Zandvoort marks the half-way stage in the 2018 DTM season: The Circuit Zandvoort is especially challenging for both drivers and cars
- First race at Zandvoort: 23rd September 2001 (Uwe Alzen takes first win as DTM debuts at Circuit Zandvoort. Seven Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM drivers finish in the Top Ten)
- Mercedes-AMG Motorsport have secured six wins at the circuit in the dunes since 2001. Having posted three wins there (2005, 2009, 2010), Gary Paffett is the most successful of the current crop of drivers in the DTM line-up at Zandvoort
- Mercedes-AMG Motorsport lead the drivers’, constructors’ and team classifications in the run-up to Zandvoort, the half-way point in the 2018 DTM season
- For more statistics on the track and the brand’s 30-year history in the DTM, see our Race Facts (download here)
- Ulrich Fritz: “We’ve witnessed plenty of incredible races at Zandvoort in the past, and I think we can hope to see more epic battles again this year, considering how things have gone so far this season.”
Comments on the DTM races at Zandvoort
Gary Paffett (37, England):
- Car number: 2
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“Zandvoort is probably my favourite DTM circuit. It’s a great venue. Extremely challenging, but good fun to drive, for sure! Our car has worked really well so far this year, and we now have a small lead in the championship. Hopefully, we can go to Zandvoort and extend that lead, but the most important thing will be to achieve decent results. I’d obviously love to go there and get a win or two and finish on the podium, as I just love this track.”
Edoardo Mortara (31, Italy):
- Car number: 48
- Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“We’ve got a competitive car and have done well at every race weekend so far, which has made tackling races this year a whole lot of fun. I’m looking forward to the upcoming weekend at Zandvoort in general. The track has suited me in the past and I’ve already won there. It’s an important weekend for us, and I hope to use the momentum gained from the last couple of races.”
Paul Di Resta (32, Scotland):
- Car number: 3
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“We’ll have reached the half-way point in the season with this race weekend and then the championship will step up a gear after that. It’s going to be great to be back in Zandvoort. The track there is similar to Budapest where our performance was terrific, but it’s consistency that counts in the DTM. The team are working hard to keep the results coming.”
Lucas Auer (23, Austria):
- Car number: 22
- Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“Zandvoort is mega old-school. The tasty turns with very few run-off areas give you a chance to show you’ve got balls, as we say in Austria. But seriously, it’s a fab circuit. Mega challenging and amazingly fast with the new asphalt. I can’t wait to race this generation of DTM cars there to find the limit.”
Pascal Wehrlein (23, Germany):
- Car number: 94
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“It’s been a little while since the last race at the Norisring, so I’m pleased to be underway again this weekend. When all said and done, race weekends are the best of the year! After our poor showing in Nuremberg, I’m pretty certain that I can come back even stronger at Zandvoort and will do everything I can to make that happen.”
Daniel Juncadella (27, Spain):
- Car number: 23
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“Zandvoort is one of my favourite tracks in the DTM. I’ve won there previously in Formula 3 and had one of my biggest successes in the Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort back in 2012. I really love the circuit. It’s a proper driver’s track that punishes mistakes. We’ve got a mega fast car this season and are well prepared for the weekend. I had my best race weekend so far in the DTM at the Norisring and would like that to continue at Zandvoort.”
Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM:
“Looking at the standings, we’re obviously well placed in the run-up to Zandvoort, as we head both the constructors’ and team classifications and Gary is in the top spot in the drivers’ championship. Zandvoort is always a big highlight on the racing calendar for everyone. It’s in an amazing location next to the sea. Just brilliant! Also, the layout is very demanding. There are practically no run-off areas to speak of, so every mistake really does get punished. We’ve witnessed plenty of incredible races at Zandvoort in the past, and I think we can hope to see more epic battles again this year, considering how things have gone so far this season. Of all the tracks on the calendar, Zandvoort is definitely the one that puts the greatest demands on tyres, so managing tyres correctly will be key to success. As you would expect, our goal is to still head the various championship classifications after the weekend in the Netherlands.”
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