This weekend heralded the launch of the 2006 DTM pre-season in Düsseldorf, Germany. To kick off the opening festivities, over 40 DTM teams entered the city on Saturday, where they were greeted by close to 140,000 spectators.  Fans of the DTM series were able to meet their favorite drivers, get autographs and take pictures with the teams.

On Sunday the festivities continued, with the DTM drivers completing a few demonstration laps, some starting demos and a pit-stop competition on a specially-installed 800 meter track along the Königsallee.

According to Düsseldorf's Lord Mayor Joachim Erwin: "It is a special highlight for us to have the best international touring car series as our guests in Düsseldorf. Cars, life style, fashion and top sport mix well with Düsseldorf. We really enjoyed that the DTM held their pre season presentation here."

For more info on the DTM pre-season opener as well as driver interviews, you can read more in the press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


DTM Presentation: “Flat out” at Düsseldorf’s Shopping Mile

Düsseldorf, Mar 26, 2006
After Berlin in 2000 and Hamburg in 2004 and 2005, Düsseldorf was Germany’s third main city to host the DTM presentation. The sport enthusiastic audience were able to experience DTM, their drivers and race cars very closely and literally accessible. The programme started already on Saturday morning when more than 40 team trucks entered the city. At noon, the drivers wrote autographs at the upmarket shopping centre Stilwerk.

On Sunday, the DTM cars with Bernd Schneider’s Voda-fone AMG-Mercedes and Jean Alesi’s stern AMG-Mercedes among them, completed a couple of demon-stration laps at an 800-metre temporary race track at the Königsallee. In front of packed grandstands and standing ovations they also showed spectacular start demonstra-tions. In addition, all 20 drivers presented the starting grid; there were pit stop competitions, co-driving oppor-tunities in DTM cars, demonstration laps with historic cars and live music.”

„It is a special highlight for us to have the best interna-tional touring car series as our guests in Düsseldorf. Cars, life style, fashion and top sport mix well with Düsseldorf. We really enjoyed that the DTM held their pre season presentation here,” said Lord Mayor Joachim Erwin.

At a press conference at the head quarters of DTM series and Mercedes-Benz sponsor Vodafone, the new AMG-Mercedes C-Class was presented to more than 300 me-dia representatives.

Comments of the ten Mercedes-Benz drivers on the pres-entation:

Jean Alesi (41 years/stern AMG-Mercedes/Team Pers-son): “The DTM presentation is always a very special event, but never before have I experienced anything like this here in Düsseldorf.“

Jamie Green (23/Salzgitter AMG-Mercedes/Team HWA): “It was great fun. There are certainly many spectators who saw us for the first time and now want to see more.“

Mika Häkkinen (37/AMG-Mercedes/Team HWA): “My hand hurts; not from driving but from writing – it was fan-tastic.”

Daniel La Rosa (20/Trekstor AMG-Mercedes/Mücke Motorsport): “It’s great that the DTM can entertain so many people."

Mathias Lauda (25(AMG-Mercedes/Team Persson): “I have never seen such an atmosphere in motor racing before.”

Alexandros Margaritis (21/AMG-Mercedes/Team Persson): “A perfect start to the new season.“

Stefan Mücke (24/TV Spielfilm AMG-Mercedes/Mücke Motorsport): “The fans were even more enthusiastic than at a race.“

Bernd Schneider (41/Vodafone AMG-Mercedes/Team HWA): “A great home game and a home win for my sponsor Vodafone.”

Bruno Spengler (22/DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG-Mercedes/Team HWA): “Of course we were not able to show everything at this temporary circuit, but I believe it was enough.“

Susie Stoddart (23/AMG-Mercedes/Mücke Mo-torsport): “My first public appearance in the DTM. The fans and atmosphere were amazing – top class.“

Mercedes-Benz Motorsportchef Norbert Haug: “The DTM’s concept to hold the presentation in the cities works. After Berlin and twice in Hamburg, Düsseldorf set a new benchmark with “Flat out at the Kö”. Drivers and spectators obviously enjoyed it and there was more pub-lic demand for our drivers than at any race. After their long autograph sessions I can hardly believe that there are many visitors without a drivers’ signature.”

Copyright © 2006, DaimlerChrysler AG