Weekend tip: Nico Müller seeks connection 🎥

The DTM makes a stop at Zolder this weekend, where spectators will also be allowed.

The Omloop van Terlamen in Zolder is often called the "Home of DTM". Europe's most popular touring car series held its first race there in 1984. And now the DTM is making its first guest appearance there this weekend with GT3 sports cars.

A route like in the old days
The Belgian circuit is one of the few archaic race tracks where classic gravel beds and near track boundaries still loom and no huge asphalt run-off zones invite overdriving without consequences. Some drivers compare the exactly four-kilometer-long hill-and-dale course with the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring.

In the four races so far, there have been four winners, three of whom are completing their first ever DTM season. Fortunately, Philip Ellis, a driver from Switzerland, is among them. Not even he would have bet on himself as the first winner of the season from Switzerland instead of the experienced runner-up Nico Müller.

A special victory for Ellis
For the 28-year-old from Zug, the aim is to confirm the successful weekend in Lausitz with two good races in Belgium. However, he does not yet know the track and its pitfalls very well.

Philip Ellis: "We had a single test day at Zolder, I've never driven there before. It is indeed an old-school race track with small run-off zones. But I think we'll look pretty good, because the Mercedes-AMG is good on all tracks."

He still hasn't fully realized his surprising triumph at the Lausitzring.

Philip Ellis: "This was a great weekend for me. The feedback was very positive. It does make a difference whether you win a race in the DTM or in another racing series."

Müller's team has found errors
While Ellis is in the championship standings (see. here) moved up to third place, Nico Müller, who was actually favored before the start of the season, is still languishing in midfield.

Unlike at the season opener in Monza (P2 in race 2), Team Rosberg and he did not bring their Audi R8 LMS up to competitive speed, unlike ABT (podiums for DTM leader Kelvin van der Linde and Mike Rockenfeller).

Will Zolder, where he has always finished on the podium in one of the two DTM races with touring cars in the past three years, put him back on track for success?

Nico Müller: "I'm already hoping that we can get back into a good rhythm. We found the problems on the car that occurred at the Lausitzring. From that point of view, I'm confident and highly motivated because, in theory, Zolder should be good for the Audi R89."

Applause for the compatriot
Incidentally, the fact that Ellis and not he himself already won a race in 2021 does not upset him at all.

Nico Müller: "I was very happy for him. An example of how hard work can pay off. For me, the second race was almost more impressive than his winning drive on Saturday. The way he drove to the front row with the ballast of success and then fought back for laps deserves applause."

Christian Klien already drove the McLaren in 2021 in the GT Open with a partner. In the DTM, the sports car is just for him.

McLaren as a newcomer
At the third meeting of the season, the DTM grid grows to 20 GT3 sports cars. Former GP driver and Sauber F1 replacement driver Christian Klien is taking part for the first time.

With a McLaren 720S, the Vorarlberger brings the sixth brand to the start, after Zolder also at the Nürburgring and Assen. Like Ferrari and Lamborghini this year, there has never been a McLaren in the DTM before - the category change makes it possible.

Live on Sat1 and on the Internet
Both races will be broadcast on free TV on Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, starting at 1 p.m. on Sat1. Via streaming services such as the online platform DTM Grid or on YouTube (Link to race 1,  Link to race 2, both starting at 1:15 p.m.), it can also be followed worldwide on any laptop or smartphone.

dtm.com