DTM grid set to reduce in size for 2017 season

The grid for the 2017 DTM season is set to reduce in size, to perhaps as few as 18 cars from 2017, with all three manufacturers potentially set to drop two cars each in order to reduce costs.

There has been no official confirmation as yet, but rumours have circled the paddock since this summer about a reduction, with no manufacturer denying the possibility. With BMW having announced no replacements for Antonio Felix da Costa and Martin Tomczyk, and with Audi dropping Timo Scheider from the squad, the speculation about a drop in numbers is all but confirmed.

It’s believed all three manufacturers will each run six cars, although sources in the paddock at the Nürburgring and at the season finale at Hockenheim say that number is still in negotiation, with some quarters understood to prefer seven cars, bringing the grid down to 21 from 24. DTM’s tyre supplier Hankook is reportedly working to an order for an 18-car field.

The move would effectively cut the operating costs for all three manufacturers, enabling them to continue to invest in their other motorsport programmes, as well as to make the series more attractive to new manufacturers. This comes in a year where Audi’s road car arm has been hit by the emissions scandal, and with both BMW and Audi now heavily involved in the growing Formula E Championship, with Mercedes also expressing interest in a future entry.

“We are playing in a time when, for the board to approve of a motorsport programme, the benefits of participating have to outweigh the cost of participating,” said Audi Sport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich to TouringCarTimes. “If we can prove that to our boards, then the programme is safe. At this point, for Audi Sport, only the DTM and the Formula E are confirmed for next year.”

“DTM is a championship where three high end manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes, competing in the same market segment, showcase their premium products, with the RS, M and AMG ranges against each other. DTM ‘s target isn’t to showcase advanced technology or technological innovation.

“With two less cars, the brand’s DTM budget is reduced by 10%. We can still have an exciting series if all the cars are competitive,” Dr. Ullrich concluded.

The manufacturers’ representatives are not too fazed about the impact of a reduced grid size. Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport director, said: “The important thing for DTM right now is to work in the championship promotion, making sure the product reaches the public in prime time TV slots and also visits markets where there is an interest, and where the spectators will fill the grandstands.

“I think not a lot of people care about what happens in the last four positions of the race, and we can draw people to watch DTM if we put on a good show, regardless of whether that is with less cars” he added.

2017 will mark the beginning of a new homologation cycle for the manufacturers, with updated technical regulations, moving towards the long awaited ‘Class One’. The new 2-litre engine has already been delayed until 2019 to keep development costs down.

Ulrich Fritz, head of DTM at Mercedes AMG, said: “I can’t honestly say how many cars we will run this year, because that decision hasn’t been made yet. All I can say is that we will continue to be involved in the DTM and, with the new car, with a renewed effort to push and fight for victories again. We will make an announcement at the proper time.”