Aufrecht positive about the DTM future

Last year the DTM had received a lot of critisism. First there was the chaotic race at the Lausitzring. Later on during the season there was the controversial race at Barcelona, where Audi pulled out all there remaining cars. Despite that critisism Hans Werner Aufrecht thinks the DTM has got no worries for the future.

“Since 2000 people are saying that the DTM hasn’t got enough manufacturers to survive. Despite that we are already succesfull for eight years, despite all that critisism”, Aufrecht said. “If a lot of manufacturers is the solution to a succesfull series, the STW with eight manufacturers should have been the most succesfull series ever. But ofcourse it would be very nice to have more manufacturers in the DTM.”

The STW was driven with the succesfull FIA Super Touring regulations, renown for it’s close racing. Nowadays the DTM is more of a product. “Ofcoursing we’re thinking of how to improve the product”, Aufrecht says. “We have to see how we can improve the sport on the track. A part of that is to think about the pitstop regulations, so we can improve family friendliness of the series.”

“A night race, like it’s being held in Formula 1 this year for the first time, would also be interesting for the DTM. Back in 2003 we’ve already had a qualifying at night in DTM. However, to turn this into a race is not easy. You have to have good lights, TV time and ofcourse the noise of the cars is also an issue at night.”

Aufrecht would also like to have another street race. “We would love to have another street race next to the Norisring in Neurenberg.”