[DTM] The final breath!?

[helgi]

Lola is a great chassis builder. But in terms of competitioners absence it had no reasons to work at design. Of course,frozen regulations are great for economy and so on,but..I don't know. It's going to be a mono-class.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by helgi

Lola is a great chassis builder. But in terms of competitioners absence it had no reasons to work at design. Of course,frozen regulations are great for economy and so on,but..I don't know. It's going to be a mono-class.

Hmm, I wonder if we could reach a compromise. How about this:

DTM becomes henceforth a multiclass racing series. The top class (going with the old DRM naming conventions "Division 1") is more or less the current type of cars with a saner aerodynamic that allows for better overtaking and slipstreaming. Audi and Merc each campaign 4 new cars in this division, privateers may run older cars but receive no factory support and are not bound to obey the orders of the factory teams.

Division 2 is a privateer, semi-spec-class for hot hatches and small coupes. The cars share a common chassis, but have their own respective inline-4-cylinder engines up to two (maybe two and a half) litres and silhouettes of Golf GTI, Astra OPC, BMW 1-series, Audi S3 and so on.

The race format stays roughly the same at 100 miles with one mandatory pitstop in both classes. There will be one endurance race of 500 miles or maybe 1000kms with two drivers per car as a new highlight on the schedule. ARD just go rid of the Tour-de-France broadcasts, so they should have enough time for such an event on a summer sunday/saturday afternoon. Possible tracks for this race would be Hockenheim ("Home of DTM", one endurance race instead of two sprints as now) Sachsenring or the renewed A1-Ring, to give the Austrian DTM-fans a special treat.

If manufacturer interest in Division 1 gets big enough for full fields in both divisions rounds on shorter tracks may be split between division one and two.

The two division format would once and for all do away with the stupid blocking by the old cars and the pretty useless field fillers, that under normal circumstances are never allowed to come near a podium anyway and would spice up the racing for the spectators as there would be two races to watch instead of one and the variety in the series would hopefully become greater than it is today.

[helgi]

That DRM division was very interesting indeed. And it's not necessary for second division to be silhouettes. Hot-hatches or something like more racing-able 'V8 Superstars' would suit it great. The problem with spectators and TV attention for minor class is solvable - FIA GT can prove it.

But we can talk about future here for ages. And they (ITR) have already decided which way to go long ago. And I'm not sure they've read this thread. Maybe they want to make another stupid racing-show. Maybe it's going to be a really fantastic racing,even better than Golden Era.
The history spiral has made its new turn. Something has been left outboard. Something should be changed. Sometimes there's nothing to say. Just let it be.
We'll see whether it's eatable very soon.

[Valenok]

As for me, Div II must be light version of Superstars tech reglament and has BTCC-like sportive reglament:
* Only private teams
* Ballast rules set by orginizers
* 4-seat cars (2/4-doors) with minimal modifications - stanard brakes, tyres, rear wing
* 6-cyl engines (without modifications)
* Any type of transmission - RWD, AWD, FWD
* 2-3 25-30min. races without pitstops (may be with reverse grid as in BTCC for race 3) during 1 DTM weekend
I expect cars like VW Golf VR6, VW Passat VR6/VW Passat CC, Audi S3, S4, mabe A5, A6, BMW 130/330, Merc C/CLC/CLK 320/350, Alfa 159/Brera V6, Lexus IS350 and others
I think, it would be nice replacement for S2000, Leon Cup and other such series, for example, Procar

[jaybond]

For the top class try to attract more manufacturers/privateers (Jaguar, BMW, Lexus), change to production bodyshell (4-door saloon), 3.0 L N.A based on production engine with rpm capped at a conservative figure, say - 7500 to 8000 rpm, restrict aero development, the rest of the rules just carry over.

More exciting & variety plus more relevant to production cars!

[Aslak Vind]

Jaybond: I appareciate the effort, but that sounds a bit tidious?

[kurtiejjj]

Originally Posted by stedevil

I think A1GP proves that statement wrong. 1 manufacturer also brings down the cost (less development needed, both initially and later, since no improvements are needed to keep competitive).

Certainly will not work for DTM, Audi and Mercedes will both quit! It's all about the engineering challenge for them and being able to show that their car is better than the opposition.

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by kurtiejjj

Certainly will not work for DTM, Audi and Mercedes will both quit! It's all about the engineering challenge for them and being able to show that their car is better than the opposition.

I never suggested they should.

[Ola]

Originally Posted by jaybond

For the top class try to attract more manufacturers/privateers (Jaguar, BMW, Lexus), change to production bodyshell (4-door saloon), 3.0 L N.A based on production engine with rpm capped at a conservative figure, say - 7500 to 8000 rpm, restrict aero development, the rest of the rules just carry over.

More exciting & variety plus more relevant to production cars!

Sounds like the V8 Superstar-series ...

[FIRE]

According Midweek Motorsport the DTM coverage will move (thanks of a "****load of cash from Mercedes") from Motors TV to Sky.

[JMeissner]

Audi Motorsport-boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich interview with some thoughts on the future:

http://www.touringcartimes.com/news.php?id=2887

[stedevil]

Originally Posted by FIRE

According Midweek Motorsport the DTM coverage will move (thanks of a "****load of cash from Mercedes&quot from Motors TV to Sky.

Isnt that because Sky bought Motors TV? Think I heard something like that from the commentators during last race this year.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by stedevil

Isnt that because Sky bought Motors TV?

Motors is bundled as part of one of the Sky packages but it isn't owned by Sky.