DTM Zolder: Start into the final third of the season 🎥

Short review in English of the first half of the season. Then came the two races on the Nürburgring sprint circuit before we now head to Zolder.

With championship leader Nico Müller (242 points), his Abt teammate Robin Frijns (224) and defending champion René Rast (195), three Audi drivers are fighting for the prestigious title. Mathematically, four more drivers still have chances but after the first of the four races at Zolder on Saturday the title fight could be reduced to the three all-conquering drivers.

The fate can change quickly
Nico Müller has been in impressive form since the start of the season in Spa at the beginning of August. And he recharged his batteries with his young family in Blumenstein on his first weekend off in more than two months.

The 28-year-old from Berne last saw how quickly points can be lost at the "double-header" at the Nürburgring in mid-September. In the Eifel region, which will host Formula 1 for the first time since 2013 next weekend, he won two of the four races. However, due to a sensor problem and a collision, he also had to settle for 5th place twice.

Title rival from your own team
The fact that Robin Frijns, currently his toughest rival in the title fight, is his own teammate at Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline doesn't bother him - quite the contrary.

Nico Müller: "Robin and I are friends and are managing this particular situation well so far. I think the fact that we work so closely together is what makes us so strong compared to the other teams right now."

While Müller was by far the strongest driver in the 16-strong field in the first six DTM races of 2020 with three wins plus two second places and a fifth place, the Dutchman struck in the middle third of the season with the exact track record.

Defending champion struggles
René Rast, who still excels in 2019, is already 47 points behind Müller and 29 behind Frijns. He therefore no longer feels that his chances of winning the title are too great, even though he has already made up larger gaps in points.

René Rast: "Unfortunately, the gap has remained relatively constant in the last few races, we're just not getting any closer. A lot has to happen to catch up with Nico and Robin over the last three weekends. But of course we're not giving up."

Not a retort line
All three title contenders like the natural race track at Zolder with its gentle uphill and downhill sections.

Nico Müller: "Last year, Zolder was new to me. The track is an old-school one, so it's a real challenge and really spectacular with our DTM cars. There's a new asphalt this year, so presumably even more grip. That means even more fun in the car for us."

Home game for the challenger
For his teammate, the Omloop van Terlamen is a home race.

Robin Frijns: "I live just 30 minutes away and know the track very well. Zolder is a small Nordschleife that doesn't forgive any mistakes - I like that. You have to get a good lap in qualifying because overtaking is extremely difficult here. I was already fast there last year, and with my qualifying pace this year I reckon I've got a good chance."

As a reminder: The former Sauber F1 reserve driver has already claimed pole position five times in 2020 (Müller and Rast three times each) and was the only driver in the field to start from one of the top three grid positions in all twelve races. Frijns scored 26 points in qualifying alone this season, Müller 21, Rast 17. The latter won the Sunday race last year. The exact standings are available here.

Both races on Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, will start at 1:30 p.m. each day. The German channel SAT1 will broadcast live from 1 p.m. onwards.

dtm.com