DTM im Rückspiegel - Eskalation der Stargäste - Benzingespräche 4.0 - Menzel - Hahne - Grohs & Co./3

Petrolhead Talks #03 of the zweipunktnull automotive group in Düsseldorf: His Royal Highness and other distinguished contemporaries are invited. It was an evening filled with memories and emotions: The zweipunktnull automotive group in Düsseldorf and the Donner & Reuschel bank jointly hosted a panel discussion with illustrious guests from the world of motorsport. At the center of the event was His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Bavaria (79), who competed in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) from 1984 to 1992 and became a household name for millions. Even today, the long-time BMW driver still wins races, specifically in the DTM Classic Cup. The fast-paced history of classic touring car racing provides the perfect stage with international high-class events, such as those held at the Norisring in the heart of Nuremberg. It was there that "Prince Poldi," as he has been affectionately known in motorsport circles for decades, first triumphed with his current racing machine, a BMW 320iS from the E30 series. ... In the Rhineland, the development prototype, created in 1989 by BMW's then-partner Prodrive from England, is simply known as "Dä Schmal" (The Narrow One). The reason: The fenders of the two-door sedan are less pronounced, even though the roughly 300 hp four-cylinder S14 racing engine is now the same as in its big brother, the BMW M3. Two season victories in this year's DTM Classic Cup demonstrate just how well this unusual concept works: After the success at the Norisring, Prince Leopold of Bavaria once again secured maximum points four weeks ago at the Nürburgring – much to the delight of Sebastian Küppers, his team principal this season. His fellow drivers from the heyday of the German Touring Car Championship pay tribute, Altfrid Heger, for example. The Essen native jokingly refers to himself as "Poldi's brother" and has many tales of shared misadventures and heroics. Unlike today, in professional racing of yesteryear, fierce battles and spirited displays of fun were by no means mutually exclusive. This is something that television commentator Rainer Braun, famous for his distinctive voice, and journalist Arno Wester, his long-time assistant, are well aware of. All four met at the team and business headquarters of the 2.0 automotive group in Düsseldorf for a lively discussion. For an hour and 20 minutes, they chatted at the Alte Bagelhaus (Old Bagel House) at Grafenberger Allee 100, not only about the good old days but also about the current state of top-level motorsport. There were plenty of hearty laughs, but also some thoughtful moments. The DTM Classic Cup forms the link between then and now, as this showcase of celebrities from the eighties and nineties is excellently positioned within the current DTM series. This was once again evident at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Belgian Ardennes, where the penultimate race of the current season took place. All of this will be available in the video series "Benzingespräche" (Gasoline Talks) on the online platform YouTube. Carsten Krome, who also hosted the livestream of the 2022 DTM Classic Cup and guided viewers through the evening, made his channel available for the event. Production partner Marc Freye handled the recording, review, and editing of the abundant raw footage. And as the evening drew to a close, everyone involved, especially Prince Leopold of Bavaria, was eager for a repeat of this fun-filled reunion. "It was simply wonderful being with you all in Düsseldorf!" exclaimed the Wittelsbach prince, known for his penchant for speed, as he took his leave. There's no doubt he'll be back, bringing along many more of his numerous companions. Responsible for the content: Carsten Krome, netzwerkeins GmbH 3,833 characters (including spaces and line breaks)