After already having to change the programme for this month’s Lausitzring spherical on the request of TV companion ProSieben, which can be broadcasting the Ice Hockey World Championship, the beginning of the second Zandvoort race has additionally been pushed again because of a scheduling battle with the Le Mans take a look at.
Whereas the timings for Saturday’s periods stay the identical, the second race on Sunday will now happen at 5pm native time, 3h30m later than the DTM’s normal 1:30pm slot. Furthermore, the grid for that contest will probably be determined by a qualifying session on Friday night, instantly after the 2 observe periods.
The normal pre-Le Mans take a look at is scheduled for 9 June, the identical day because the second Zandvoort DTM race and per week earlier than the blue-riband spherical of the World Endurance Championship.
“We wish to current our followers with the very best discipline,” ADAC motorsport director Thomas Voss defined concerning the resolution when requested by Motorsport.com’s sister web site Motorsport-Whole.com.
“Due to this fact, along with the groups and our TV companion ProSieben, we’ve agreed to postpone the beginning on Sunday in order that DTM drivers can participate within the Le Mans take a look at.
“Which means no driver has a handicap within the title struggle, and ideally we will welcome a Le Mans winner from the DTM on the [next round in] Norisring.”
BMW had lengthy been lobbying for transferring the beginning time for the Zandvoort race to minimse the affect from the overlap with the Le Mans take a look at. All three of its DTM drivers, Rene Rast, Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann, compete with the manufacturing facility WRT staff in WEC’s Hypercar class this 12 months, that means it had rather a lot to lose from the conflict.
Initially, the ADAC didn’t see the necessity to change the timings of the Zandvoort spherical, because the Le Mans take a look at will not be obligatory and even rookies like Wittmann can theoretically full their obligatory laps in a observe session on the next Wednesday.
Nevertheless, the significance of the Le Mans take a look at can’t be estimated, particularly contemplating BMW has obtained solely average success with its LMDh programme in WEC and IMSA SportsCar Championship to date.
Furthermore, the German marque is eager on having Rast within the pre-race take a look at at La Sarthe, because the 37-year-old has prototype expertise on the observe and is understood for his methodical strategy.
Due to this fact, the ADAC has determined to carry the second Zandvoort race late within the night. This may enable drivers who compete in each Le Mans and the DTM to fly to France on Saturday night, with an airport situated proper subsequent to the observe, after which participate within the take a look at on Sunday morning.
Following the take a look at, they’ll return to the Netherlands to see out the DTM weekend.
Other than the BMW trio, SSR’s Mirko Bortolotti, Emil Frey driver Jack Aitken and Abt Audi man Kelvin van der Linde are additionally because of compete within the 92nd operating of the French endurance traditional.