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Hockenheim

Joel Eriksson fired up for DTM finale

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Word has it that time flies when you’re having fun – and in the case of Joel Eriksson, it couldn’t have been a truer fact in 2018. As the youngest driver on the grid, the then 19-year-old Swede made his DTM debut at Hockenheim back in May, shocking the establishment by only just missing out on the podium. Five months later, the BMW rookie – now a DTM race winner – returns to the same venue this weekend for the final round of the season.

“It’s incredible how quickly this season has gone by, but here we are,” says Joel Eriksson. “Hockenheim is a track I really enjoy and I can’t wait to get in the car for a final time this year.”

Eriksson, who turned 20 during the summer, can look back at a rewarding rookie campaign in Germany’s leading racing series. While his Misano race win remains the highlight, a top five finish last time out at the Red Bull Ring – where he spearheaded the BMW charge – brings fresh momentum into this weekend’s finale.  

Adding to that, Hockenheim is the only circuit to feature twice on the DTM calendar, hosting both the opening and concluding rounds of the season. For rookie Eriksson, that means he can rely on previous track-specific experience from aboard his BMW M4 DTM for the first and only time this year.

Reviewing his previous visit to Hockenheim back in May, Eriksson also has plenty to be confident about, having sensationally battled for the win on his debut weekend in a spectacular Sunday race.

Eriksson eventually finished fourth on that occasion, narrowly missing out to Gary Paffett (one of three title contenders this weekend) for the podium, but still raised many eyebrows in the paddock.

“I had a strong first round at Hockenheim earlier in the year, and I have evolved massively since then – that’s a fact no matter what happens this weekend,” Eriksson concludes. “Of course, I hope that we can be just as competitive this time around. I would love to end this season on a high, and I will race my heart out to do so.”

The 2018 DTM finale gets underway with opening free practice on Friday afternoon, followed by the usual qualifying and race double-headers on Saturday and Sunday.

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)

DTM | Round 10
 Hockenheim (Germany)

Friday 12 October
Free Practice 1: 15.45-16.15

Saturday 13 October
Free Practice 2: 09.00-09.30
Qualifying 1: 10.55-11.15
Race 1: 13.30-14.30

Sunday 14 October
Free Practice 3: 09.00-09.30
Qualifying 2: 11.10-11.30
Race 2: 13.30-14.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 18/20 races

1: Paul di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 229 p.
2: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 225 p.
3: René Rast (GER), Audi, 199 p. 
4: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 143 p.
5: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 139 p.
—
13: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 70 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live

Joel-Bull

Joel Eriksson out to unleash “The Bull” – where it was born

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It was displayed as recently as last month, and has been a recurring theme ever since the first win. “The Bull” has become an unmistakable trademark Joel Eriksson gesture, exposed in the wake of victory across the racing circuits of the world. This weekend, the Swedish BMW DTM rookie returns to the birthplace of the champagne-scented habit – and he’d be more than happy to demonstrate it once again.

Austria’s Red Bull Ring is a place decorated in positive memories for Joel Eriksson. This, the idyllic Alpine landscape outside the village of Spielberg, is where he claimed his career-first car racing victory in ADAC Formel Masters in 2014 – and simultaneously launched his by-now well-known method of celebration.

“The Bull has sort of become my thing, and I’d gladly show it off again,” says Joel Eriksson. “It was born right here at the Red Bull Ring following that first win in 2014. It was inspired by that giant steel bull which stands on the infield, and which I’d spent lap after lap driving past. It was just a thing of the moment and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s nice to have something a little bit unusual.”

Eriksson’s Red Bull Ring CV, however, contains a lot more than just that breakthrough moment in 2014. As a matter of fact, it’s the Swede’s most successful track of all, with double victories in both Formula 4 (2015) and Formula 3 (2017) taking his victory tally at the venue up to five. Adding to that, he has also clinched another two podiums at the track.

Returning to the Styrian hills this weekend, Eriksson is understandably optimistic, although swapping his previous single-seater experience for a first visit in DTM machinery will certainly add to the challenge.

“For sure it will be different, going around in the DTM car for the first time, but it’s been the same at most tracks this year and it’s just part of being a rookie,” Eriksson argues. “I always enjoy being at Red Bull Ring. Not just because of the results I’ve had there in the past, but just the atmosphere in general. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place. The track itself also suits my driving style really well, with plenty of high-speed corners. The final sector in particular is amazing. I can’t wait to get out there and push!”

Eriksson, who claimed his maiden DTM win last month at the Misano night races in Italy, arrives in Spielberg sitting 11th in the overall standings. The grid is bolstered by an additional entry this weekend, with five-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier making a one-off appearance for Mercedes.

As always, DTM action will get underway with 30 minutes of free practice on Friday, with the more decisive sessions then playing out across Saturday and Sunday. 

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)

DTM | Round 9
 Red Bull Ring (Austria)

Friday 21 September
Free Practice 1: 16.45-17.15

Saturday 22 September
Free Practice 2: 08.30-09.00
Qualifying 1: 10.35-10.55
Race 1: 13.30-14.30

Sunday 23 September
Free Practice 3: 08.30-09.00
Qualifying 2: 10.35-10.55
Race 2: 13.30-14.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 16/20 races

1: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 206 p.
2: Paul di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 204 p.
3: René Rast (GER), Audi, 149 p. 
4: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 138 p.
5: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 137 p.
—
11: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 60 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live

Motorsports: DTM race Misano

The DTM’s newest winner back on track

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Since one and a half week, Joel Eriksson can proudly affix “DTM race winner” to his racing résumé. Scoring an emotional maiden victory in the highly-competitive touring car championship last time out under the Misano floodlights, the 20-year-old BMW Swede arrives at the Nürburgring this weekend at the centre of attention, determined to build on his winning momentum.
 
“It’s been some crazy days since Misano and I still struggle to understand that it actually happened,” says Joel Eriksson. “It was a dream come true for me and I’m so grateful for all the messages and congratulations I’ve received. I’m not really sure what it will be like to return to the paddock this weekend as a DTM race winner, but I’m quite keen to find out!”
 
The Misano triumph may be Eriksson’s prime career achievement to date, but resting on one’s laurels is never an option in a sport where standing still inexorably means moving backwards. Well aware of that very fact, the second-youngest winner in DTM history is fully focussed on what lies ahead.
 
“Winning that race at Misano was absolutely fantastic and something I will remember for the rest of my life, but right now I have to leave that behind and focus on the Nürburgring this weekend,” 2018 DTM rookie Eriksson continues. “I know very well that I still have plenty to learn in this series and I don’t expect everything to change just because I won a race. It’s hard work, always, and the Nürburgring is actually a track I’ve not always gone great at. I’ve had the pace but not the results – hopefully that can change this weekend.”
 
This weekend’s races are staged on the Nürburgring’s 3.6 km Sprint layout. The meeting in Germany’s Eifel mountains constitutes round eight of ten on the 2018 DTM calendar. 
 
Joel Eriksson is one of eight DTM race winners so far this season, alongside Gary Paffett, Timo Glock, Edoardo Mortara, Paul di Resta, Marco Wittmann, René Rast and Daniel Juncadella.

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)

DTM | Round 8
 Nürburgring (Germany)

Friday 7 September
Free Practice 1: 16.45-17.15

Saturday 8 September
Free Practice 2: 08.30-09.00
Qualifying 1: 11.15-11.35
Race 1: 13.30-14.30

Sunday 9 September
Free Practice 3: 08.30-09.00
Qualifying 2: 11.15-11.35
Race 2: 13.30-14.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 14/20 races

1: Paul Di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 186 p.
2: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 177 p.
3: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 138 p.
4: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 112 p.
5: Lucas Auer (AUT), Mercedes, 110 p.
—
12: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 52 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live

Not fearing the dark: Joel Eriksson prepares for new firsts at Misano

Not fearing the dark: Joel Eriksson prepares for new firsts at Misano

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The first-ever night races, a maiden visit to a new track, a national hero debuting on home soil: the up-coming weekend holds plenty of historic firsts for the DTM. As the German-based touring car series heads abroad to Italy’s Misano circuit, Joel Eriksson faces a dark weekend – literally, but hopefully not figuratively – as he gears up for his first taste of night racing.

Adding to Eriksson’s challenge on this occasion, it’s not just the concept of racing under floodlights that will take him into unchartered territory.

The young Swede is simultaneously making his debut at Misano, idyllically set on the Adriatic coast and perhaps most famous for its road racing pedigree, making this the second race weekend in succession on which the BMW man embraces the prospect of a brand new track acquaintance. 
 
“Misano is another new circuit for me, just like Brands Hatch two weeks ago,” says Joel Eriksson. “However, I think Misano will be a bit easier to learn than Brands Hatch. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the track, so I’m looking forward to it. It’ll also be the first time I’ve ever raced at night, but Misano has a good lighting system and I don’t expect that to be an issue. It will be spectacular for the fans with flames coming off the cars and glowing brakes, and I’m sure it will be really cool to drive a DTM car at night.”
 
This weekend’s races herald a return to Italy for DTM, which last raced in the country in 2010 at the Adria International Raceway further up the Adriatic coast.

Celebrating the occasion, the legendary Alex Zanardi is making a one-off appearance in a seventh BMW M4 DTM in front of his home crowd, lining up alongside regular works drivers Eriksson, Augusto Farfus, Marco Wittmann, Philipp Eng, Bruno Spengler and Timo Glock.

Zanardi, a two-time CART champion who lost both his legs in a violent crash in 2001, is not eligible for points but will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to the grid aboard his specially-adapted car. 

“Alex is a true legend of the sport and everyone at the team is super happy to have him with us this weekend,” Joel Eriksson continues. “His comeback after the accident has been such an inspiration to so many people. It will be an honour to line up alongside him – hopefully ahead of him! – and especially to do so in front of all his fans in Italy.”

Due to the night racing schedule, the regular DTM time table is pushed back significantly this weekend.

Friday free practice takes place at 21.30 (local time), with both Saturday’s and Sunday’s qualifying sessions at 20.00 and the races at 22.30.

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)

DTM | Round 7
 Misano (Italy)

Friday 24 August
Free Practice 1: 21.30-22.00

Saturday 25 August
Free Practice 2: 17.15-17.45
Qualifying 1: 20.00-20.20
Race 1: 22.30-23.30

Sunday 26 August
Free Practice 3: 16.40-17.10
Qualifying 2: 20.00-20.20
Race 2: 22.30-23.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 12/20 races

1: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 177 p.
2: Paul Di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 148 p.
3: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 110 p.
4: Lucas Auer (AUT), Mercedes, 110 p.
5: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 101 p.
—
15: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 27 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live

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Joel Eriksson braced for big British challenge as DTM season resumes

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“Probably the biggest challenge of the year” – that’s what waits around the corner for Joel Eriksson as the 2018 DTM season launches into its second half this weekend. Germany’s top-tier racing series sails across the Channel for a visit to Great Britain, where the daunting Brands Hatch GP circuit is ready to greet the field; and Eriksson is under no illusion about the task at hand.
 
While a DTM rookie this season with BMW, Eriksson’s newcomer status has at least been somewhat mitigated so far by previous knowledge of all the tracks attended to date. That comfort zone will be erased for the first time of the season this weekend, however, as the 20-year-old Swede – the youngest driver on the grid – prepares for his first-ever dash around the highly demanding and ultra-fast Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. 
 
“I think this might probably be the biggest challenge of the year for me,” says Joel Eriksson. “I have never been to Brands Hatch but, based on what the other drivers have told me, it’s a proper tough track. It’s fast, undulating, up and down, blind corners and little or no run-offs. It’s probably one of those tracks where it actually helps quite a lot to have been around before, and to add to that we have less practice time than usual this weekend, but I will certainly push as hard as I can.”
 
DTM returns to Brands Hatch for the first time in five years this weekend, having previously raced at the venue between 2006-2013. Back then, however, it was the significantly shorter – and less spectacular – “Indy” loop that hosted proceedings, with hopes now high that a swap to the full-length Grand Prix layout will boost entertainment.

“It’s an old-school track, a bit like Zandvoort where we raced last time out, and that’s something I always enjoy,” Joel Eriksson continues. “It will be a lot of fun trying out Brands Hatch for the first time. I do have high expectations for the driving thrill. There appear to be two or three corners which are very high speed, very high risk – and that’s always exciting. I hope I can be in the mix for points again this weekend, but I do think it will be a challenge and my first priority is to maximise practice and rack up the laps for qualifying.”
 
The British round of the championship brings with it a revised time table, with Friday’s free practice outing scrapped in favour of two 25-minute sessions on Saturday morning. The weekend then takes on its regular shape, however, with qualifying and race doubles on Saturday and Sunday.

The DTM standings are currently headed by Mercedes’ Gary Paffett – racing on home soil in the UK this weekend. Joel Eriksson sits 14th overall, having scored points for top ten finishes at each of the opening five rounds of the season.

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+01:00)

DTM | Round 6
 Brands Hatch (Great Britain)

Saturday 11 August
Free Practice 1: 09.00-09.25
Free Practice 2: 09.35-10.00
Qualifying 1: 11.20-11.40
Race 1: 13.30-14.30

Sunday 12 August
Free Practice 3: 10.00-10.20
Qualifying 2: 11.20-11.40
Race 2: 13.30-14.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 10/20 races

1: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 148 p.
2: Paul Di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 121 p.
3: Timo Glock (GER), BMW, 101 p.
4: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 98 p.
5: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 97 p.
—
14: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 27 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live

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Dutch favourite next up for Joel Eriksson

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Summer across Europe, and the DTM fraternity heads for the beach. The midway point of the season – round five out of ten – takes place this weekend at the ever-popular Zandvoort circuit on the shores of the Dutch North Sea coast, with Joel Eriksson arriving to memories of what remains his most significant success to date.
 
In clinching the 2016 Masters of Formula 3, a well-established Zandvoort classic, Eriksson etched his name alongside the likes of David Coulthard, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen as a winner of the prestigious junior event. The triumph still brings vivid flashbacks to the recently-turned 20-year-old, who is bidding to emphasise his status as a Zandvoort Master this weekend on his first visit in the DTM.
 
“Zandvoort has always been a favourite of mine, especially after winning the Masters of F3 there two years ago,” says Joel Eriksson. “It’s a proper drivers’ track with no run-off areas – the kind of place where you know a mistake is going to be punished the hard way. We are doing well over 200 km/h in several of the corners, it’s up and down, sand blowing in from the beach… It’s a real challenge, and I love the flow of it. I can’t wait to go around there in the DTM car. It should be massive.”
 
Having scored at each of the opening four rounds of the season, Eriksson is slotting confidently into life as a DTM rookie, which combines with a strong Zandvoort record from his BMW team to spring optimism for the weekend ahead.
 
With four wins to their name since returning to the DTM in 2012, BMW is the most successful manufacturer at the Dutch seaside venue over the last few years. Furthermore, a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 finish in 2015 remains one of the marque’s all-time DTM highlights. 
 
“The track should suit the M4 DTM well with its many fast corners,” Joel Eriksson continues. “It’s been happy hunting grounds for us, both me and the team, before, so I think we’ve got reason to be optimistic. I am yet to drive the DTM car at Zandvoort, of course, but I should get into it quite quickly. I’m confident we can have a good event, celebrating it with all the fans on the beach!”
 
Like always in the DTM, two races are scheduled in for the weekend: one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)

DTM | Round 5
 Zandvoort (the Netherlands)

Friday 13 July
Free Practice 1: 17.00-17.30

Saturday 14 July
Free Practice 2: 09.20-09.50
Qualifying 1: 11.15-11.35
Race 1: 13.30-14.30

Sunday 15 July
Free Practice 3: 09.15-09.45
Qualifying 2: 11.20-11.40
Race 2: 13.30-14.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 8/20 races

1: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 99 p.
2: Edoardo Mortara (ITA), Mercedes, 93 p.
3: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 92 p.
4: Timo Glock (GER), BMW, 92 p.
5: Paul Di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 87 p.
—
12: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 25 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live

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Joel Eriksson hits the streets of Nuremberg for BMW home race

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The only street race on the calendar, a fan favourite rooted in tradition, played out on BMW home soil: this weekend’s DTM round at the Norisring will have plenty going for it. The city of Nuremberg is ready for the latest edition of “Franconian Monaco” – and Joel Eriksson is charged up for his first dash between the barriers aboard the BMW M4 DTM. 

“Norisring is definitely a special event and the track is right up there among my favourites,” says Joel Eriksson. “I’ve driven there twice in Formula 3, but this will be my first time coming here in DTM – which is obviously the main event and what most people come to watch. It was already a great experience racing in front of so many fans in Nuremberg in F3, so being part of the DTM this time around should be massive.”  

At just 2.3 km, the Norisring – laid out on everyday roads close to Dutzendteich lake in southeast Nuremberg – is the shortest track on the calendar. The circuit winds its way around the extensive “Steintribüne” grandstand, where legions of fans gather each summer to capture the best views of the DTM’s annual blue-ribband event.

While the track layout may appear simple on paper, featuring just four corners, that should not detract from the real challenge the drivers actually face. Quite on the contrary, the Norisring’s unique nature makes it every bit as demanding as any regular track.

Twice per lap, Eriksson and his counterparts will have to slow down from 250 km/h to just 60 km/h as they navigate two tight hairpins, with both braking zones complicated by slippery painted traffic lines, off-camber gradients and a notoriously bumpy track surface.

Breaking up the two hairpins is the mid-lap “Schöller S”, a challenging right/left sweep demanding millimetre precision as the cars brush the unforgiving concrete wall that sits menacingly close on the exit.

Down to the final thousandth: extreme competition expected

The short lap times (the DTM record stands at 47.846s, set by BMW’s Bruno Spengler in 2017) also mean drivers will be racking up more laps at the Norisring than at any other event of the season, further bridging the gaps in what is already one of the most fiercely contested championships in motorsport.

“It’s going to be so incredibly, incredibly close this weekend,” says Joel Eriksson. “If you’re half a second off in qualifying, you’ll be at the back, simple as that. There really will be no room for error; you have to nail the lap 100 per cent if you want to be up there. It will be down to the final thousandth, and I think that’s how racing should be. I’m sure I will learn a lot as I try to reach that final limit in this field.”  

Exemplifying the extreme proximity that has come to denote the Norisring DTM meetings, last year’s two qualifying sessions saw pole position being sealed by a gap of just 0.005s and 0.004s respectively.

15 cars were covered by less than three tenths of a second.

Home soil for BMW

While an undisputed highlight for the DTM fraternity at large, the Norisring races are of extra significance to BMW in particular. Nuremberg is located just 160 km from the BMW headquarters in Munich, making this the proper home event for the marque – and Joel Eriksson, the youngest of the brand’s works drivers at 19, is eager to build on the points-finishes he’s scored at each of the first three rounds of his rookie season.

“Norisring is a special event for us,” Eriksson concludes. “Of course, we always do our best no matter where we race, but there will be plenty of guests this weekend and we obviously want to put on a good show for them. I will give it everything I’ve got, like always, and it would be fantastic if that could translate into a strong result here.”  

BMW bagged both pole positions and both race wins at the Norisring last season.

Joel Eriksson will turn his first DTM laps of Nuremberg’s famous street track in opening free practice on Friday afternoon. The two qualifying sessions and races take place on Saturday and Sunday.

 

TIME TABLE
All times local (GMT+02:00)

DTM | Round 4
 Norisring (Germany)

Friday 22 June
Free Practice 1: 16.30-17.00

Saturday 23 June
Free Practice 2: 08.30-09.00
Qualifying 1: 10.20-10.40
Race 1: 13.30-14.30

Sunday 24 June
Free Practice 3: 08.30-09.00
Qualifying 2: 11.10-11.30
Race 2: 13.30-14.30


CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)

DTM | After 6/20 races

1: Timo Glock (GER), BMW, 90 p.
2: Gary Paffett (GBR), Mercedes, 79 p.
3: Paul Di Resta (GBR), Mercedes, 67 p.
4: Lucas Auer (AUT), Mercedes, 55 p.
5: Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW, 51 p.
—
10: Joel Eriksson (SWE), BMW, 23 p.

View full standings


FURTHER INFORMATION

Entry list: DTM 2018
Rules: how the championship works


FOLLOW JOEL (IF YOU CAN…)

Website: www.joelerikssonracing.com
Facebook: JoelErikssonRacing
Instagram: JoelEriksson
Live streaming: www.dtm.com/live