DTM im Rückspiegel - Eskalation der Stargäste - Benzingespräche 4.0 - Menzel - Hahne - Grohs & Co./1

The fourth edition of the Benzingespräche (Gasoline Talks) by zweipunktnull, launched in 2019, once again eclipsed everything that had come before. An incredible ten star guests, including Maren and Rainer Braun, Armin Hahne, Christian Menzel, Harald Grohs, Frank Schmickler, Walter Mertes, Hans-Jörg Weick, Arno Wester, and Altfrid Heger, answered questions about the good old days of the DTM. The topic was more relevant than ever following the liquidation of ITR GmbH and the transfer of the trademark rights to the ADAC. The setting, however, remained time-tested: For the third time this year, the DTM elite graced the zweipunktnull group on Grafenberger Allee in the heart of Düsseldorf. Host Sebastian Küppers, whose racing team clinched the team championship in this year's DTM Classic Cup, granted unlimited talk time in light of the irreplaceable top-class lineup. The consequence: The spoken word has been compiled into three episodes. The headlines: Escalating guest line-up: Ten prominent panelists set new and hard-to-surpass standards. Back to the beginning: Harald Grohs and Christian Menzel, two of the three original protagonists, were guests. New challenges: Videographer Marc Freye and moderator Carsten Krome staged the talk show of the DTM all-stars. "No room for improvement." That was the general consensus after the fourth season of the several-hour-long Benzingespräche (Gasoline Talks) by zweipunktnull automotive. Launched by Sebastian Küppers on February 6, 2019, the established talk format has attracted more and more distinguished guests over the years. In 2022 alone, Prince Leopold of Bavaria, Marc Hessel, Rainer Braun, Arno Wester, and Armin Hahne made the appearance. On Friday, December 9th, Maren Braun, Armin Hahne, Christian Menzel, Harald Grohs, Frank Schmickler, Walter Mertes, and Hans-Jörg Weick were also in attendance. Hans-Jörg Weick, the former Ford man and long-time managing director of ITR, brought a special highlight with him: the overall winner's trophy that could never be awarded to a first-place finisher at the Alpine Trophy at the Salzburgring on August 28th, 1988, after four race cancellations – because there was no such first-place finisher. It was never awarded. This rare and incredibly valuable honorary prize can now be auctioned off by submitting the highest bid by email to [email protected]. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to a charitable cause and will be announced in due course. While this was already a highlight, six former DTM drivers, Armin Hahne, Christian Menzel, Harald Grohs, Frank Schmickler, Walter Mertes, and Altfrid Heger, followed suit. Things got heated at times, with some thoughtful tones being struck, and new anecdotes being shared. As always, inimitable: Harald "Nippel" Grohs, the first winner in the still young DTM history, which initially started as the German Production Car Championship, on March 11, 1984, at Zolder. Born in Essen, and a native of the Ruhr region, he rarely minces his words. When asked why, as a declared friend of the company, he hadn't driven a BMW for the zweipunktnull group yet, he replied: "There probably hasn't been enough money on the table until now." While the 1981 World Endurance Vice Champion had the audience laughing with this and other interludes, his former racing colleague and ITR board member Walter Mertes struck a completely different tone. As a marketing expert, he has a keen eye for developments in the current motorsport business. The Cologne-based entrepreneur, who ended his own racing career in 1989, shed light on the current development of the DTM following the transfer of the naming rights to the ADAC. He also pointed out the strong commitment of automobile manufacturers to the sports car sector and underscored the global appeal of the DTM platform, on which the zweipunktnull group participated as team champion with the 2022 DTM Classic Cup. The BMW 320i BTCC/1988, owned by Marc Hessel and Prince Leopold of Bavaria and now converted into a work of art, further enhanced the scene. "Ladies first, ladies last" was the motto at the beginning and end of the illustrious round. Maren Braun, television journalist and, together with livestream presenter Carsten Krome, the voice of this year's DTM Classic Cup, had the honor of having the first and last words. Her father, Rainer Braun, the voice of the good old DTM in its classic form, presented a book that evening once again: "Hello Paddock – Moments and Memories." As usual, a must-read for insiders of the scene, host Sebastian Küppers received the first copy. The other things that had to be said will be revealed in the Benzingespräche (petrol talks) by zweipunktnull, divided into three episodes over the Christmas period. A possible motto: Merry Christmas, Racing Heroes!