* Mercedes-Benz driver wins DTM show event at historic sporting venue

* 54.000 fans celebrate a happy motorsport party for two days

* DTM tyre partner Hankook draws a positive verdict

This was something the time-honoured Munich Olympiastadion hadn’t seen before. During the DTM show event, fans celebrated a happy motorsport party at the historic sporting venue over the weekend, they got to see thrilling races and a great support programme. The hosts, assisted by German star comedian Atze Schröder, presented drift and stunt shows and live music acts, ranging from Mando Diao to old rock stars The Rattles. Thousands of fans trekked to the paddock, where they could get up close and personal with their idols, who, in turn, took plenty of time to sign autographs.

Mercedes-Benz and Audi were involved in hot battles at the 1.192 kilometres long track in the stadium. After Edoardo Mortara (Audi) had won the ‘battle of the brands’ on Saturday against Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler, these two drivers were facing each other once again in the finale on Sunday. Up to that point, the fastest driver of each brand had raced the slowest driver of the other brand in a ‘knock-out’ system in order to determine the two participants for the finale. As the two drivers started from different positions in each heat, spectators could closely follow the action with really tight decisions and small margins at the finish.

At the end of the day, the two fastest drivers of the memorable race weekend provided another great show for the spectators. This time, it was Spengler’s turn, but he also benefited from bad luck for Mortara. On the fifth and final lap of the first heat, the Audi driver hit the wall and was unable to continue. Thus, Spengler had his name written on the winners’ list of the Olympiastadion, like Mortara had on Saturday. The 27-year old was presented with the trophy by Hankook president and CMO, H.S. Cho. The two Mercedes drivers and DTM rookies Renger van der Zande from The Netherlands and German Christian Vietoris (both Mercedes-Benz) completed the podium, only having been defeated after thrilling battles in the semi-finals by the eventual finalists.

The Hankook tyres supported the DTM drivers with a constant and well-balanced performance, but with a top speed of 140 km/h, they weren’t strained as much as during a regular race. This time, the main goal for drivers and teams at the slow stadium circuit was to get the tyres to the working temperature between 90 and 110 degrees as quickly as possible in order to get the necessary grip. In the case of Oliver Jarvis (Audi), it showed how important that was. Jarvis’ tyre warmers didn’t work and with ‘cold’ tyres, he was sidelined after the round of the last 16 already. All other drivers were able to pick up speed right away with new slicks after the pit stops and had a “good feeling” and the necessary traction on the twisty track.

Norbert Haug, head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz: “A good job by Hankook. Everything has worked very well and they have mastered the challenge of ‘the race in a stadium’ with success.”

Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Europe’s head of motorsport: “This event is a gain for the DTM. Like this, we are bringing spectacular motorsport live to the fans and are able to demonstrate the performance of the entire DTM, including our tyres, also away from the classic race tracks in an excellent way. The feedback from the numerous visitors to our Hankook brand world in the exhibition area at the Olympiapark was also very positive throughout. Therefore, we really like to come back.”

Michael Eckert, chief engineer Hankook Motorsport: “Concerning the tyres, the track in Munich’s Olympiastadion was not really a challenge. In spite of the partly really high asphalt temperatures of over 50° C and some drivers who locked up under braking, all the sets are still looking new and surely will have a second life during the DTM taxi rides. For the tyre pressure, the teams have chosen the most varied strategies to reach the best possible performance. Warm pressures varied by up to half a bar, what is quite a lot. The working temperatures of the tyres were rather low here, but the full grip was there all the time.”