Mario Theissen hails Japanese GT plans

BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen has hailed the plans from the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters organizers ITR for an eventual rule merger with the Japanese Super GT series.
“We strongly welcome the fact that ITR has contacted the Japanese about this,” said Theissen to Motorsport-Total.

Asia, and Japan in particular, is an important market for BMW and Theissen underlines their need to race in other markets than Europe.

“The DTM in its current form is not something for us,” said Theissen.

A merger between the DTM and the Japanese GT series would according to Theissen have many positive sides for both manufacturers and organizers of both championships.

“From my perspective, the Japanese manufacturers have to have exactly the same interest as us, as should both series organizers,” said Theissen.

But it is not likely for BMW to enter a car for the DTM any time soon. The German manufacturer has ruled out producing a new GT/DTM specification car in the near future.

“We are discussing all possible GT-based options. When an attractive scenario comes in to place, it may mean that we develop a new car,” said Theissen.