Nicki Thiim delivered a landmark result for Aston Martin in DTM Race 1 at the Norisring, converting pole position into victory after a controlled drive on the streets of Nuremberg. The Dane had already set the tone in qualifying with a record-breaking lap of 48.440s to claim pole ahead of Maro Engel and Arjun Maini. In the race, he held off Engel at the start, managed the restarts after interruptions, and crossed the line to secure Aston Martin’s first DTM victory.
Speaking in the post-race press conference, where Pit Debrief was present, Thiim reflected on Aston Martin’s first DTM victory, the physical challenge of the Norisring, and what the result means for Comtoyou Racing in only its second season in the championship.
Thiim hails historic Aston Martin DTM win at Norisring Race 1
Thiim’s victory carried extra significance given his own history at the Norisring. Two years ago he took his maiden DTM win at the same venue. This time, he returned to the top step with Aston Martin, giving the manufacturer its first victory in the series. The result therefore marked both a personal milestone and a major moment for the Aston Martin DTM project. Thiim admitted he still felt the adrenaline after the race and struggled to fully process the scale of the achievement.
“Yeah, what a dream come true. Obviously two years ago was a special one, but this one goes down, obviously in the history books, first time with this awesome brand Aston Martin to win in the DTM is a special honour.“
The Norisring has long held a special place on the DTM calendar, and Thiim made clear how much the event means to him. Remaining one of the most distinctive venues in the championship, the Dane felt that the chance to race there was still something special.
“Around the highlight of the season I always say this is unbelievable that we can come here and still race here. Yeah, fantastic feeling. Still full of adrenaline, so a bit speechless.“
Lausitzring disappointment added to Thiim’s motivation
Thiim arrived at the Norisring after a missed opportuinity at the Lausitzring, where he had been in contention for a strong result. That near-miss added further motivation for both driver and team as they looked to turn pace into victory. At the Norisring, Comtoyou Racing executed cleanly when it mattered. Thiim praised the Belgian outfit for its work and highlighted the pit stop during Race 1 at the Norisring as another sign of the team’s progress in DTM.
“Yeah, obviously the one in Lausitzring hurt, because we had a really good thing going there. But yeah, super motivated, as you can see the boys are super motivated with the best pit stop of the day. Unbelievable what this small Belgian group has become.“
Thiim also underlined his love for the Norisring. While the circuit is short and features only a handful of corners, he sees it as a true “driver’s track”, because of the precision, commitment and confidence it demands. With street circuits becoming less common in modern motorsport, Thiim said he values the opportunity to race at venues such as the Norisring. For him, the event still represents one of the highlights of the season.
“It really shows that we are taking this to another level. But yeah, it’s no secret that this is my absolute favourite track on the schedule. Really a driver’s track, so always a pleasure to come here and it’s just so much fun to drive around street circuits.“
“Especially nowadays where it’s getting less and less, the opportunity is getting harder. So yeah, really honoured and appreciate that again we can come here.“
Fine margins define the Norisring challenge in DTM Race 1 for Thiim
Although Aston Martin has limited DTM experience at the Norisring, Thiim said success around the circuits heavily on the driver. The track’s short lap means every detail matters, particularly in qualifying, where a small mistake can cost several positions. Braking is another major aspect at the Norsiring. Drivers must repeatedly slow the car from high speed over a short lap, making precision and consistency crucial across both qualifiyng and race.
“Again, as I said, for me it’s more like a driver’s track, so it’s more like fine-tuning not only the right foot, but also the left foot, because there’s so much braking here. So you’re almost getting a cramp in the car because you’re just putting so much effort into the brakes so often, because of this small circuit obviously.”
“So yeah, it’s just optimising those small details as it’s so short. As it’s a street track, you’ve got a lot of small challenges here and there. Obviously getting it right, especially qualifying, is the A-game around here.“
That qualifying performance gave Thiim the platform for victory in DTM Race 1 at the Norisring. With overtaking never easy at the front, especially when the leading drivers run at a similar pace, pole position played a crucial role in helping him control the race.
Red flag interruption tested Thiim’s focus
Thiim’s victory was interrupted by a lengthy stoppage after an incident involving Maximilian Paul and Kelvin van der Linde. While the break gave drivers time to recover physically, it also created a mental challenge for the race leader. Thiim said his first concern was for the drivers involved in the crash to be okay. However, once he knew the race would resume, he had to reset mentally and prepare to defend the lead again, with Engel waiting behind in the Mercedes-Benz.
“Yeah, obviously first of all it was most important for Max[imilian] Paul and Kelvin van der LInde that they are allright. But obviously I don’t like those hydration breaks or whatever you call them in the World Cup, because you obviously start to get some Kopfkino [imagination running wild]. So you go through it again, and obviously I have a car behind me with a big star, it’s always getting bigger and I want to go to the front.
“So yeah, you just want to keep going. That’s a little bit of a déjà vu to Lausitzring, but yeah, we got the job done, and I’m just relieved when I crossed the line and I’m still full of adrenaline.“
The interruption also brought back memories of the Lausitzring, where Thiim had already experienced disappointment after being in a strong position. This time, however, he kept control after the restart and made sure the opportunity did not slip away.
Physical demands make consistency essential
The Norisring may be the shortest circuit on the DTM calendar, but Thiim stressed that it remains physically demanding. The repeated heavy braking zones put significant strain on the drivers, especially over a full race distance in hot conditions. Although the red flag offered a temporary break, Thiim said the physical pressure returns quickly once racing resumes. At a circuit where the walls sit close and the margins remain narrow, he believes consistency becomes the decisive factor.
“Yeah, of course in that sense it’s good for us, because as I said, you really start to struggle, especially with the left foot, as you put so much pressure on this pedal so many times around here for one hour. We all know if you just let go, for once you have other guys who are going to be there. So consistency, not allowing yourself a mistake around here, it’s just everything obviously, because the consequences are so high.“
Thiim’s ability to avoid mistakes proved crucial. With Engel close enough to punish any error, the Aston Martin driver had to maintain his pace while managing the pressure from behind.
Aston Martin continues to grow in DTM
Aston Martin’s first DTM win came in only Comtoyou Racing’s second season in the championship. Thiim said the team has made a clear step compared to last year, but he also stressed that the project remains relatively young. While the drivers already know the Aston Martin from other series, Thiim explained that adapting it to the specific demands of the German circuits remains a constant learning process. Each weekend brings new details to understand and review.
“We still have to think, it’s just the second season for us in the championship. Obviously I said they improved massively to last year, and with some experience, knowledge of the tracks obviously helps. I can help them get really far.“
Thiim added that the team approaches those challenges with confidence. Rather than focusing on the lack of long-term DTM experience, Comtoyou Racing has treated each event as a chance to improve.
“But yeah, we know the car, it’s no secret. All of us drive a lot of other series every weekend, so it’s not the knowledge about the car that we’re lacking. Obviously the German tracks are so different to what we do normally, so all this fine-tuning is every weekend for us, it’s a new weekend, as it’s still only the second season. We’re just going into it with the chin high, and taking everything as a challenge, as a positive challenge, and just enjoying the moment.“
The win in DTM Race 1 at the Norisring therefore represents more for Thiim than a single race result. It confirms the progress Aston Martin and Comtoyou Racing have made since joining the DTM and gives the team a major boost for the rest of the season.
Thiim refuses to reveal his Norisring secrets
Thiim has built a strong reputation at the Norisring, and his latest victory further underlined his confidence at the bumpy street circuit. Asked about the techniques needed to master the track, especially with the bumps and ABS, he kept his answer playful.
The Dane admitted that experience helps drivers understand where to place the car, but he refused to reveal too much about his approach.
“I tell you nothing. But, no, yeah, again, it is four corners, a street track with bumps. I think with experience, you know some of the places it is better to go. As it is a street track, you do some weird lines sometimes. More I am not going to give you.“
Thiim’s performance showed exactly why he rates the Norisring so highly. On a circuit where rhythm, confidence and precision matter as much as raw speed, he delivered when it counted and turned a record pole into a historic Aston Martin victory.
