DTM: Nico Müller ahead of season opener at Hockenheim

Europe's most popular touring car series comes up with a number of innovations at the start. Thanks to more power (over 500 hp), new aerodynamics and softer tires, the race cars of the three manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes will be a good two to three seconds faster per lap.

For the first time, there will also be points for the top three in qualifying. This is an additional incentive for the teams to find an optimum set-up that is suitable both over the full race distance and for a fast lap in qualifying. In addition, the sporting regulations drastically restrict radio communications and limit the use of the DRS (adjustable rear wing to generate more top speed).

The races on Saturday and Sunday are of equal value, both lasting 55 minutes plus one lap. The number of pit stops is no longer limited, the timing can be freely selected, but only two impact wrenches and eight mechanics per car are permitted. The aim is to further emphasize the human factor in the DTM.

For Swiss fans, the focus is naturally on Nico Müller. The driver from Bern is tackling his fourth DTM season with Audi. Together with two-time champion Mattias Ekström, he forms Team Abt. As the field is being reduced from 24 to 18 cars - six per manufacturer - for cost reasons, the air is likely to become rather thinner due to the performance density.

Nico Müller's ultimate goal is to build on his first victory at the Norisring in June 2016. A year ago, he was on pole position for the first time at the season opener in Hockenheim and took his first podium in third place. "This year I want to win not just one race but several. Personally, I'm confident of that but it also depends on the competitiveness of our new Audi RS5 DTM, which I don't doubt."

Last year, Edoardo Mortara fought for the championship title all the way to the final round. For 2017, the Geneva native has switched from Audi to Mercedes. The Geneva native will also drive under the Italian flag at the Stuttgart-based company, although "Edo" has long held a Swiss license and a red passport.

Like Force India in Formula 1, Mortara's new Mercedes-AMG C63 will be in pink colors from sponsor BWT. Meanwhile, Nico Müller continues to advertise for the men's magazine Playboy on his Audi.

The spectators are offered a lot
In the supporting program, the World Rallycross Championship holds its second round. The defending champion here is Müller's DTM teammate Ekström, who will therefore be completing an exhausting double program at Hockenheim. The Audi TT Cup with the Swiss Philip Ellis (under the GB flag) and Yannik Brandt as well as Liechtenstein's Fabienne Wohlwend will also be racing as part of the DTM.

A lot is also being done for spectators away from the race track. Starting this season, visitors with a ticket to the paddock can take a look inside the teams' pits. In the Fan Village, the program on the show stage will provide entertainment, while food trucks will cater for the physical well-being. In addition, a special area on the pit roof will be opened to provide an unobstructed view of the pit lane from above.

Fans will also be close by at the pitwalk, where they can watch the teams and mechanics during pit stop training. The fan activities are rounded off by autograph sessions with all the DTM drivers and other attractions during the weekend.

Thanks to the Print@Home procedure, interested parties still have the opportunity to buy and print tickets from home via the DTM homepage at a slightly reduced advance booking price until Sunday morning. The box offices will be open from Friday morning. The cheapest ticket costs 10 euros on Friday, the three-day ticket 25 euros.

www.dtm.de