Ricardo Feller heads into the DTM weekend at the Norisring with confidence growing after two encouraging results in different forms of GT racing.
The Manthey driver recently secured his first DTM podium with the team at the Lausitzring before celebrating one of the biggest achievements of his career with victory at the 24 Hours of Spa. That success gives Feller valuable momentum as he continues to adapt to the Porsche 911 GT3 R following his change of manufacturer.
Speaking at the pre-event press conference ahead of the Norisring weekend, which Pit Debrief attended, Feller reflected on his recent progress, the pressure of driving Manthey’s iconic Grello Porsche and his expectations for the street circuit.
The Swiss driver has not enjoyed a straightforward start to the DTM season, needing time to adjust his driving style to a car that demands a different approach from the machinery he previously raced. However, the progress made by both driver and team has started to produce stronger results.
The Norisring now presents another significant test. Its short layout, heavy braking zones and unforgiving concrete walls create a challenge unlike almost any other circuit on the calendar. Nevertheless, Feller arrives in Nuremberg with a clear objective: to score heavily and leave the weekend inside the top five of the championship.
Feller celebrates Spa success ahead of DTM weekend at the Norisring
Only days after winning the 24 Hours of Spa, Feller arrived at the Norisring having added his name to the list of DTM drivers who have triumphed in one of international GT racing’s most prestigious endurance events.
The victory required Feller and his teammates to perform consistently through changing conditions, traffic and the pressures associated with a 24-hour race. Although the attention naturally fell on the drivers after the chequered flag, Feller stressed that the result reflected the work of the entire operation rather than any individual contribution.
He also took particular satisfaction from sharing the achievement with his teammates and appearing alongside other drivers who had previously won the race.
“Really great. I am very proud of my teammates and my entire team. And of course, that the three of us are now allowed to stand here together. All of us have won before. That is, of course, a really, really great feeling.“
The Spa victory provides Feller with an important confidence boost before returning to his DTM commitments. Endurance racing and the DTM present different demands, but success in such a major event underlines the level at which he and his teammates can perform when they execute a weekend cleanly.
Feller must now quickly shift his attention from the long, flowing Spa-Francorchamps circuit to the compact and intense nature of the Norisring.
Norisring promises another action-packed weekend
The Norisring offers one of the most distinctive challenges on the DTM calendar. Its layout contains only a small number of corners, but the close barriers, heavy braking areas and short lap mean drivers receive little opportunity to recover from a mistake.
Small differences can have a major effect on the order, particularly in qualifying, where traffic management and confidence under braking often prove decisive. The narrow confines can also produce eventful races, with drivers forced to balance aggression against the need to protect the car.
Feller summed up the character of the Norisring by highlighting both its limited space and its tendency to generate incidents and close racing during a DTM weekend.
“Yes, it is very tight and always very action-packed at the Norisring.“
The compact circuit will provide another demanding test for Feller as he attempts to continue his recent progress. With the barriers leaving little margin for error, the Swiss driver will need to combine precision with the aggression required to fight near the front.
Feller becoming more comfortable with the Porsche
The Norisring weekend represents another stage in Feller’s adaptation to Manthey and the Porsche 911 GT3 R. He joined the team after previously competing with different machinery, requiring him to adjust habits developed over several seasons.
That transition contributed to an imperfect start to the campaign. Feller had to understand how the Porsche responds during the different phases of a corner and modify his driving style to extract more of its potential.
“We did not start the season completely perfectly. I had to adapt my driving style to the car because, of course, we were used to something completely different on the DTM circuits, and last year I was not yet driving the Porsche.“
Although the early rounds proved challenging, Feller believes he has now reached a much stronger level of understanding with both the car and the team. The support he has received from Manthey has helped him become increasingly confident behind the wheel.
“By now, I feel really comfortable in the car. The team is doing a good job, and I am receiving a lot of support. The way of working is excellent.“
That growing confidence could prove particularly important at the Norisring, where drivers must quickly establish trust in the car under braking and when running close to the concrete walls.
Lausitzring podium gives Feller momentum
Feller’s first podium with Manthey at the Lausitzring provided evidence that the work behind the scenes had started to pay off. He openly acknowledged that circumstances helped him secure the result, but he also recognised the importance of taking advantage of the opportunity.
“Fortunately, we have ticked off the first podium. The problem with it, of course, is that we also have to say that we had a lot of luck. That has to be said. We will take it anyway.“
The result carried greater significance than simply adding a trophy. It gave Feller and Manthey confirmation that their collaboration can produce competitive results while they continue refining their understanding of one another.
However, Feller knows that one podium will not be enough to transform his championship position. He now wants to turn that result into a consistent sequence of strong finishes and begin reducing the gap to the leading drivers.
“It gives us a little bit of momentum. Now we have to start scoring bigger points. Of course, I have that extra pressure this year with the championship-winning car. The expectations are automatically high.“
With every DTM weekend offering a substantial number of points, one successful round can quickly improve a driver’s championship position. Mistakes and retirements can prove equally costly, making consistency particularly important as Feller attempts to build on his recent progress.
Feller managing the pressure of driving Grello
Feller’s move to Manthey placed him behind the wheel of Grello, one of the most recognisable cars in GT racing. Its history and distinctive green-and-yellow livery make it a special car to drive, but they also bring additional expectations.
Feller admitted that the pressure extends beyond the DTM, as he also races Grello in America. However, once he enters the cockpit, he tries to ignore the car’s reputation and focus entirely on his work.
“That is definitely the case. There is a little bit of extra pressure. I also have the privilege of driving the Grello in America. That is a really great feeling. But it does, of course, also create pressure. We simply have to block that out somehow, we just have to imagine that the car is black or unpainted, because when we are sitting inside it, we cannot see it. We have to concentrate on our work.“
By treating Grello like any other racing car once he is behind the wheel, Feller can focus on providing feedback, improving the set-up and delivering strong performances without allowing the external expectations to distract him.
Feller optimistic about Porsche’s Norisring potential
Porsche’s recent DTM success gives Feller confidence ahead of the Norisring, although the street circuit presents a very different challenge. Its heavy braking zones, limited grip and lack of testing mean drivers must quickly find confidence during practice.
Feller last raced at the circuit in a different car, so he remains unsure how the Porsche will behave there. However, he hopes the team can use the weekend to recover ground in the championship.
“A little bit more pressure, that is quite good. I am really looking forward to the weekend and hope that it will be a successful one. We have to score some points and make up a little bit of ground. I am curious to see how the Porsche drives at the Norisring. You obviously cannot test there, and the last time I drove there, I was still in a different car. But I am really looking forward to it.“
The opening practice sessions will therefore play a crucial role in Feller’s weekend. He will need to learn how the Porsche reacts under braking, how confidently he can attack the kerbs and how closely he can approach the barriers without crossing the limit.
With such a short lap, even a small improvement could bring several positions. Equally, any delay in finding a comfortable set-up could leave Feller fighting through the midfield during qualifying.
Balancing consistency with calculated risk
Feller also addressed an artificial intelligence-generated description of his qualities as a driver. The assessment characterised him as consistent while also willing to take risks when the situation demands it. He initially joked that the description had failed to mention his habit of arriving late, before agreeing that the combination of calculated aggression and consistency broadly reflected what a driver needs to succeed in the DTM.
“I am glad it does not say there that I am actually always late. It is not bad. What am I supposed to say? We would have to ask the people. I would agree with it. Of course, you have to be prepared to take a certain amount of risk in the decisive phases. But in the DTM championship, you naturally also have to get through the season consistently somehow. There is no point in winning three times and then retiring three times again.“
That balance carries particular importance at the Norisring. Drivers must attack the circuit’s heavy braking zones to remain competitive, but the nearby walls leave little room for mistakes. Being too cautious can cost valuable time, while an overly aggressive approach can quickly lead to contact or retirement.
When asked how much risk a driver could afford to take around the street circuit, Feller reduced the challenge to a simple objective.
“Ideally, just enough risk that you do not hit the wall.“
Although delivered with humour, his answer captured the central difficulty of racing at the Norisring. Drivers must operate close to the limit throughout the weekend while still protecting the consistency required to score valuable championship points.
Top-five championship position is the target for Feller after DTM weekend at the Norisring
Feller hopes Porsche can compete near the front of the field, although the closely matched nature of the DTM makes it difficult to identify a clear favourite before the cars take to the circuit. Success will depend on several factors, including qualifying position, pit-stop execution and avoiding contact during two races likely to feature close battles throughout the field. Feller kept his prediction straightforward when asked which manufacturer he expected to lead the way.
“I definitely hope that the Porsches will be competing at the front.“
Although a victory or podium would strengthen his position significantly, Feller has chosen a broader championship target to define a successful weekend. Rather than judging the round solely by one result, he wants to leave the Norisring having gained enough points to move into the top five of the drivers’ standings.
“I would be very satisfied if we were in the top five in the championship after the weekend.“
That target reflects Feller’s emphasis on consistency. His podium at the Lausitzring and victory at Spa have created positive momentum, but Feller now needs to translate that momentum into another productive DTM weekend at the Norisring.
A place inside the championship’s top five would put him firmly among the leading contenders and strengthen his position heading into the next phase of the season. To achieve it, Feller must combine the confidence gained from Spa with the precision and restraint required by the Norisring’s concrete-lined layout.
