The 2015 DTM season preview: It’s showtime!

After more than six months since the last official on track action, the 2015 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters kicks off this weekend, with the first round of the year at Hockenheim.

Bystanders could think that there are little news in a series where car development is frozen until the end of the year, but substantial changes in the racing weekend format have sent teams and drivers back to square one in order to prepare for the challenge ahead.

ITR, the Series’ Promoter, conducted extensive research among fans, with a very clear feedback: spectators wanted to see more action and races decided on the track, rather than on a pit wall.

Regarding the spectators as their main asset, ITR and the manufacturers involved agreed three important changes to meet fans’ demands. First and foremost, from 2015 the DTM would see a return to a double race weekend, with each race awarding full points, after 15 years of celebrating a single race per event. Also, option tyres were scrapped to return to a single standard compound, allowing each driver only four sets per racing weekend. Thirdly, to increase the possibilities of on track fighting, the DRS opportunities have been increased to three per lap.

The translation of these changes into the agenda has added another twist for the teams: each race will have a separate 20-minute qualifying session, with the organisers maintaining two 45-minute free practice sessions, including a return to Friday on track action to fit in the tight DTM agenda. A short Sunday morning warm up is also back on the timetable.

The first race of the weekend, to be held on Saturdays, will last for 40 minutes plus one lap, and pit stops won’t be obligatory. This will mean that the qualifying position will be more important, or the drivers will have to gain positions on track.

The second race of the weekend, taking place on Sundays, has a duration of 60 minutes plus one lap, with one compulsory pit stop.

BMW starts the season with only one change to its driver line up, and retaining the reigning champion Marco Wittmann. A few driver shuffles have been made in order to ensure that the M4 DTM can reach its full potential.

Jens Marquardt, Motorsport Director, expect his men to continue being a winning reference at the DTM: “The goal is to add to our successful record this season.  It will be exciting for everyone involved, including the fans, to see how the DTM weekend in Hockenheim pans out.”

Audi Sport won the manufacturers’ championship at the last moment in 2014, after a fantastic end of season led by Mattias Ekström. The Neuburg squad has bet on consistency in order to guarantee success in the new season, retaining all its eight drivers from last year to pose a fresh challenge with the RS 5 DTM.

Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport, thinks the reigning manufacturers’ champion has good cards to remain successful: “The weekend format will be a great logistical challenge for us. We’ll have to make better use of each minute. We have a homogeneous driver squad that won the title last year, and we are the only one without a new driver. I see that as an advantage for us.”

Mercedes Benz has increased its operation to eight cars, thus matching its rivals’ commitment. The Stuttgart manufacturer has welcomed ART Grand Prix as its third team, to support HWA AG and Mücke in the running of the C63 DTM.

Ulrich Fritz, Head of DTM at Stuttgart, looks forward to an exciting season: “I am particularly pleased for the fans, who will get 100% more DTM racing action this season with two races per weekend. Everyone is very motivated.”

Timetable

The DTM on track time table for the first round of the season is as follows (all times are CEST, Central European Summer Time, GMT + 1):

Friday 1st of May

– 10:30 – 11:05: Roll out.
– 14:15 – 15:00: Free Practice 1.
– 15:00 – 15:05: Practice Starts.

Saturday, 2nd of May

– 9:00 – 9:45: Free Practice 2.
– 9:45 – 9:50: Practice Starts.
– 12:00 – 12:20: Qualifying for Race 1.
– 14:48: Start Race 1 (40 minutes plus 1 lap).

Sunday, 3rd of May

– 9:00 – 9:15: Warm Up.
– 9:15 – 9:20: Practice Starts.
– 10:35 – 10:55: Qualifying for Race 2.
– 13:43: Start Race 2 (60 minutes plus 1 lap).