DTM to race without spectators in Hockenheim season finale
The DTM’s grand finale with the decision in the thrilling title race between René Rast (GER), Nico Müller (SUI) and Robin Frijns (NED) will be held behind closed doors in Hockenheim from 6-8 November. Considering the current development of the Covid-19 pandemic, the DTM organisation ITR and Hockenheim-Ring GmbH together have decided to refrain from selling tickets for the ninth and final season round. For the rounds at Zolder in Belgium on the past two weekends, ITR had already stopped the admitted ticket sales.
SAT.1 and internet streaming deliver DTM decision on TV screens and smartphones
When it will be decided at the Motodrom in Baden-Württemberg, traditionally the venue for the season finale, who will become the 2020 DTM champion, motorsport enthusiasts will not have to miss out on any moment of the exciting action. SAT.1 in the German-speaking region, as well as TV stations in over 30 countries, are broadcasting the races on Saturday and Sunday (start at 13.30 hrs on both days) live. The streaming portal DTM Grid (grid.dtm.com) also provides broadcasts of practice and qualifying sessions as well as comprehensive coverage from the paddock, to be viewed on TV screens and smartphones.
The situation in the title race in the high-class DTM race series couldn’t be more exciting: defending champion René Rast has claimed the lead in the points’ standings with the Audi RS 5 DTM run by Audi Sport Team Rosberg for the first time this season and is now leading with 304 points. Nico Müller (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) is only 19 points down after having been in the lead of the championship standings from the Spa-Francorchamps season opener at the beginning of August until the Zolder round. Müller’s teammate Robin Frijns has 263 points and, with 56 points at stake, at least still has theoretical chances of sealing the crown.
“The current development of the Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t allow for reliable planning. For this reason and in order to protect our spectators and fans, we have decided together with Hockenheim-Ring GmbH already today, almost three weeks prior to the DTM finale, to refrain from selling tickets. We regret this extraordinarily, but we are convinced that this is the only right decision considering the situation. The DTM fans will not have to miss anything: SAT.1 and TV stations in over 30 countries will be broadcasting the races live from Hockenheim and the full action can be watched from all over the world on the streaming portal DTM Grid. At Hockenheim, a difficult, but eminently thrilling 2020 DTM season will be coming to an end, and that with an exciting three-way battle for the title. We are looking forward to the 2021 season and also, hopefully, to be able to welcome our numerous DTM fans at the race tracks again.”
Marcel Mohaupt, managing director, ITR GmbH
“We were looking forward to a grand finale of the 2020 DTM with as many spectators as possible at our Hockenheimring. Too bad that this can’t be planned in a reliable way given the current extremely dynamic situation of the pandemic, in spite of a comprehensive hygiene concept. However, safety comes first, we fully agree with the ITR in this respect. Hockenheim hosting the DTM finale has been a long-standing tradition, but it is only a pleasure deferred. We are looking forward to many thrilling races at Hockenheim in the year 2021, of course also with DTM and then hopefully with as many spectators as possible on site again.”
Jochen Nerpel + Jorn Teske, managing directors, Hockenheim-Ring GmbH
