New Top Gear presenter Sabine Schmitz will return to the World Touring Car Championship for the event at the Nürburgring Nordschleife later this month – despite a hectic schedule limiting her preparation time.
Schmitz will stand in for team owner René Münnich in the ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Chevrolet Cruze, returning to the series in which she made her touring car début in 2015.
However due to busy filming schedules, Schmitz will be unable to take part in either of Thursday’s test or practice sessions, instead limiting her to taking part in the Friday and Saturday action.
“I enjoyed it very much to compete against world champion touring car drivers on the best race circuit in the world,” said Schmitz. “Because of my Top Gear commitments I haven’t got the time to do the official test and Free Practice 1 on Thursday, which is a bit of a disaster because I need lots of practice in the Chevrolet as it’s so different to the Porsche I’m usually driving.
“I will have a better chance if it rains so my hope is more water, more success! Whatever, I must be crazy to measure myself against these guys without the same amount of time to practice.”
Eurosport Events’ Head François Ribeiro is pleased to be able to welcome the German Nordschleife expert back to the WTCC for a second successive season.
“It’s great Sabine is coming back to take on the guys again,” added Ribeiro. “We enjoyed watching her competing on an equal footing with the men last year. She is great driver and personality and it’s no surprise she has been picked up by the most iconic TV car show in the world.
“We know it’s going to be a busy weekend for Sabine but we’re eagerly anticipating her return and to see what she can achieve 12 months on from her WTCC debut.”
Münnich Motorsport’s Team Manager Dominik Greiner confirmed that rather than run a second car, as in 2015, Schmitz will instead take the wheel of the Cruze normally raced by Münnich, who has clashing commitments on the same weekend.
“For her first time in the car last year she did a good job and now we hope she can show more performance and all the boys the Nürburgring Nordschleife – or the Green Hell as it’s called,” said Greiner. “She will start nearly from zero because it’s been nearly a year since she last drove the Chevrolet and it’s totally different to her Porsche.
“But if she can score points again then that will be fantastic.”