[DTM] DTM 2020

[Matt K]

Yes and BMW and Audi agreed on a transition year. The most important thing now is to secure DTM's future by attracting manufacturers - the easiest way for it would be to get Japanese cars.

[Matt K]

Audi will add the ninth car, probably it'll be the third WRT car, which would raise drivers number to 16. There are two drivers in contention for this seat and both will bring some money - Habsburg and Sergey Sirotkin. The former himself stated he'll be in a private Audi and he's not a part of R-Motorsport's GT lineup even though all Aston DTM drivers (except di Resta) were said to continue with R-Motorsport in GT. The latter would bring possibly more money and would be better from marketing's point of view given race in Russia this year. Personally, I'd rather see Habsburg than Sirotkin.

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Audi will add the ninth car, probably it'll be the third WRT car, which would raise drivers number to 16. There are two drivers in contention for this seat and both will bring some money - Habsburg and Sergey Sirotkin. The former himself stated he'll be in a private Audi and he's not a part of R-Motorsport's GT lineup even though all Aston DTM drivers (except di Resta) were said to continue with R-Motorsport in GT. The latter would bring possibly more money and would be better from marketing's point of view given race in Russia this year. Personally, I'd rather see Habsburg than Sirotkin.

The only problem with Habsburg is that he was to join them at the end of 2018, and finally choose R-Motorsport, and only revealed this 3 days before the young driver test. WRT wanted to take the case to court, but finally they agreed on a solution, but let say that they are not the best buddies since.

[Matt K]

Yes, it's true although Habsburg himself claims there's no bad blood between him and WRT and they've kept in touch since.

[Juntos]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Yes, it's true although Habsburg himself claims there's no bad blood between him and WRT and they've kept in touch since.

Will he fund his participation in full?

[Matt K]

It looks as though. Audi will not fund an additional car (at least not in full) so they're looking for somebody like Kubica in BMW i.e. to bring sponsorship.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Matt K

It looks as though. Audi will not fund an additional car (at least not in full) so they're looking for somebody like Kubica in BMW i.e. to bring sponsorship.

There must be a few well heeled locals about?

[Matt K]

Presumably. One of the candidates is Sergey Sirotkin...

[kurski]

Audi has confirmed that it will expand its DTM programme in 2020 by adding a ninth RS5 for ex-R-Motorsport Aston Martin driver Ferdinand Habsburg.

[Matt K]

Good. Much better choice than Sirotkin IMHO

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Good. Much better choice than Sirotkin IMHO

I don't think it was a choice - Habsburg has the cash. If Sirotkin has the cash and wants a drive then I'm sure he'll get one.

[Matt K]

Both have cash and both were allegedly in contention. The car was one. So something must have serve as a decider over whom to choose. Maybe it was a bigger budget, maybe Habsburg was closer to Audi or Sirotkin wasn't decided to join DTM at the end of the day.

[Juntos]

The question today is - Will DTM survive to this coronavirus crisis?

[Csaba]

The new factory Audi liveries

https://www.touringcartimes.com/2020...20-dtm-season/

For me it will be a few rounds to get used to see Green in a car that is not orange/orange-white. Abt cars basically the same, just a little bit different design, Rast's car almost the same.
Tough the Rockenfeller one looks interesting, the yellow brings back the memories of him driving the yellow-green Shaeffler sponsored car.

[Matt K]

Yeah, this orange livery stuck so much with Green
But I like these liveries and there are some new sponsors, like Porta on Rast's car or Twin Busch. I wonder are all these just B2B partners or real sponsors?

[Csaba]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Yeah, this orange livery stuck so much with Green
But I like these liveries and there are some new sponsors, like Porta on Rast's car or Twin Busch. I wonder are all these just B2B partners or real sponsors?

Let me ask the obvious? Did Green ever race in a green car? I don't remember that he did. Not in the DTM at least.

Well I think Porta and Twin Busch could be, now in the case of Castrol or Aral, more likely a partnership with some sort of sponsoring.

[Matt K]

Originally Posted by Csaba

Let me ask the obvious? Did Green ever race in a green car? I don't remember that he did. Not in the DTM at least.

Well I think Porta and Twin Busch could be, now in the case of Castrol or Aral, more likely a partnership with some sort of sponsoring.

Haha I don't remember it either his name should've been Orange for the last couple of years :P

Yes, Porta and Twin Busch seem like 'real' sponsors but Castrol, Aral and possibly Akrapovic are rather just B2B partners.

[GusGasfuss]

Originally Posted by Csaba

Let me ask the obvious? Did Green ever race in a green car? I don't remember that he did. Not in the DTM at least.

Well I think Porta and Twin Busch could be, now in the case of Castrol or Aral, more likely a partnership with some sort of sponsoring.

I would say, that these sponsors are "real" sponsors....
I don't see Audi using furniture from Porta (which is mainly home furniture) and also Audi will not use TwinBusch-car lifts in their work shop (they are mainly hobby car lifters from china).
Maybe the budgets (which Audi wanted for a year in DTM) were lowered before the season.

[br21]

DTM Zolder postponed until 7-9 August

[Matt K]

Good changes. I like the fact that DTM has made a 'new' calendar and July date for a season opener seems quite safe. It's still not safe enough but there's hope everything will go according to plan.

[Juntos]

Originally Posted by Matt K

Good changes. I like the fact that DTM has made a 'new' calendar and July date for a season opener seems quite safe. It's still not safe enough but there's hope everything will go according to plan.

DTM outsmarted the rest of the world with a new calendar. Fingers crossed.

[Matt K]

Yeah, I really believe that this will happen although day after day I'm getting more worried about the whole situation...

[peebee2]

I’m not sure the new calendar is any more than guesswork unfortunately, and over-optimistic guesswork at that - especially as the DTM package is so hospitality-based.

[Matt K]

Who else watched the 2002 A1 Ring race on DTM Channel on YT? Fantastic race and great cars!

[S griffin]

I didn’t see it, but wasn’t that the one where there was some last corner shenanigans and where there was a bit of a repeat of the F1 finish the same track that, with a driver slowing to let another past within sight of the flag?