With a 14-point deficit, Kelvin van der Linde is second in the standings going into the eagerly awaited DTM finale at the Norisring (both races from 1 PM CEST on Saturday and Sunday, live on SAT.1 and on ran.de). Nevertheless, the South African, who lives near Kempten, perhaps has a decisive advantage in the title fight: of the four teams fighting for the prestigious drivers\u2019 title, ABT Sportsline has the most experience at the Norisring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2.3-kilometre short city street circuit between Dutzendteich and Max Morlock Stadium only has four corners. Nevertheless, the track is considered as one of the most difficult on the DTM calendar. Traction is just as important as maximum braking performance, good top speed as well as optimum handling in the chicane. The bumps, which change every year, also play a decisive role. And no other DTM race track puts so much strain on the components over the race distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technical Director Florian Modlinger and his crew know exactly what is important at the Norisring and which adjustments they have to make, even though the Audi R8 LMS is competing on the street circuit for the first time and has completely different requirements to the racing cars that ABT Sportsline has previously used in the DTM at the Norisring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team has contested 25 DTM races at the Norisring since 2000, scoring twelve podium finishes and winning the DTM\u2019s most prestigious race three times so far \u2013 on track even four times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first Norisring victory in 2002 is particularly unforgettable: Throughout the race, Laurent Aiello, in the Abt-Audi TT-R developed by ABT Sportsline, fought a gripping duel with \u201cMister DTM\u201d Bernd Schneider in the factory Mercedes. In the last corner, Aiello managed the decisive overtaking manoeuvre to the cheer of the fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was to be 14 long years before an Audi won another home race at the Norisring. Once again, the winning team was ABT Sportsline, and twice: Edoardo Mortara won on Saturday in 2016, Nico M\u00fcller on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2013, Mattias Ekstr\u00f6m had crossed the finish line as the winner and had the many Audi fans in the stands cheering. However, the Swede was retrospectively taken out of the classification due to the famous \u201cwater bottle gate\u201d and there was \u2013 for only the second time in the history of the DTM \u2013 a race without a winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ekstr\u00f6m was always extremely strong at the Norisring, stood on the podium eight times for ABT Sportsline, but was never able to fulfil his big dream of winning at the Norisring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kelvin van der Linde, this weekend is about a different dream: he wants to secure the drivers\u2019 title at the first attempt in his first DTM season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a 14-point deficit, Kelvin van der Linde is second in the standings going into the eagerly awaited DTM finale at the Norisring (both races from 1 PM CEST on Saturday and Sunday, live on SAT.1 and on ran.de). Nevertheless, the South African, who lives near Kempten, perhaps has a decisive advantage in the title … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.eurotuningnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/01_ABT_Norisring-1024x576.jpg\")
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