The DTM coach session will be held again: Why, contrary to the plan, all drivers took part at the premiere and a window was broken
The DTM’s track safari will see a sequel: after the premiere at the Nürburgring, the ADAC has added the fan attraction, in which spectators in coaches are on track with the bolides in a separate session and get a special perspective, to the programme for the Lausitzring weekend from 18 to 20 August.
“The premiere at the Nürburgring generated a lot of enthusiasm. We can’t offer the Track Safari at every race track, but are now looking forward to this special experience at the Lausitzring,” explains ADAC Head of Motorsport Thomas Voss.
He wants to make motorsport “more tangible and take a pioneering role with the DTM in order to make race weekends even more attractive for fans”.
Instead of 14 drivers, the entire field took part
At the Nürburgring, the track safari provided spectacular images as the GT3 cars pulled through the corners right next to the three massive buses – and created excitement among the 100 or so fans.
The 15-minute session after the second free practice session was not attended by 14 cars – as originally planned – but by the entire DTM field. After the ADAC stipulated that each of the 14 DTM racing teams had to provide a car for the two-lap session in order to offer the fans some action, the teams asked whether more cars could take part.
And not only to offer the fans a better experience: Because in the run-up to the event, the weather forecast meant that it could not be ruled out that the Track Safari would be the only session on Friday to be held on a dry track.
No restriction on tyres
In addition, teams are allowed to use extra sets of tyres during the track safari and are not subject to the restrictions of the weekend. The session also provided an additional opportunity to practise pit stops and gain further experience of the track, even if the drivers did not push the limit in the process, at least near the buses, for safety reasons.
Therefore, all 28 cars took part in the track safari at the Nürburgring. It is quite possible that the spectacle will be repeated in a similar form at the Lausitzring, although the teams have an additional testing opportunity due to the Thursday test.
At the Lausitzring, the mode will remain similar: The track safari will take place ten minutes after the second free practice on Friday and will last two laps for the bus, the bolides can use the track for a few laps during the 15 minutes. The ticket costs 99 euros, just like in the Eifel.
“Nobody does anything stupid when the buses are running “
How the drivers experienced the track safari? “It was cool to share the track with the fans,” Bernhard Porsche driver Laurin Heinrich. “I think we gave the spectators a great show. The sprint version of the Nürburgring is quite narrow, so we were especially close to the buses.”
Sheldon van der Linde put on a special show for the fans in the Schubert-BMW: “In the chicane, I jumped over the curb with two wheels right next to the bus. I hope the fans had as much fun as I did.”
And Landgraf Mercedes driver Jusuf Owega also likes the concept: “It’s a good way to get the fans close – you can’t get any closer than that unless they’re in the cars themselves.” He sees no safety risk: “Nobody will do anything stupid when the buses are on the track. “
