Nuremberg/Germany, 19th June 2018 – As it is every year, the asphalt, which is normally used by everyday traffic, will be a key aspect at the Norisring. The track surface is not the same throughout, but has been repaired and patched up many times and consists of various different types of asphalt. “The surface is dirty at the start of the race weekend, but the racing line is cleaned very quickly by the cars themselves. As the asphalt is generally smooth and sealed, there is no notable tyre wear, especially as the aerodynamic downforce generated by the cars has been reduced by a third. This means that the construction of the Ventus Race is put under less strain,” explains Hankook DTM race engineer Thomas Baltes.
Few other circuits ask more questions of the DTM cars’ brakes than the street circuit in Nuremberg. Fast straights are followed by tight corners and hairpins, for some of which the drivers must brake from 250 down to 60 km/h. The many bumps make it particularly difficult to hit braking points accurately. Thomas Baltes: “The teams can, to a certain extent, compensate for the uneven track surface by employing different air pressures in connection with the corresponding car set-up and camber. Good grip and a lot of traction are required in the many braking and acceleration manoeuvres on the smooth Norisring asphalt, in order to avoid skidding and to pace the tyre perfectly over the course of a stint.”
However, the braking and acceleration into and out of the circuit’s eight corners are not the only things that are extremely important. The drivers must find the right racing line, particularly on the exit from the “Schöller S”, in order to avoid hitting the wall and losing a wing mirror, as has happened so often in the past. It is not uncommon for drivers and fans at the street circuit in the heart of Nuremberg to experience dramatic changes in weather, with a hot and sunny day regularly followed by a wet race day. “You need a balanced set-up at the Norisring, but must also be flexible. If you achieve that, you can react to possible changes in the weather in the free practice session,” says Hankook DTM race engineer Thomas Baltes.”
