Citroën confirm interest in entering DTM

Citroën could be the third manufacturer entering the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. Citroën Sport team principal Olivier Quesnel admitted that they are interested in switching from the World Rally Championship to DTM.
“I went to Hockenheim to look at the DTM race and the promotion of that series is on another planet compared to the WRC,” said Quesnel to Autosport.

Citroën are in the process of releasing the new C5-model which would be used in case of their entry to DTM.

“Citroen give me the budget and I have to use it in the best possible way. We have a new car, the C5, which is in the market with the Audi A5 and the Mercedes C-class, so we have to look at things.”

The French manufacturer is unhappy with the promotion package of WRC and when the contract with rally star Sebastian Loeb ends in 2009 they could leave the championship. But just as in DTM, the introduction of new rules are being discussed.

“If we are quite sure the WRC is a good idea then we can make the investment in the new car. But we are not here to race for the sake of the race. We are here to sell cars.

“I was happy to be in Jordan, but where were the spectators? We don’t sell enough cars there – we need to be in China. If there is no promotion in WRC, it doesn’t matter that the costs are becoming less and less.”

Update on the new DTM rules

For the DTM to change to new rules, a new manufacturer is required. Currently Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Citroën/Peugeot and Toyota are discussing the new rules with ITR, the promotor of DTM.

The new rules will according to our information include a common carbon fiber base for all manufacturers, changed aerodynamic rules with less downforce and fewer small wings, cheaper parts and some kind of hybrid engine technology to follow the environmentally friendly stream.

The new rules would at the earliest point see the light of day in 2010.