For one day, Düsseldorf’s boulevard – the ‘Kö’ – will be turned into a racetrack offering the fans the chance of making a free and very close motor racing experience. The variegated programme – featuring events such as demonstration runs of kart clubs and classic cars as well as an extensive show programme on the stage – will begin at 10.00hrs.

In addition to the British pop band All Saints, Mike Leon Grosch, former entrant of ‘Deutschland sucht den Superstar’ – the German version of Pop Idol – also is going to rock the crowds, at the ‘Kö’. At about 12.00hrs, he will enter the stage for the maiden public performance of some of the songs of his new album that is going to be published later this year.

Then, from 13.00hrs, the DTM aces will present themselves to the crowds. The grid presentation will be attended by all the 20 DTM drivers, such as two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen (Mercedes-Benz) and Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen (Audi) – and they all are going to sign autographs along the track. Häkkinen has fond memories of Düsseldorf. “Last year, both the drivers and the visitors had a lot of fun in the Season Launch and the people had the chance of getting really close to us,” recalls the Finn. “It was a fantastic idea to hold such an event in the centre of a city.” Audi driver Timo Scheider also looks forward to the launch: “It’s a special experience to drive the DTM cars on the Kö,” he says.”

In addition to the demonstration runs with the DTM cars, there will also be simulated starts and quite obviously, the drivers are going to also perform the popular doughnuts. At about 17.40hrs, the British pop band All Saints is going to enter the stage to entertain the visitors with a live concert and at 18.15hrs, the DTM drivers will be back in the paddock for another autographing session. German TV station ARD is going to cover the launch in Düsseldorf live from 18.00hrs.

PROGRAMME 2007 DTM Launch 2007 IN DÜSSELDORF

10:00 hrs  DTM press conference
Vodafone main headquarters Germany
Am Seestern 1, 40547 Düsseldorf
10:00 hrs   Start of the support programme at the ‘Kö’.
Classic car parade
Demonstration runs Bambini Karts and racing karts
13:00 hrs   Start of the public event on the show stage
Interviews with drivers and Motorsport Directors
Ca. 13:30 hrs   Starting grid presentation with grid girls, RheinFire cheerleaders and flag-wavers. DTM drivers sign autographs for the crowds, along the track
Ca. 14.55 hrs   DTM racing cars start the demonstration runs
on the ‘Kö’
Cars of the support-programme series, Formula 3 Euro Series, Porsche Carrera Cup, Formula BMW Germany, Seat Leon Super Copa and ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup, go out on the track
Pit stop contest and start demonstrations 
17:40 hrs   Live concert All Saints
18:15 hrs   Autographing session of the DTM drivers in the DTM paddock
18:30 hrs   Event ends