DTM shake up regulations for the 2017 season
The 2017 DTM season kicks off this weekend at Hockenheim, with the series presenting important changes in the sporting regulations.
The new board of series promoter ITR, chaired by Gerhard Berger, aims to continue giving racing drivers more emphasis, highlighting their performance. “In the DTM, we want to put the sport into the centre of the attention. The DTM has an outstanding and strong field of drivers and the fans want to experience this performance in the races”, said Berger.
The first change is that the first three classified in qualifying will get points, with three for the pole setter, two for second place and one for third. The move is aimed at emphasising driver and team performance during qualifying.
ITR has also limited radio communications. These will be banned during races, except when the car is in the pit lane, yellow flags are being waved or when the safety car is on track, so the team can give the driver safety instructions. In all other situations, pit-to-car communications will be limited to the pit board being shown on the main straight.
The restart method after a safety car intervention has also been changed. From this season, the cars will restart the race with NASCAR-style restarts in double-file grid formation, to favour duels between drivers once the track goes green.
The DRS rules have also been changed, with the activations now limited to 12 laps during the race, with a maximum of three per lap. The gap to the preceding driver has to be one second or less at the main start/finish line for the DRS activation to be permitted.
Lastly, the performance weight system will work as in the two previous seasons, with all three cars starting the year at a base weight of 1,125kg. The modifications will be through 2.5kg increments, with a maximum of 15kg added and 30kg taken from the base weight.
