PIRELLI, AT NORISRING TYRES STRATEGY DETERMINING

The short city circuit subjects the tyres to significant braking. The choice of when to change tyres can affect the outcome of the race

The DTM gets into full swing with round four at the Norisring, the famous Nuremberg street circuit also known as the German Monte Carlo. Unlike the Monegasque track, which is sinuous, the German one, 2.2 kilometres long, is basically made up of two straights between two bends. It is the Grundig hairpin bend and the Dutzendteich hairpin bend that impose significant decelerations with stress on the braking system and tyres. Between the two corners there is the Schöller chicane with a quick right-left on the narrow.

PIRELLI QUOTE
Matteo Braga, Pirelli Circuit Activities manager: "One of the most interesting aspects of the DTM is the extreme variety of challenges that event after event are proposed to teams and drivers. After the dunes of Zandvoort there is the Nuremberg street circuit where it is easy to create "traffic" on the track.  Although it holds no secrets for the drivers, the Norisring should never be underestimated in the management of tyres that are subject to braking and restarting. Crucial will be the qualifying times and the resulting starting order as well as the timing of the mandatory tyre change.  The evolution of the track should not be underestimated. The asphalt, which has little grip at the beginning of the event, is getting rubberized during the various sessions, increasing grip. In addition, cars run close to walls so it is easy to damage the wheels. At the moment there is no rain forecast, which when it falls makes life a bit difficult for everyone. I am sure we will witness an interesting race: the battle for the title is wide open and a clear leader of the season is still missing". 

P ZERO DHF AND CINTURATO WHB
As in all races with GT cars in which Pirelli is involved, the tyres available to the drivers are the P Zero DHF and the Cinturato WHB. The DHF, developed to meet the specific needs of all GT classes, has a wide working range and an innovative construction that optimises the car's balance with a better connection between the front and rear axles. The new Cinturato WHBs, which just this season made their first appearance, are the wet-weather tyres designed to maintain the performance and reliability characteristics of the DHF even in wet conditions. In particular, the evolution of the Cinturato features a new tread pattern that has allowed the use of the latest generation of materials which, together with the increased tread rigidity, have improved the footprint on the ground.  Compared to the previous generation, grip and warm-up have been optimised, leaving stability unaltered in wet-to-dry transition conditions and sensitivity to aquaplan.