13.5.2019 Munich. BMW Motorsport returns to the DTM on the historic Terrain: From the 17. to 19. May will be held at the Belgian circuit of Zolder in the second round of the DTM season in 2019. There, in 1984, was the first DTM-race at all, and the victory of Harald Grohs (GER) secured at that time in the BMW 635 CSi. Finally, the DTM in 2002, drove in the Zolder, and now the tour is guesting car series back on the traditional route.
BMW DTM driver Marco Wittmann (GER) is traveling as the Leader of the drivers ‘ standings after Zolder. In the season opener two weeks ago in Hockenheim, Wittmann took on Saturday, the pole position and the victory, and on Sunday he gained a starting position as two, and eight rank in the race for more counter. After the first two races of the season, Wittmann has 34 points in his account.
Since 1984, Zolder, 22 DTM were fought race. In 21 of them are BMW drivers went to the Start, and drove to nine victories and 24 podium places. For the Belgian BMW Team RBM, the race weekend in Zolder, the first home game in the DTM.
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- Quotes before the DTM weekend in Zolder.
- Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
- Stefan Reinhold (team principal, BMW Team RMG):
- Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG driver rating: 7., 16 PTS.):
- Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG driver’s standings: 1., 34 PTS.):
- Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR driver’s standings: 6., 20 PTS.):
- Bart Mampaey (team principal, BMW Team RBM):
- Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR driver rating: 8., 15 PTS.):
- Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, the BMW Team RBM driver rating: 10., 8 PTS.):
- Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, drivers ‘ championship: 14th, 1 PT.):
Quotes before the DTM weekend in Zolder.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Zolder has a firm place in the history of BMW Motorsport. There, Harald Grohs in 1984 won the first DTM race of all times at the wheel of the BMW 635 CSi. Many more successes followed until 1992. Now we look forward, with the new DTM at this iconic racetrack return. With views of the cars in the 2019er Generation it is, of course, for all of a new route. We are very excited to see how the balance of power in Zolder. The season-opener in Hockenheim is run with two pole positions and a victory be successful for us. Because we want to build in Belgium. A special importance has the race weekend for BMW Team RBM. The track is located only an hour’s drive from the team’s headquarters.“
Stefan Reinhold (team principal, BMW Team RMG):
“It will be an exciting weekend for us because Zolder is in the DTM. Our goal is, first of all, us in preparing the best possible set up – and to lay the Basis for another good weekend. We’ll just have to wait and see how well we get on the track. We have no experience, and I was for the last Time over 20 years ago in Zolder. I associate special memories with the track in Zolder, the prelude to the racing series that I collected in the end of the 1990s, my first experience as a team leader.“
Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG driver rating: 7., 16 PTS.):
“I don’t know the track in Zolder, but it is so cool to go to a track I’ve never driven. I am so very excited to see how it has to be there, and how our Performance will look like. We have seen that we have both in Wet and Dry conditions, a good car. We still need to work on it, to be in the race over the distance a bit more. But overall, we have in the new BMW M4 DTM is a good package and the Team has done a great job. To forms concrete expectations for Zolder, it is a little difficult, since I know the course. But I let myself be surprised and look forward to go to a new track.“
Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG driver’s standings: 1., 34 PTS.):
“I know Zolder, but it’s been twelve years that I am there with the formula BMW hazards. It is a very tight, small course with few Straights and not a typical DTM-race-track. I think that Qualifying will be extremely important, because Overtaking might be in Zolder difficult. So the Kerbs in the chicanes will be a big issue, whether we can go with the DTM car, or whether we should avoid the better. It is definitely exciting to go there on Friday for the first Training. It is a new track in the calendar, therefore, you must try to quickly adjust and find a good rhythm. And then we hope for a good second race weekend of the season.“
Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR driver’s standings: 6., 20 PTS.):
“Zolder I know so far only from the television, and I’m very excited to see what awaits us there. So, because our car is still very new. It is, therefore, a challenge with the short time that is available to us. I’m going to see more Onboard footage and me together with the Team, as well as possible in Zolder to prepare. I am looking forward to a new track and a new challenge.“
Bart Mampaey (team principal, BMW Team RBM):
“I am delighted that we now have a race in Belgium. I think you will be very well received and the organizers in Zolder working very hard to ensure that it will be a successful event. However, I must admit that I have too much Zolder experience. The last Time that our RBM Team drove there, what to see in 2010 in the FIA WTCC and we have won a race. It will be interesting to go there with the new BMW M4 DTM Turbo drive. Because Zolder is a rather slow track. We go there with a lot of power and a very high Top Speed on the Straight, therefore, the braking behavior plays a huge role. I hope that we continue to make progress, as in Hockenheim. According to Sheldon’s sixth place on Saturday and Philipps pole position and fourth place on the Sunday, we must take the momentum to the next event. After the good start to the season we have to work hard and try to be in Zolder in mind.“
Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR driver rating: 8., 15 PTS.):
“I’m in 2017 with the BMW M6 GT3 in the Blancpain GT Series in Zolder hazards. The track is extremely technical and suits me very well. The Curbs are very high, and we must be careful not to damage the vehicles. It wants to weekend the be an exciting. I think Overtaking could be possible, but it’s still a good Qualifying Performance will be important. I hope to be able to like on Sunday in Hockenheim, and again in the front of the ride.“
Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, the BMW Team RBM driver rating: 10., 8 PTS.):
“Zolder is a cool weekend. I’m going there for the first Time, and I’m still new to the DTM, so there’s still a lot I need to learn. But I think that we have shown in Hockenheim, that we can learn quickly. That’s why I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’ve already learned in the first two races at the season opener so much, and I would like to build. I am tenth in the championship, which is not bad, and this momentum, I am to Zolder.“
Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, drivers ‘ championship: 14th, 1 PT.):
“I don’t really know what to expect in Zolder. I’ve never been there, but in the Simulator the track looks as if it is a lot of fun. My brother is there, two years ago, a race, and he told me that it is a really cool track. We want to go there, the track meet, and on this Basis, more work.“
Hockenheim (GER), 3rd May 2019. BMW M Motorsport DTM Rounds 1 & 2, Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW Team RMG, #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM
