June 30, 2024
Spectacular race on the "Franconian Monaco"
The highlight of the 2024 DTM season for the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER and driver Lucas Auer – at the street circuit extravaganza at Nuremberg's Norisring from July 5 to 7, 2024.
Ludwigsburg, July 1, 2024 – Just four turns on a track length of only 2.2 kilometers – at first glance, the general description of the Norisring racetrack does not seem particularly spectacular. But in this case, it is the short track length itself that presents the major challenge. It's not for nothing that the street circuit on the shore of Nuremberg's Dutzendteich Lake is nicknamed the "Franconian Monaco". And in terms of excitement and spectacle, the Norisring certainly gives the famous twists and turns of Monaco's course a run for its money.
The MANN-FILTER Mamba with Lukas Auer, Filippina Manou and Christian Hohenadel (from left to right)
There is great anticipation ahead of the Norisring race, which has been held since 1947 – also and especially for the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER, whose Mercedes-AMG GT3 starting in the yellow-green "Mamba" design is, as always, driven by Austria's Lucas Auer. After a DTM season so far characterized by a bit of bad luck, the 29-year-old from Kufstein in Tyrol is extremely motivated ahead of the extravaganza in the Franconian metropolis. With 45 points, the 2022 DTM runner-up is currently only 13th in the interim standings. However, he is only 37 points behind the overall leader. With a total of 56 points to be scored per race weekend and five more events outstanding, everything is still in play for the DTM title fight. One thing is clear: the MANN-FILTER Mamba must score big at Norisring!
Still, "Luggi" does not want to risk making any major predictions about the race: "Things are so close in the DTM that it is incredibly difficult to predict the balance of power. I am looking forward to seeing where we will finish with our Mercedes-AMG GT3. For me, Norisring has always been a great place to race, and I’m really looking forward to the weekend."
Norisring is a special highlight for the DTM at the halfway point of each season. The race track and paddock are surrounded by a unique flair, and the many spectators can get closer to the teams and drivers here than anywhere else. The number of celebrities at Norisring is also higher than other places, especially as DTM is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with various special events. The door-to-door duels on the race track are sometimes very material-intensive. Owing to its short length and the high skill level among DTM drivers, the race at Norisring is always very close. A tenth of a second can mean a difference between two or three starting rows. This is also the reason why the field of 20 GT3 racing cars from seven brands is divided into two groups for the two qualifying runs, in order to reduce dangerous situations in dense traffic around the street circuit.
"Norisring may look basic, but it absolutely is not", says Auer. "A street circuit is subject to greater differentiations than a dedicated race track. Over the race weekends, more and more grip builds up, which must be taken into account when tuning the vehicle. The many bumps make things extremely difficult and you also have to drive very close to the walls if you want to be really fast. The slightest mistake is punished immediately and severely, and that's what makes it so special."
Filippina Manou, MANN-FILTER Sponsoring Manager, is also looking forward to the highlight in Nuremberg: "Norisring is one of the most spectacular tracks in the DTM calendar. The challenging street circuit guarantees lots of excitement and a very special show. We are looking forward to welcoming a lot of customers, who will be able to enjoy special behind-the-scenes views as guests of MANN-FILTER. Luggi and the WINWARD Racing team have proven in recent years that they can meet the high standards at Norisring. We can look forward to an exciting racing weekend!"
The two one-hour races will start at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. ProSieben will broadcast the action from the Franconian Monaco live starting at 12:55 p.m. Follow all training sessions and races online at ran.de. There will also be continuous live reporting from the pits on MANN-FILTER social media channels.
