Review: Mercedes-Benz DTM Lausitzring
The front straight has been extended by 36 metres to 672 metres, followed by a sharp left-hander. This is to enhance the possibilities for outbraking. Here the cars are slowed down from 245 kph to a little over 85 kph. Last year, the wide first corner, which offered several racing lines, saw speeds of about 130 kph.
Six podium positions, six different drivers: Six different drivers occupied the six podium positions of the 2007 season’s first two races. In addition to Audi drivers Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk as well as Daniel la Rosa at the wheel of the 2006 TrekStor AMG Mercedes C-Class in Hockenheim, Gary Paffett (2006 Laureus AMG Mercedes C-Class), Paul di Resta (2005 JAWA4U.de AMG Mercedes C-Class) and Mike Rockenfeller (2006 Audi) were at the top in Oschersleben.
Last year, Bernd Schneider repeated his victory in the season opener in the second race; Tom Kristensen (Audi) came home second twice. Only third place changed: Mika Häkkinen (AMG Mercedes C-Class), third at the Lausitzring, followed Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Audi), third in Hockenheim.
Team Persson Motorsport, entering the C-Class cars of Gary Paffett, Paul di Resta and Alexandros Margaritis, is the only team to end up scoring points with three cars each in both of the 2007 season’s first two races. In Oschersleben, the team of Ingmar Persson not only achieved their first DTM win – and this as a 1-2 victory – the team also scored 19 points, more than any other team in one race so far this year.
For the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, podium positions have been possible in both races. In Hockenheim, Bruno Spengler (DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG Mercedes) finished third after pole position and 11 lead laps, but was relegated to 14th by a time penalty after the race. In Oschersleben, Mika Häkkinen (AMG Mercedes) started from pole position, ran third until the penultimate lap, but dropped to 17th following an extra pitstop due to a damaged tyre after a race accident. Jamie Green posted the fastest lap of the race; however, he lost the chance for a podium finish by a drive-through penalty (incident with Vanina Ickx, Audi). Lausitzring track layout: The circuit has been extended by 36 metres to a total length of 3.478 kilometres. The fastest spot is at the end of the now 672 metres long front straight; here, the DTM cars arrive with a speed of about 245 kph. Only Brands Hatch (1.929 kilometres), Norisring (2.300) and Barcelona, (here the DTM will use the 2.949-kilometre short track) are shorter than the Lausitzring.
The top speed at the end of the front straight is the second lowest. Only in Oschersleben, the cars are slower (239 kph), in Brands Hatch they reach the same speed as at the Lausitzring. The highest top speed of all DTM circuits has been recorded at Zandvoort with 265 kph.
Statistics: Eight DTM races have been held at the Lausitzring so far. The first race in 2000 was cancelled after eight laps behind the Safety Car due to heavy rain. Bernd Schneider won three of the other seven events, in 2002, 2003 and 2006. Peter Dumbreck in 2001 and Gary Paffett in May 2005 scored the other two of the totally five Mercedes-Benz victories at the Lausitzring. Paffett, who has won the last race in Oschersleben with his 2006 Laureus AMG-Mercedes C-Class was also first at the Lausitzring in 2004 but was disqualified afterwards and Mattias Ekström (Audi) was declared the winner.
