jens
30th March 2007, 14:48
Don't know, how many of you are interested in that series, but decided to make such topic, of anyone else is. :)
So the first race of ten will be held at Hockenheim on April 22.
The driver line-ups are also clear by now.
Mercedes
2007 car: Schneider, Spengler, Häkkinen, Green
2006: Paffett, Margaritis, Lauda, la Rosa
2005: di Resta, Stoddart
Audi
2007: Ekström, Kristensen, Tomczyk, Scheider
2006: Rockenfeller, Luhr, Abt, Premat
2005: Ickx and probably Carroll.
So eight new cars, eight one-year-old cars and four 2-year-old cars.
Pretty tough to say, who is going to be the main contenders. Schneider is the reigning champion, but he is already 43 years old and last year won mainly thanks to consistency than speed and I suppose that his young team-mate Spengler - who progressed significantly during last season - may even become the main title favourite this year. Green can be very quick, but tends to be a bit erratic - his goal is to score his first DTM win this year. Häkkinen will probably be as inconsistent as ever.
From Audi's squad the biggest questionmark is former champion Ekström, who had a very unfortunate season last year and now the question is that how he has managed to come out of that? He definetely is talented and if he can find his top form, he will probably be Audi's #1 driver again, but that's only "and if". Kristensen probably fights close to the top, although I wouldn't nominate him as title favourite. Tomczyk and Scheider are "dark horses" - first of them found confidence in the second half of last year and if he can keep that form, he can be a serious threat to title contenders. Scheider has always been quick, but has never driven such a competitive car yet - so now it's his opportunity to show, what he really is capable of. And I wouldn't be surprised, if he manages to fight even for a Top3 position in Driver's standings.
Among 2006-spec cars one of the most interesting drivers is 2005 champion Paffett. It will be an interesting question whether he can beat any of the new car drivers or not. Also some drivers, who drove a formula car last year - Premat, Carroll, di Resta - have joined the series.
So the first race of ten will be held at Hockenheim on April 22.
The driver line-ups are also clear by now.
Mercedes
2007 car: Schneider, Spengler, Häkkinen, Green
2006: Paffett, Margaritis, Lauda, la Rosa
2005: di Resta, Stoddart
Audi
2007: Ekström, Kristensen, Tomczyk, Scheider
2006: Rockenfeller, Luhr, Abt, Premat
2005: Ickx and probably Carroll.
So eight new cars, eight one-year-old cars and four 2-year-old cars.
Pretty tough to say, who is going to be the main contenders. Schneider is the reigning champion, but he is already 43 years old and last year won mainly thanks to consistency than speed and I suppose that his young team-mate Spengler - who progressed significantly during last season - may even become the main title favourite this year. Green can be very quick, but tends to be a bit erratic - his goal is to score his first DTM win this year. Häkkinen will probably be as inconsistent as ever.
From Audi's squad the biggest questionmark is former champion Ekström, who had a very unfortunate season last year and now the question is that how he has managed to come out of that? He definetely is talented and if he can find his top form, he will probably be Audi's #1 driver again, but that's only "and if". Kristensen probably fights close to the top, although I wouldn't nominate him as title favourite. Tomczyk and Scheider are "dark horses" - first of them found confidence in the second half of last year and if he can keep that form, he can be a serious threat to title contenders. Scheider has always been quick, but has never driven such a competitive car yet - so now it's his opportunity to show, what he really is capable of. And I wouldn't be surprised, if he manages to fight even for a Top3 position in Driver's standings.
Among 2006-spec cars one of the most interesting drivers is 2005 champion Paffett. It will be an interesting question whether he can beat any of the new car drivers or not. Also some drivers, who drove a formula car last year - Premat, Carroll, di Resta - have joined the series.