DTM Brings Racing Stars Back to Brands Hatch

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Category: Saloons

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

The DTM is a German-based touring car series where powerful V8 rear-wheel drive cars battle for honours over a race that features two pitstops for fuel and tyres. Cars from rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz will lap the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in a little over 35 seconds, making for frantic action throughout the field.

The last two years have seen victory from Paul Di Resta and the Scotsman went on to win the 2010 championship. This success catapulted him into Formula One, with a race seat at Force India, and he is being tipped for great things in the future. However there are plenty of British drivers aiming to follow in his footsteps, all of whom will be competing at this event.

Chief amongst these is Bromley’s Gary Paffett. He is the series’ most successful active driver, having picked up 17 wins, the 2005 title and podium finishes in a third of his races. A recently-signed multi-year deal with Mercedes has secured his future in the DTM, a role that he combines with testing commitments for leading F1 team McLaren.

Multiple race-winner Jamie Green from Leicester preceded Lewis Hamilton and Di Resta as Formula 3 Euro Series Champion in 2004. A frontrunner in the series for Mercedes, he almost took his maiden victory at Brands Hatch in 2006, his second year in the championship. Leicester’s Green is currently the highest-placed Briton in the standings with 24 points.

Audi’s Oliver Jarvis is still hunting for his first win in the series, but has already stood on the podium this year. Previous success in Formula Renault led to the Cambridgeshire driver winning the prestigious McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year award in 2005, an honour that Paffett has also received. Jarvis was also a winner in A1GP, a pedigree that marks him out as a potential victor here.

Scotland’s Susie Stoddart is one of two female drivers in the series, and is competing in her sixth season for Mercedes. Having secured her first points in the championship last year, she will be aiming for a strong finish in her home race.

Fellow Scot David Coulthard needs little introduction. The inaugural winner of the McLaren Autosport Award, Coulthard enjoyed a 14-year career in Formula One, with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull. Retaining a good relationship with Mercedes, he entered the DTM in 2010 and has started to pick up his first points in the championship. Narrowly finishing outside the top ten at Brands Hatch last year after a jump start delayed his progress, the 40-year old F1 commentator will be keen to impress his legion of fans this time round.

All five will need to fight hard to arrest the progress of title favourites Bruno Spengler and Martin Tomczyk, the Mercedes and Audi rivals sitting just seven points apart. However Spengler enjoyed a healthly lead over Di Resta at this point last year, which he eventually lost, so there is plenty to play for, with Brands Hatch the first of the four remaining rounds. Also lining up on the grid will be former Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller and F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher.

The DTM is supported by superb racing, with the Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup and Racecar Euroseries joining domestic series’ Formula Ford, Lotus Cup UK and the Elise Trophy for a weekend packed with entertainment on and off track.