Nurburgring: Mercedes preview

DTM Nürburgring, Preview: Start of the Second Half of the Season

The track: The DTM uses the Nürburgring's short track which is 3.629 kilometres long. Albers won the first of last year's two races in May whilst Laurent Aiello (Audi) clinched victory in the second one in August. The first 2003 Nürburgring round was Paffett's first DTM race. Out of the nine races of the new DTM held at the 'Ring, Mercedes-Benz drivers won four whilst Audi took three victories and Opel two.

Record attendance: A crowd of 85,000 attended the second race's three days at the Nürburgring last year, an all-time record for DTM races at the Eifel track. This year, more than 37,000 tickets have been sold in advance, 11,000 more than last year.

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport:

"The Nürburgring race has developed in a very successful event. All available 40,000 seats at the short track will be sold and the promoters can announce their favourite words: It's a sell-out. We expect a tough and exciting race with six drivers or more fighting for victory."

Christijan Albers:

"I like the Nürburgring. It offers three good possibilities for overtaking: at the end of the front straight, at the hairpin of the short track, and at the chicane. My goal is to finish ahead of Mattias Ekström and to extend my three-points lead."

Bernd Schneider, Vodafone AMG-Mercedes:

"Second place in China was my best result this year so far and I was very close to the leader throughout. I'll do my best to continue this trend in the upcoming championship races."

-mercedes-