Apart from the Lamborghini, the DTM classification for the Nürburgring has been changed for all cars: Why you can rejoice, especially with Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG’s efforts to get a bigger restrictor were successful: AVL Racetech has ensured that the air restrictor of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is one millimetre bigger in the Balance of Performance for the DTM’s Nürburgring weekend in the Eifel, giving you more power.
The Mercedes-AMG managers Stefan Wendl and Thomas Jäger had already demanded this 36-millimetre restrictor after the Imola weekend, but initially bit on granite.
The background: the front-engined car from Affalterbach can only be made faster to a limited extent by reducing its weight, because in the DTM it is not classified far above its kerb weight anyway.
Will Mercedes-AMG now catch up?
“Since we can’t reduce weight, because five kilograms equals 0.04 seconds, it would make sense from our point of view if we went to a 36-millimetre restrictor,” argued AMG DTM boss Thomas Jäger after the Norisring weekend.
It will be interesting to see whether the brand with the three-pointed star will get into better shape in the second half of the season, as they are currently holding on to just one victory of the season through Lucas Auer in Portimao. In the championship, the Austrian Winward driver is sixth, 29 points behind DTM leader Mirko Bortolotti in the Grasser Lamborghini.
In terms of weight, the Mercedes-AMG teams are the only ones to have to add ballast compared to the Norisring Sunday – five kilograms, which puts them ten kilograms above the kerb weight.
Weight delta apart from the Porsche only 25 kilograms
The Lamborghini is the only car for which the classification is not changed compared to the previous DTM weekend. It is noticeable that, apart from the Porsche, the cars are now closer together in terms of weight: There are only 25 kilograms between the BMW M4 GT3 and the Mercedes-AMG and Audi cars, which are classified the heaviest.
Only the Porsche 911 GT3 R, which has a kerb weight of 1,275 kilograms, is 35 kilograms lighter than the BMW – and is used at the absolute performance limit. Because the 15 kilograms from the Norisring may now also be unloaded.
The Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II is allowed to unload 15 kilograms, the BMW’s weight remains the same, but it gets 0.03 bar more boost pressure – and thus more power. The Ferrari team AF Corse is allowed to unload five kilograms compared to the Norisring Sunday.
DTM-BoP Nürburgring 2022:
Mercedes-AMG GT3: 1,335 kg/2 x 36 mm (restrictor)
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II: 1,335 kg/2 x 37 mm (restrictor)
BMW M4 GT3: 1,310 kg/2.795 bar (boost pressure)
Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo: 1,320 kg/1.590 bar (boost pressure)
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo: 1,330 kg/2 x 41 mm (restrictor)
Porsche 911 GT3 R: 1,275 kg/2 x 48 mm (restrictor)
DTM-BoP Norisring 2022 (Sunday):
Mercedes-AMG GT3: 1,330 kg/2 x 35 mm (restrictor)
Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II: 1,350 kg/2 x 37 mm (restrictor)
BMW M4 GT3: 1,310 kg/2.765 bar (boost pressure)
Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo: 1,325 kg/1.590 bar (boost pressure)
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo: 1,330 kg/2 x 41 mm (restrictor)
Porsche 911 GT3 R: 1.290 kg/2 x 48 mm (restrictor)