Chapter 4 of 10: No room for mistakes at the Norisring

The standout event of the season has come around again. Since 2000, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport have won 15 races in Nuremberg. Now, in the team's 30th anniversary season and after two years without a win, they are intent on returning to their previous Norisring form.

• Debut at the Norisring: 25 June 1988 (The very first year of the race through the streets of Nuremberg produced two strong team performances, with Mercedes drivers claiming the P2 to P5 spots in Race 1 and P2 to P6 in Race 2)
• Maiden victory at the Norisring: 26 June 1989 (Kurt Thiim secures the team's first win at Nuremberg)
• 18 victories to date at the Norisring make Mercedes-AMG Motorsport by far the most successful brand on the street circuit in Nuremberg
• For more statistics on the track and the 30-year DTM history of the brand, see our Race Facts (download here)
• Ulrich Fritz: 'For years we dominated at the Norisring and made it a fortress for our brand. In recent years, though, this dominance has unfortunately become somewhat diminished. So it's all the more important for the team to be successful again here in our final year.'

Comments on the DTM races at Nuremberg

Gary Paffett (37, England):

• Car number: 2
• Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS
• Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

'The outcome of the last race in Budapest was obviously very disappointing, but we have now put that stroke of bad luck behind us. The start of the season went very well, and the car was again very fast on the Hungaroring. Consequently, I feel we have every reason to be positive about the weekend. I think the teams will be more of a match for each other at the Norisring, as it's a track that doesn't suit anyone in particular. That's why it's all about getting the most out of the car and the setup. Of course, it would be great to win there again. But quite honestly, I think everyone will have the same chance of winning, so we have to try and score as many points as possible. All the same, I will obviously be going all out to get back on the podium and - in the best‑case scenario - to win.'

Paul Di Resta (32, Scotland):

• Car number: 3
• Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS
• Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

'As always, I'm really looking forward to the Norisring. When this weekend is over, we will be approaching the halfway point in the season, and after the successful Saturday in Budapest, we're obviously hoping that we can repeat this performance in Nuremberg. The preparations have gone well so far, so I'm feeling confident about the weekend.'

Lucas Auer (23, Austria):

• Car number: 22
• Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
• Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

'The Norisring is my personal highlight of the DTM year. It is the only street circuit on the calendar. The surface is very bumpy, and there are always large numbers of spectators. It's just mega. What's more, the races there are always super tense affairs, even if you haven't qualified all that far forward. Also, I associate fond memories with the Norisring, because that was where I scored my first DTM points back in 2015.'

Edoardo Mortara (31, Italy):

• Car number: 48
• Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
• Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

'I'm looking forward to the race weekend at the Norisring. The race is one of the absolute highlights of the DTM season. Our car has been competitive right from the start of the campaign and has shown great potential. Furthermore, Mercedes has a tradition of doing well on this street circuit in the past. I myself won at the Norisring in 2016, so I can see no reason why we should not be competitive in Nuremberg. Consequently, I'm hopeful that we can get two good results there.'

Pascal Wehrlein (23, Germany):

• Car number: 94
• Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport PETRONAS
• Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

'The Norisring has stuck in my memory for my victory in the 2015 season. On that occasion, I started with slicks on a wet track and then went on to win the race. That's one reason why I'm especially looking forward to my return to Nuremberg. The Norisring is a track that I really like. The street circuit has always been good to me and to the team. Consequently, I'm hoping for a successful weekend on the streets of Nuremberg. '

Daniel Juncadella (27, Spain):

• Car number: 23
• Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport REMUS
• Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM

'The race weekend in Nuremberg is a magnificent event, and I really like the Norisring as a venue. It is clearly one of the big occasions of the season. The atmosphere is always special, and the races can occasionally be a bit crazy. That ensures we drivers have a lot of fun. We have been very strong at the Norisring in the past, and we've been very successful in the first few races of the year as well. On that basis, we can feel optimistic going into the weekend.'

Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM:

'We have the highlight of the season coming up at the Norisring, and certainly two races that will be extremely important for the ultimate destination of championship. There is no other track on the calendar where the lap times are so close together. There is no room for mistakes here. For our guys, Nuremberg will be all about staying in touch with the current leader and at the same time pulling out a gap to the chasing group. Recent races have shown that we have a great car and a strong driver squad, but also that you need a degree of racing luck. The Nuremberg circuit and Mercedes - that's a very special story. For years, we dominated here and made the Norisring a fortress for our brand. In recent years, though, this dominance has unfortunately somewhat diminished. So it's all the more important for the team to be successful again here in our final year.'