Rounds 1+2: Hockenheim (D)

Facts & Figures
Race 1 (round 1): Saturday, May 4, 1.30 pm
Race 2 (round 2): Sunday, May 5, 1.30 pm
Circuit length: 4.574 kilometers
Race distance: 36 laps
DTM qualifying lap record: Philipp Eng (BMW), 1m 28.972s (2019)
DTM race lap record: Pietro Fittipaldi (Audi), 1m 30.401s (2019)

Audi victories at the DTM opening round 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; 2015 (Saturday) Jamie Green, Audi RS 5 DTM; 2015 (Sunday) Mattias Ekström, Audi RS 5 DTM; 2016 (Saturday) Edoardo Mortara, Audi RS 5 DTM; 2017 (Sunday) Jamie Green, Audi RS 5 DTM; 2019 (Sunday) René Rast, Audi RS 5 DTM

Event information
Traditionally, Hockenheim is the venue for the season opening round of the DTM. The first qualifying of the year is highly anticipated, as it gives the first indication of the state of play. Thanks to the new turbo engines, this will be particularly exciting.

Support program
W Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland, Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup

Track description by Mike Rockenfeller
“Hockenheim is all about finding a good compromise – you have to be fast on the straights with as little downforce as possible, but you need a good car for the Motodrom, where downforce is required. The best place to overtake is at the end of the long Parabolika straight where you brake for the hairpin. There are opportunities after that up until the Mercedes Arena. It’s a race track that is generally good for overtaking, which usually makes for exciting racing. Our new turbo engine should guarantee faster lap times thanks to the power plus but this puts more stresses on the tires. As a spectator, I would probably position myself at the last corner, where you get a great overview.”