People often compare the Norisring race with Formula 1 in Monaco and therefore it is frequently referred to as the “Franconian Monaco”. It is the special flair at the Dutzendteich lake, the great atmosphere on the packed stone grandstand and the VIPs on the grid. Another thing that Monaco and Norisring have in common is the fact that neither of them are permanent race tracks. This requires an immense effort and some extraordinary measures year after year. The record field in DTM with 27 cars from Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and for the first time also Porsche – the highest number in Nuremberg since the DTM comeback in 2000 – requires a longer pit lane at the venue, one that now, at 170 metres, is 50 metres longer than last year. And the pit box tent is longer than ever before, too. The members of the organising Motorsport Club Nürnberg (MCN) are putting in many hours of work for the installation of Armco barriers, safety fences, additional grandstands and tyre stacks along the 2.3 kilometres long track. When the total of twelve races, two each from DTM, DTM Trophy, DTM Classic, BMW M2 Cup, TCR Europe Series and Ferrari Club Deutschland Racing Series, will be held under the DTM Norisring powered by BMW M this weekend (1 till 3 July), not only the fans at the circuit, but also the spectators all over the world get follow a TV programme with a total duration of 25 hours, featuring fascinating footage from 56 camera perspectives. DTM Norisring powered by BMW M is broadcast in over 70 countries.
Planning of the new pit facility has been going on since March, construction started on 13 June and was concluded one week ago, including approval by the authorities. The facility, now 170 metres long, is a two-storey affair. Next to the team garages, the ground floor also accommodates the logistics for technical scrutineering, TV and safety crew. As a highlight for the fans, a Pit View Box has been incorporated as well with a direct view into the pit boxes of two different teams. The upper floor includes the winners’ podium and the unitary team catering as well as the DTM Power Lounge. The extension of the pit lane has no effect on the usual placement of the containers for race control and timekeeping, the MCN hospitality and the pit lane grandstand.
“This year’s construction simply tops everything. The longest pit lane in history of Norisring, unlike anything ever before. This immense pit facility including the tent, it is all really impressive. This project includes so much detail work, crazy. All this can only succeed when all the parties are working together in a good way and that is definitely the case here,” says Frederic Elsner, director event & operations of the DTM organisation ITR, and adds: “I would also like to mention the extremely good co-operation with the Motorsport Club Nürnberg. It really is great fun like this.”
The intense phase of the circuit construction includes the final six weeks prior to the race date while the dismantling covers the fortnight afterwards. The entire preparation time for the major event covers nine months, during which over 200 MCN members and another 400 voluntary helpers put in over 10,000 working hours. For the race track, some five kilometres of Armco barriers and safety fences have to be installed, complemented by around two and a half kilometres of concrete elements that also serve as the track limitation. Another safety element are over 110 so-called six-packs, consisting of tyre stacks of six tyres each. Moreover, grandstands with seats for 25,000 additional spectators have to be installed, along with around twelve kilometres of construction site fencing and three kilometres each of water and drainage pipes and over five kilometres of power cables. Regular training courses for the track marshals to obtain the required DMSB marshals’ licence are part of the preparation process as well to ensure utmost safety and a flawless running of the event for the drivers in the six race series during the Norisring weekend.
After all, DTM Norisring powered by BMW M is in the centre of the attention of motorsport enthusiasts, both on-site and around the globe. From nearly every angle, from 56 different camera perspectives, the fascinating racing action is being captured. For this purpose, 16 kilometres of cables were laid in the event area. On the three days of the event, DTM partner TV Skyline is producing a programme of over 25 hours in total with 60 live streams and over 250 InRace Clips, brief video reels that are already available worldwide during the race. The DTM races alone, broadcast live on ProSieben in the German-speaking region, can be watched in over 70 countries. And another novelty: the so-called TV compound, the location for the OB units, has been incorporated into the paddock environment for the first time so that the spectators can get an impression from how the footage is generated as well.