With the momentum firmly behind BMW Motorsport, after dominating proceedings at the Red Bull Ring two weeks ago, Team Schnitzer’s Charly Lamm explained about the Munich brand’s progress since the tail end of last season.
“We experienced highs and lows over the course of the Spielberg weekend. The upwards trend we showed in qualifying is definitely a positive,” he said, with Martin Tomczyk and António Félix da Costa both having taken at least one points finish during the first four races.
“With the DTM so evenly matched, the grid position is quite simply a very important factor. With regard to the Lausitzring, our goal is now to back up the progress we made, and to convert it into decent results.”
Lamm’s statement rings true regarding the overall competitive nature of the DTM, which has been further amplified by the changes in some aspects of the technical regulations.
Tomczyk, who won at the Lausitzring back in 2011, is looking forward to the atmosphere that the Motorsport Festival will bring this year for the fans, but knows the challenge to assist BMW’s success run this year will not be easy.
“It will also make a nice change for us drivers, although it will obviously be tiring. I have had good experiences on this track.”
Da Costa is hungry for better results this year, having either not scored or retired at the Brandenburg circuit since his début in 2014:
“It is really fun to drive, even though I have not necessarily enjoyed my best results there. I am determined to change that this year. I think we have learned a lot about this track over the past two years. Therefore, our goal is to score points and finish as far up the field as possible.”
The man that has consistently won points in every round so far, Team RBM’s Maxime Martin, is hoping to continue his run of good form at the 3.478-km track, having experienced his fair share of ups and downs there last year.
“Last year, things were going relatively okay for me towards the end of the race weekend,” said the 30-year-old, who is third in the drivers’ standings, level on points with Team RMG’s Timo Glock, who took the main race win at the Red Bull Ring.
“For this reason, I am looking forward to the weekend and will try to pick up a few points, as I have done at the first four races of the year.”
The DTM will be back in action for the first of three 30-minute practice sessions on Friday afternoon at 16:30 CET (15:30 BST), as East Germany will be treated to an noise-filled, high-speed and action-packed race weekend.