Photo: DTM Media

The DTM 2008 calendar is revealed

By

DTM expands to Europe. In the coming season, the most popular international touring car series is going to hold eleven races in six European countries. This means that the number of rounds to be contested in the 2008 season is increased by one, to a total of eleven.

Following a one-year break, DTM returns to France. The legendary circuit of Le Mans (F) will be the venue of the penultimate round of the 2008 season. Le Mans already hosted the penultimate race of 2006 DTM season, thus being the venue of the early decision in the title battle between the premium manufacturers Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

When it comes to the calendar, the DMSB, Deutscher Motorsport Bund (German Motor Sport association) and DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. (Internationale Tourenwagen-Rennen e.V.) place emphasis on continuity. All the circuits that hosted a round of the 2007 DTM season will also be on next year’s DTM calendar. This means that DTM is going to again race at Mugello (I), Barcelona (E), Brands Hatch (GB), Zandvoort (NL), Hockenheim, Oschersleben, the Norisring, the Nürburgring and the EuroSpeedway Lausitz (all D), in 2007 – with Hockenheim traditionally representing the venue of both the season kick-off and the season finale.

“With eleven rounds held in six countries, DTM now is represented on all European core markets of the car manufacturers and features the arguably most attractive calendar of all times,” said Hans Werner Aufrecht, Chairman of DTM’s rights holder and promoter, ITR e.V.. “Following DTM’s very successful Le Mans debut in 2006, that attracted a crowd of 35,000 spectators, we look forward to returning to Le Mans, in 2008.”

The 2008 DTM calendar at a glance*

13th April Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg/D
20th April Motorsport Arena Oschersleben/D
04th May Mugello/I
18th May EuroSpeedway Lausitz/D
29th June Norisring/D
13th July Circuit Park Zandvoort /NL
27th July Nürburgring/D
31st August Brands Hatch/GB
21st September Circuit de Catalunya/E
05th October Le Mans/F
26th October Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg/D

*Calendar provisional