine events, 18 races

Hockenheim (D)

Race 1 (Round 1): Saturday, May 2, 14.45

Race 2 (Round 2): Sunday, May 3, 13.40

Track length: 4.574 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Mattias Ekström (Audi), 1m 32.244s (2008)

Track record, race: Martin Tomczyk (BMW), 1m 32.532s (2014)

Audi wins in the DTM season opener at Hockenheim:

2002 Laurent Aiello, Abt-Audi TT-R; 2007 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2008 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2009 Tom Kristensen, Audi A4 DTM.

Track description by Nico Müller:

“For me as a Swiss, Hockenheim is almost a home round because the track is pretty close to the border. At Hockenheim, aerodynamic efficiency is particularly important because of the many relatively fast and semi-fast turns in which the car has to generate downforce. But there are also some top speed sections here, such as the Parabolica, where we’re probably going to see some great slipstream duels again and – thanks also to DRS – many overtaking maneuvers. My personal favorite is the fast right-hand turn at the entrance to the Motodrom – a real challenge which is also great fun.”

Lausitzring (D)

Race 1 (Round 3): Saturday, May 30, 18.10

Race 2 (Round 4): Sunday, May 31, 14.20

Track length: 3,478 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), 1m 17.463s (2013)

Track record, race: Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), 1m 18.268s (2013)

Audi DTM victories at the Lausitzring:

2004 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2005 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2011 Martin Tomczyk, Audi A4 DTM.

Track description by Adrien Tambay:

“Finding the right rhythm is always a challenge at the Lausitzring. The track has an unusual configuration because we’re driving on part of the oval and then return to the infield. The walls are very close, so you should approach the limit with caution. For the spectators, it’s great. They’ve got a unique view from the grandstands. And at the end of the long straight, there’s a good overtaking opportunity so that they get to see a lot of action.”

Norisring (D)

Race 1 (Round 5): Saturday, June 27, 16.45

Race 2 (Round 6): Sunday, June 28, 15.15

Track length: 2.300 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz), 47.785s (2008)

Track record, race: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz), 48.446s (2008)

Audi DTM victories at the Norisring

1990 Hans-Joachim Stuck, Audi V8 quattro; 1991 Hans-Joachim Stuck, Audi V8 quattro; 2002 Laurent Aiello, Abt-Audi TT-R.

Track description by Jamie Green:

“With respect to thrilling racing and gripping overtaking maneuvers the Norisring is the best race track of all. That was even the case in the days before DRS and now even more so. Obviously, I’ve got fond memories of the Norisring due to my victories there although it’s actually not a track that’s particularly enjoyable from a driving perspective. This track is primarily about braking, slow turns and driving with little downforce, in a way we normally don’t drive in the DTM. Because the Norisring has only straights and extremely slow turns you can get closer to the car in front. As a result, the duels are fiercer and more thrilling than on any other DTM race track. And the atmosphere with the many fans gives you goose bumps – especially, of course, as an Audi driver.”

Zandvoort (NL)

Race 1 (Round 7): Saturday, July 11, 18.10

Race 2 (Round 8): Sunday, July 12, 14.10

Track length: 4.307 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz), 1m 30.449s (2014)

Track record, race: Marco Wittmann (BMW), 1m 32.296s (2013)

Audi DTM victories at Zandvoort:

2002 Mattias Ekström, Abt-Audi TT-R; 2004 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2006 Tom Kristensen, Audi A4 DTM; 2007 Martin Tomczyk, Audi A4 DTM; 2008 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2011 Mike Rockenfeller, Audi A4 DTM; 2012 Edoardo Mortara, Audi A5 DTM; 2014 Mattias Ekström, Audi RS 5 DTM.

Track description by Mattias Ekström:

“Zandvoort is one of my favorite tracks. It has many nice corners with great combinations, going up and down. The circuit has a fantastic rhythm. Zandvoort is also one of the few tracks with good overtaking opportunities and on which you can win even from a bad grid position. At the beginning of the weekend, there’s hardly any grip on the track but you can feel it increasing lap by lap. The thing I like most at Zandvoort are the blind corners – that’s where you need a lot of confidence in your car.”

Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)

Race 1 (Round 9): Saturday, August 1, 18.20

Race 2 (Round 10): Sunday, August 2, 15.15

Track length: 4.326 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Bruno Spengler (BMW), 1m 24.588s (2013)

Track record, race: Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), 1m 25.266s (2014)

Audi DTM victories at the Red Bull Ring:

2011 Martin Tomczyk, Audi A4 DTM; 2012 Edoardo Mortara, Audi A5 DTM.

Track description by Edoardo Mortara:

“Spielberg is one of my favorite tracks on the DTM calendar. Without really knowing why, I’ve always been competitive there – the circuit obviously suits me well. The Red Bull Ring has a lot of variety, with long straights and extremely slow corners, such as the second one. The atmosphere is unique. We drive on a roller-coaster, surrounded by beautiful scenery and enthusiastic fans in the grandstands and the paddock. My favorite sector is the last section that runs downhill and ends in a fast but difficult turn on the start-finish straight.”

Moscow Raceway (RUS)

Race 1 (Round 11): Saturday, August 29, 17.30 (15.30 CEST)

Race 2 (Round 12): Sunday, August 30, 17.15 (15.15 CEST)

Track length: 3.931 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Maxime Martin (BMW), 1m 28.523s (2014)

Track record, race: Miguel Molina (Audi), 1m 28.305s (2014)

Audi DTM victories at auf dem Moscow Raceway:

2013 Mike Rockenfeller, Audi RS 5 DTM.

Track description by Mike Rockenfeller:

“Moscow Raceway is very demanding. Stable brakes are very important because you have to brake on entering several tight corners. We’ve been racing on the longer track configuration since last year, which is perfect for the DTM. The two best overtaking opportunities are in front of the last and the first turn. Both are good places for using the DRS. My personal favorite is the combination following the second turn.”

Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)

Race 1 (Round 13): Saturday, September 12, 13.30

Race 2 (Round 14): Sunday September 13, 15.15 

Track length: 3.696 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), 1m 20.120s (2013)

Track record, race: Joey Hand (BMW), 1m 21.255s (2013)

Audi DTM victories at Oschersleben:

2004 Tom Kristensen, Audi A4 DTM; 2006 Tom Kristensen, Audi A4 DTM; 2008 Timo Scheider, Audi A4 DTM; 2009 Timo Scheider, Audi A4 DTM; 2011 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM.

Track description by Timo Scheider:

Oschersleben is a very selective track with only few run-off areas so that even small mistakes are severely punished. With overtaking being difficult there, a good qualifying result and the right strategy in the race are important. In the first turns and chicanes, you need a lot of downforce and are really rough on the car, especially when running the curbs. My favorite section is the triple left-hander in front of the hotel. Finding the right line there is a new challenge on each lap. The fans can particularly look forward to the chicane at the end of the start-finish straight because there’s always a lot of commotion after the start.”

Nürburgring (D)

Race 1 (Round 15): Saturday, September 26, 13.30

Race 2 (Round 16): Sunday, September 27, 13.30 

Track length: 3.629 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Marco Wittmann (BMW), 1m 22.504s (2014)

Track record, race: Marco Wittmann (BMW), 1m 23.175s (2014)

Audi DTM victories at the Nürburgring:

1990 Walter Röhrl, Audi V8 quattro; 1992 Frank Biela, Audi V8 quattro; 2001 Laurent Aiello, Abt-Audi TT-R (both races); 2003 Laurent Aiello, Abt-Audi TT-R; 2005 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM; 2007 Martin Tomczyk, Audi A4 DTM; 2009 Martin Tomczyk, Audi A4 DTM; 2011 Mattias Ekström, Audi A4 DTM.

Track description by Miguel Molina:

“The sprint circuit of the Nürburgring is a combination of fast and slow sections. It hardly forgives any mistakes and requires us drivers to fully concentrate on every meter. There are two sections in which you can use DRS, which gives us a few opportunities in terms of strategy. In 2013, it was raining, so we’re still lacking experience in that respect. I don’t really have a favorite section. But the chicane in front of the last turn is important. You’ve got to optimally enter it and take a lot of speed with you. If you don’t manage that, you’ll take this deficit with you all the way to the start-finish straight.”

Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D), finale

Race 1 (Round 17): Saturday, October 17, 13.30

Race 2 (Round 18): Sunday October 18, 15.15 

Track length: 4.574 kilometers

Track record, qualifying: Mattias Ekström (Audi), 1m 32.244s (2008)

Track record, race: Martin Tomczyk (BMW), 1m 32.532s (2014)

Audi victories in the DTM finale at Hockenheim:

1990 Hans-Joachim Stuck, Audi V8 quattro (both races); 1991 Frank Biela, Audi V8 quattro (both races); 2008 Timo Scheider, Audi A4 DTM; 2014 Mattias Ekström, Audi RS 5 DTM.

Track description by Mike Rockenfeller:

“The finale at Hockenheim is sheer tradition and a very special race for us as drivers. You’re either in contention for the title and fighting your ultimate battle, or you’ve got nothing to do with the championship anymore and would like to at least end the season with a great result. As we’re driving at Hockenheim in the season opener as well testing there, everyone is optimally prepared for and adjusted to this circuit – and, as a result, the on-track fight is really close. The stadium atmosphere is unique and the entrance to the Motodrom is also the nicest section of the track for me. I’ve got many memories of Hockenheim.”