The four Mercedes-AMG GT3s from HRT and Winward will receive larger restrictors for the upcoming DTM race weekend at the Norisring. The size will increase for the first time in the 2024 season from 34.5 to 36 millimeters, which should theoretically give the sports car from Affalterbach a higher top speed.
At the same time, the four Mercedes-AMGs have to load an additional 15 kilograms of weight each compared to the previous Zandvoort event, which increases the total weight to 1,340 kilograms. This makes the cars with the star the heaviest in the field of seven brands.
BMW at the Norisring: More weight, less boost pressure
All other manufacturers, with the exception of BMW, are allowed to unload additional weight, with the Audi R8 LMS GT3 from Abt Sportsline receiving the greatest benefit with a weight loss of 25 kilograms. The Lamborghini Huracan GT3 will be 20 kilograms lighter, the Ferrari 296 GT3 will each lose 15 kg and the two McLaren 720 S GT3 from Dörr Motorsport will each lose 5 kilograms.
While the three DTM champions Rene Rast, Marco Wittmann and Sheldon van der Linde were still driving in the middle of nowhere during training on the Dutch dune circuit, an increase in boost pressure overnight resulted in a noticeable increase in performance. Schubert’s newcomer Wittmann even won Sunday’s race from 14th place on the grid and celebrated his first DTM victory since Hockenheim 2022.
DTM: Discussions about balance of performance are becoming more ambitious
In recent weeks, there has been a noticeably loud and numerous discussion in the DTM paddock about the Balance of Performance, which Stephane Ratel’s SRO organization has been responsible for since 2023 and which is created on a track-specific basis. No racing series promoter is usually happy about this. Abt Sportsline made it clear during the Zandvoort weekend, before which the Ferrari customer team Emil Frey Racing publicly complained about the classification.
Emil Frey team boss Lorenz Frey-Hilti noted before the fourth race of the season on the Nuremberg street circuit: “If you look back at the Norisring races from last year, then of course they are not good memories. We were not lucky with the Balance of Performance classification and hope that, given the events of this year, we will be in a better position this time.” In addition to the 15 kg weight loss, the Ferrari 296 GT3 received a little more boost pressure in the lower rev range and less boost in the upper rev range.