'06 DTM speculation/rumors

[BertMk2]

I hope DTM does return to the UK (and Brands would be even better ), saw the last race and Donington and really enjoyed it. I guess if it did return there would be more promotion (especially if it's Brands), JP does seem to advertise the 'big' events quite well.

An extra manufacturer wouldn't go amiss either, MG were supposed to come in this year but for obvious reasons that didn't happen - is there another manufacturer that could step in? Nobody obvious springs to mind, all the major players are either in F1, WTCC, WRC or sportscars (or more than 1 of those). Peugeot and Citroen pull out of WRC at the end of the year but DTM isn't an obvious choice for either of those. A smaller grid would be bad so they need to entice more privateer teams for next year.

[Mike_Wooshy]

Id like to see jaguar there with the S-type,
but i dont see that happening !

[kmchow]

There was supposed to be another manufacturer interested, possibly Nissan?? It makes sense for Jag, a luxury make to race against MB and Audi. The mock X Type was pretty tempting...
Ditto for the HKS Toyota IS200?

[toot toot]

is it pretty much a done thing that Alesi will not race for Merc next year after his critisisms of the team?

[BertMk2]

Alesi is rumoured to be involved with the McLaren 'B' team in F1 - of course whether anything comes of that remains to be seen but it does seem to suggest he's looking beyond the DTM.

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=101509

[flor]

the newest rumour is that Toyota will enter the series in 2007

[FIRE]

There will be no Opels next season.

ZDF Text Tafel 227 (26.10.05): Opel liefert nicht an DTM Privatteams

Rückschlag für die DTM: Der Rüsselsheimer Automobilbauer Opel hat nach dem werksseitigen Rückzug aus der Deutschen Tourenwagen-Meisterschaft (DTM) beschlossen, dass auch keine Privatteams die aktuellen Autos des Jahrgangs 2005 im kommenden Jahr einsetzen dürfen.
„Die Entscheidung, keine Opel Vectras GTS V8 für die Saison 2006 an Privatteams zum Einsatz freizugeben, wurde vom Vorstand der Adam Opel AG bestätigt. Die DTM-Dachorganisation ITR wurde über die Gespräche informiert.“, sagte Opel-Sportchef Volker Strycek. Opel hatte in fünf Jahren und 51 DTM-Rennen in Folge keinen Sieg feiern könnnen.

[Simon_1983]

Gutting about the Opels not releasing any 05 cars for privateers. Hopefully someone will announce they are coming into the series soon.

When does the next season race calender normally get anounced?

[Nintendo]

i'd like to see Paffett vs. Ekstrom proper. and hakkinen should be allowed to challenge more

[429CJ]

Team Rosberg back to DTM with Audis, says Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

[kmchow]

The above press release quoted by FIRE says no 05 Opels will be supplied to independents. What about the '04s? OTOH, would anyone want to race an '04? That's a big disappointment. My biggest fears have been realized--if the '05s struggled so much under Works status, imagine how much worse it would do in Independent hands with less funding issues?

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by flor

the newest rumour is that Toyota will enter the series in 2007

Under the Lexus banner perhaps to go up against their rivals ?

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

Under the Lexus banner perhaps to go up against their rivals ?

That HKS built DTM-ish Toyota Altezza looked pretty hot.

http://www.superstreetonline.com/fea...500/index.html

Ditto for the DTM-ish X Type. Neither of those made it to the track?
http://www.fast-autos.net/jaguar/jaguarxtyperacing.html

The X Type was for that proopsed silhouette V8 based racing series that was delayed for '05?

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by kmchow

That HKS built DTM-ish Toyota Altezza looked pretty hot.

http://www.superstreetonline.com/fea...500/index.html

Ditto for the DTM-ish X Type. Neither of those made it to the track?
http://www.fast-autos.net/jaguar/jaguarxtyperacing.html

The X Type was for that proopsed silhouette V8 based racing series that was delayed for '05?

You mean this thing? For the SCV8 - delayed, and over of course.

The Altezza there looks nice...not sold in Germany though, so won't see one of those. If Toyota were in > it's either Avensis' or Celica's.

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Would privateers be able to afford drivers like the current Opel squad who even now can only barely scrape a podium place with factory backing?

I'm more interested in either a new marque coming to the table or Audi and Mercedes filling the gaps.

[nsxr]

the HKS car made it to the track. it was a time attack only car. They went to make an Evo time attack car as well. Both set tsukuba track records. Odd they also built a jgtc Merc. strange

[flor]

Originally Posted by Hazard

The Altezza there looks nice...not sold in Germany though, so won't see one of those. If Toyota were in > it's either Avensis' or Celica's.

they sell the Altezza in Germany but with another name

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by Silk Cut Jaguar

Would privateers be able to afford drivers like the current Opel squad who even now can only barely scrape a podium place with factory backing?

There must be a lot of very good drivers who are asking for less money. The bigger challenge it seems would be to find the budget to maintain the cars and the daily operation of the team?

It's too bad the JGTC CLK never raced a single time as far as I'm aware. I'm not even sure if that CLK has a race motor yet? It definitely looked mean enough.

[flor]

Apparently Frentzen and Prost wanted to form a new team running with used Vectras

[Alex K]

Is Opel doing 24h series in Germany with those 2005 Vectra's next year I wonder why they do not want to sell this machinery

[Valker]

Originally Posted by Hazard

The Altezza there looks nice...not sold in Germany though, so won't see one of those.

Isn't Altezza same car as Lexus IS?

[touringlegend]

Originally Posted by Valker

Isn't Altezza same car as Lexus IS?

Yes it is.

Think what Hazard was meaning, is that if it was Toyota entry they wouldn't use an Altezza since it is not sold in Europe as a Toyota.

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by Silk Cut Jaguar

Would privateers be able to afford drivers like the current Opel squad who even now can only barely scrape a podium place with factory backing?

I forgot to mention yesterday, I don't think Vectra's lack of competitiveness was due to the driver though? They just seemed to lack the handling and power of the other 2 marques?

Originally Posted by Silk Cut Jaguar

I'm more interested in either a new marque coming to the table or Audi and Mercedes filling the gaps.

Well, the organizers still have that half or nearly complete chassis for the former MG entry? Surely that will reduce the cost for the new potential marque?

[kmchow]

Originally Posted by Alex K

Is Opel doing 24h series in Germany with those 2005 Vectra's next year I wonder why they do not want to sell this machinery

As various manufacturers have indicated or practiced, it could be one of two reasons. Either
1) they don't want others discovering or learning their cars secrets.
2) they don't want to be embarassed by an independent team if they're uncompetitive in their cars.

In the case of the Opel Vectras, it's probably #2.

[nsxr]

HKS JGTC CLK raced but wasnt competitive. It only ran I believe three events. it was also a test bed for new rules trying to bring in new outside manufactorers. I think it now sits in there Mt. Fuji office as a display car. side note to this story i believe in the super touring car days it was HKS that ran an opel vectra in the series. strange