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DTM - Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
England - Brands Hatch - Preview

By MJP Media | 17 May 2012

There will be plenty of British interest at Brands Hatch this weekend when the DTM visits the Kent circuit as David Coulthard, Andy Priaulx, Gary Paffett, Jamie Green and Suzy Wolff compete in this fast-paced series.

Gary Paffett - current championship leader

DTM - German Touring Cars - blasts into Kent's Brands Hatch circuit this weekend. In the 3rd race of their 2012 season, the German touring car series features many household name drivers including David Coulthard (Mercedes), Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes) and Andy Priaulx (BMW). DTM cars are the fastest four wheel action around the Brands Hatch circuit, typically lapping the Indy circuit around 7 seconds faster than a British Touring Car Championship car. Jenson Button will also be putting in a guest appearance to test one of the cars this weekend.

DTM is embarking on a new era in 2012 with new cars and the addition of a third manufacturer, BMW. Triple World Touring Car Championship champion Andy Priaulx joins reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk in the BMW line-up. Another British hope is 2005 DTM champion and McLaren F1 test driver Gary Paffett who leads the standings for Mercedes heading into his home round with fellow Brit and Mercedes driver Jamie Green close behind. Elsewhere, British interest is with Susie Wolff in her Mercedes.

Jamie Green - second in the championship standings

The race is the only UK meeting for the German touring car series and Andy Priaulx is happy to be back at the circuit. "I have only positive thoughts ahead of this weekend's race at the circuit I love." the Guernseyman said. "I looked up the other day to see when I last raced on the Indy layout and it was in 2001. That is a long time ago and so I have to approach this as still part of the learning process and another new challenge. The win for BMW last time out in the Lausitzring proved to all of us we are going in the right direction and my aim now is to make sure I am on the top of a podium sooner rather than later in my BMW Team RBM car."

Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk (BMW) also has good memories of Brands Hatch after he climbed onto the top step of the podium after last year's 98-lap race, taking his total to three podium finishes at the circuit.

David Coulthard in his Mücke Motorsport Mercedes AMG C-Coupé

The big disappointment so far this season has been the poor showing of the Audis. Mercedes have been quick in both the opening 2 rounds and the BMWs are showing massive performance gains almost by the day. After the last race, Audi's head of motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said: "Of course, we can't be happy with this result, because this time again, we couldn't get the tyres on our cars to work well in the race. Nevertheless, we have to understand our A5 better and use the full potential. We will work hard on that." Perhaps we will see better results at Brands Hatch.

There will be practice at the superb Kent circuit on Friday and Saturday morning, with qualifying on Saturday afternoon. The main event, the DTM race, will be on Sunday afternoon. For more details and tickets, please visit www.brandshatch.co.uk.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media