Pirelli takes on the Norisring challenge for the fourth round of the DTM
After the Red Bull Ring, Zandvoort and the Dekra Lausitzring, the DTM arrives at the Norisring for the fourth round of the 2026 season, taking place from 3 to 5 July in the heart of Nuremberg. Races 7 and 8 of the 16 scheduled on the calendar will be held on Germany’s only street circuit, which is 2.162 kilometres long and features just four corners: one right-hander and three left-handers.
The challenge
The anti-clockwise layout, narrow carriageways, very close barriers and road surface normally open to traffic make the track one of the most intense and difficult events of the season. Here, it is not only pure speed that counts: precision, braking stability and the ability to put the traction down very early on exit from slow corners are required. The cars arrive at the main braking zones at over 250 kph and have to slow to around 60 kph, with bumps and surface irregularities further increasing the difficulty for drivers, cars and tyres.
The weekend comes at a very tight stage of the championship. Matteo Cairoli, driving the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari, arrives at the Norisring as championship leader after taking his second win of the season at the Dekra Lausitzring. His advantage, however, is minimal: Maro Engel and Lucas Auer, both in Mercedes-AMG cars, are just one point behind him. For Cairoli, the Norisring is almost new territory: the Italian driver has raced there only once, eleven years ago.
Among the other expected front-runners is Thomas Preining, already a three-time winner on the Nuremberg circuit and fresh from victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps together with team-mates Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus.
Matteo Braga, Pirelli Circuit Activity Manager:
“The Norisring is one of the most distinctive circuits on the DTM calendar. It has only four corners, but that does not make it simple: on the contrary, it concentrates all the stresses into a few very severe points. High-speed braking, the irregular road surface and slow exits put the tyres under stress in a different way compared with longer and more complete circuits. Every variation in temperature, pressure and grip can have a direct impact on performance. The proximity of the walls reduces the margin for error to a minimum and makes the predictability of the car’s behaviour lap after lap even more important. It will be essential to find the correct operating window quickly and to maintain stability and traction throughout the race. With the standings so close, tyre management will be a decisive factor.”
Pirelli tyres at the Norisring
From this year, Pirelli is supplying the DTM with an evolution of the P ZERO tyres developed specifically for the championship, with characteristics designed to guarantee performance, reliability and adaptability to the different tracks and to the series’ race format. The dedicated line, also recognisable by its specific graphics and design, is produced at the Pirelli Technology Hub in Breuberg, Hesse, using optimised processes and materials to ensure consistent performance and support the Balance of Performance system. The tyres are also equipped with RFID technology, which enables the tracking required by the 2026 DTM regulations and contributes to sporting and technical management on track.