The DTM’s hopes of staging its season opener on the Norisring street circuit next month appear to have been dashed, as the city of Nuremberg issued a press release stating that the race ‘cannot take place’.
The DTM has twice issued a revised calendar in 2020 in response to the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, with its latest calendar, issued on Wednesday, aiming for a season start on 10 – 12 July at the famous Norisring circuit.
However, the City of Nuremberg, which hosts the event, issued its own press release on Thursday stating that the event could not go ahead on safety grounds.
“Due to the Infection Protection Ordinance applicable in the Corona Crisis and the ban on major events, the Norisring of the DTM, planned from July 10th to 12th, 2020, cannot take place,” said the statement.
“Events of all kinds – whether small, large, inside or outside – are currently not allowed. Major events are prohibited until at least August 31.
“We will inform you about the new date in 2021 as soon as it is announced.”
Without the prospect of the Norisring race, the season start would be delayed to the Spa-Francorchamps round on 1 – 2 August in Belgium.
If the Norisring race fails to happen in 2020 then it would be the first time in the DTM’s history that the Nuremberg circuit had failed to host a race of the touring car championship.
The circuit even continued to host top-level touring cars after the ITC folded in 1996, when the SuperTourenwagen (STW) Cup filled the gap in the 1997 – 1999 seasons.