The next and penultimate race weekend on the DTM calendar is a place where very few of the drivers have much experience, as this will be only the second time the series has gone to the Hungaroring in recently memory. It was last there in 2014 and before that 1988 was the only other time the series has ventured into Hungary. However, Augusto Farfus doesn’t see this as a disadvantage as it is a track he likes.
The ever optimistic Brazilian is coming off the back of a disappointing weekend at the Nürburgring, one of his favourite tracks, but it would take more than that to see him be pessimistic about a race weekend: “This is a race track I like, and when we visited it back in 2014 I was fast and qualified sixth. Unfortunately I had brake issues in the race and had to retire after three quarters distance. However, BMW went on to win the race, so I am hopeful it will suit my Shell BMW M4 DTM.”
The 4.381 kilometre circuit will not be exactly the same as in 2014, as Augusto explained: “There is new asphalt on the track and hopefully this can play into our hands, the way it did in Austria at the A1 Ring where a BMW won both races. We just have to keep working flat out the way we always do, push hard for the season finale and hope for a good result.”
While the BMW Team MTEK driver likes the track with its many slow corners that make overtaking extremely difficult, he is also a big fan of Budapest, which is about a 20 minute drive away: “I think it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with a lot of history.” This year the track has celebrated its 30th anniversary, as it was opened in 1986 and has hosted a Formula 1 race every year since then. This year there will be four drivers racing there who were not in the series in 2014, but they will all be aware that the best overtaking opportunity is just before the end of the start/finish straight where the track goes right.
The first track action will he the usual FP1 session on Friday from 17.00 to 17.30 local time. Then on Saturday FP2 is from 10.45 to 11.15 and is followed by qualifying for the first race of the weekend from 12.35 to 12.55. The 40-minute race starts at 14.58. On Sunday it is FP3 from 10.45 to 11.15, qualifying from 12.50 to 13.10 and then the 60-minute race starting at 15.13.
