ZANDVOORT, The Netherlands — After the season opener in Spielberg, Austria, the DTM heads to the Dutch North Coastline for its second cease of the season over the Pentecost weekend (Could 22-24).
Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Group Ravenol) travels to Zandvoort because the championship chief – and arrives on the Method 1 circuit with momentum after his victory on the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring final weekend.
Followers are eagerly awaiting the efficiency of native hero Thierry Vermeulen (NL/Emil Frey Racing), who goals for robust leads to his residence race within the Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.
The DTM season opener in Austria was a convincing success for Engel and his fellow Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Group Landgraf): The Mercedes-AMG drivers impressed with podium finishes in each races, with Engel additionally taking the victory in Sunday’s race and aiming to proceed this profitable streak within the Netherlands.
“My victory in Zandvoort in 2023 was my first success within the GT3 period of the DTM. Whenever you’re on high, these are very particular moments that you just look again on with pleasure and would like to repeat,” mentioned the veteran driver.
Behind the Mercedes-AMG duo lurks Marco Wittmann (Fürth) of BMW Group Schubert Motorsport, a Zandvoort skilled who has already received two DTM races there.
“Zandvoort is solely a cool observe with the unbelievable backdrop of the dunes and the particular seashore environment,” explains the BMW driver. “I actually take pleasure in driving there. BMW has at all times been robust in Zandvoort, the circuit fits us, and we need to construct on the profitable occasion in Spielberg.”
Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing) additionally impressed in his first DTM outing within the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with loads of velocity and combating spirit. The self-proclaimed “Dune Dane” needs to hold this momentum to the North Coastline.Venlo-born native hero Vermeulen is trying ahead to seeing many mates and followers at his residence race. However the technically demanding observe has its challenges, because the 23-year-old is aware of: “Zandvoort has an actual old-school character. The observe could be very undulating, with many crests, vital elevation modifications, and gravel traps as an alternative of asphalt run-off areas. You need to drive very exactly, particularly in qualifying, as a result of errors are unforgiving. You may select completely different traces within the banking corners, so I count on some spectacular battles. I can’t wait to get on the beginning grid in Zandvoort and hope that plenty of followers will go to me and my Ferrari within the pits.”On the dune circuit, followers can take pleasure in not solely the DTM but in addition different enticing help sequence. Zandvoort marks the second cease of the season for the ADAC GT Masters, whereas the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Germany is making its fourth look within the Netherlands. With the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux additionally competing on the 4.259-kilometer observe, spectators will see double the ability of one-make sequence.
The Method Regional European Championship, a junior sequence, is making its second look on the DTM platform after Spielberg, delivering thrilling system racing with its standardized F3 vehicles.
