After the delivery of the completely newly ordered McLaren 720S GT3 EVO for Timo Glock is delayed, he can now switch to the new vehicle from teammate Ben Dörr at the Nürburgring’s second half of the Nürburgring at the start of the second half of the DTM at the Nürburgring, with which the 20-year-old was often faster than the routine.
The team owner’s son, on the other hand, must make do with his operating car from the previous year, which had been controlled by Glock since the Lausitzring. But what upswing does Glock expect from the exchange? “It has no meaning for me,” he replies. “For me, we understand that we understand why the differences are there. I am not interested in whether we are doing any single placement.”
It is also not “in the approach to my positioning or what comes out, but to understand the problem,” clarifies the ex-formula 1 pilot. This also applies to the manufacturer: “That’s why there was someone from McLaren at the Norisring. At the Nürburgring there will be someone again because you want to understand that from McLaren side.”
Glock: “I know how the feeling was in this car”
Nevertheless, Glock is confident that Dörr’s operating car could go better than last. “I am surprised,” says the 43-year-old. “I know how the feeling of the Lausitzring in this car – that was very positive,” he refers to the test on May 6th, when he and his teammate had exchanged the cars for testing to get the problems. “It was much easier to drive a constant lap time. I hope that is still the case.”
In the first eight race of the season, Glock drove into the points with a tenth place on the Lausitzring, while team -mate Dörr landed five times in the top 15 and had a eighth place in Oschersleben as a highlight. The difference was still blatant in the qualifyings: Glock’s best starting place was 17th on the Norisring, but Dörr started three times from the top 10 – with fifth place in Lausitz as a highlight.
“In the end we decided that we exchange the cars exactly at halftime because we have repeatedly determined the problem that we have differences in the cars, why is that always,” explains Glock. A problem that has been pursuing him since the start of the season in Oschersleben and that was relieved of Ben Dörr by his first change of vehicle in Lusatia of Clemens Schmid’s 2024 car in the previous year’s car.
Why Glock’s new McLaren was not finished in time
“I always said: I don’t hope that with this car we have a similar problem and in worst case four to five tenths,” Glock looks back on the first change. “In the beginning, the car felt good, but the time differences in the DTM are so extremely low that there are three to four tenths between the top 10 and the last series of start.”
They had long tried to work by car, “various set-up routes tried” that McLaren people were also involved in the Norisring. Nevertheless, it was “noticed this further difference that the car does not have the same performance”.
Thereupon team owner Rainer Dörr “around Zandvoort” decided to order a new car for Glock, which would be delivered to the Nürburgring weekend. “Then there was one or the other topic internally at McLaren that parts were not available,” Glock explains why the new car was not ready at the Nürburgring as planned and, according to the Dörr team, was delivered at the end of August.
“Question mark” when the new car comes
How did the decision came about that teammate Ben Dörr, which has been driving since the start of the season, is leaving Glock? “In the end, the Rainer decided together with the team with the most important people,” said Glock. “Also with Ben, who was involved.” This scenario had already been played through “a few weeks ago”. Glock also thanks the teammate for the exchange, “who agreed”.
But what happens when the new car is delivered? Will Glock then take over the new car and switch Dörr back to his previous emergency vehicle? “The question is when it comes,” the ex-BMW work driver refers to the decisive factor. “This is the question mark at the moment. Then we sit down and see what the best option is.”