Gerhard Berger on DTM future beyond 2018: “BMW and Audi are very interested”

Mercedes’ exit from the DTM came as a shock to the series, but Gerhard Berger and the BMW and Audi representatives think that a viable future can be found to keep the DTM running beyond 2018.

“The short term is until the end of 2018, everything stays as it is. No question, 2018 all fine as we have the three manufacturers’ commitment. Then after that, BMW and Audi are very interested,” Berger said.

“Long term, after 2018, that’s a little bit different. When the regulations are in place, then you can talk to other manufacturers, and then again with Audi and BMW, and say these are the regulations, and we’ll need that in the next six months.”

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt believes that finalising the regulations from 2018 will be vital to attract new manufacturers to the series. “I don’t see how we can attract somebody if we just say ‘hey, look at our super platform, come and join us’,” Marquardt said to TouringCarTimes. “We have shown our championship to be a great platform over the past few years. Now we have to look to what the regulations will be so we can present those to potential new manufacturers.”

The DTM was, together with the Japanese Super GT and the American SportsCar Championship, one of the pillars of the new Class One regulations. However, the interest in the project has dwindled over the past year, despite the Japanese already implementing the concept for this season’s Super GT regulations.

ITR and the manufacturers involved in the DTM are however not certain that Class One is the way to go for the series. “We looked at the Class One regulations anyway. There are certain areas for which we aren’t ready yet, we don’t even know if the name is right. There are a couple of things we’d like to improve,” said Marquardt about the Class One concept.

“We have to sit with the Japanese manufacturers, with GTA (Super GT organisers) and ITR and anybody else who could be interested, and see what concept of regulations is attractive, so we can carry on with what we have and carry it on into the future. Class One is one option, but there can be another options, and we have to see which is best and find the most common denominator.”

The BMW Motorsport Director was however outspoken about the need to continue reducing costs in order to make the DTM both viable and attractive to new manufacturers: “The efforts in terms of common parts and reducing the number of cars have helped to bring down the costs. But it’s not building six cars that is the issue, is running them on a high level that is the problem, and I think there is still potential there for more reduction. When we designed the regulations for 2012, which were a radical step from the previous ones, we managed a 40% reduction of the build costs of the car. What really needs to happen is to see what’s wise from the sporting and technical point of view and what the running costs are.”

Prior to Moscow, the introduction of the new 4-cylinder, 2-litre engine in 2019 was agreed, together with a suggestion for a common supplier.

Berger believes it is complicated for the DTM manufacturers to agree to this concept: “For the premium manufacturers it’s difficult. But you have to have a uni-parts system. In certain areas you can save a lot of cost, but there needs to be a certain window when everyone can bring their own technology.”

Marquardt was favourable about the idea, putting the future of DTM ahead of the manufacturers’ individual preferences: “I think you have to be open to the idea that there are different concepts you can work with, like a common spec block, for instance. You have to see the overall picture if you want to have more people involved. The Japanese are currently racing with the 4-cylinder whilst we are with the 8-cylinder. OK, they have longer distance races and different tyres. Still, to make an effort and have those cars running together, like it has happened in the past with the four-wheel drive Alfa. You have to get everyone together and see what rules are the best, what options everyone has and pull all those options together.

“DTM as a platform is very good and very attractive and we owe it to the fans and supporters to make the best efforts, and to put our own brand egos to the side and push towards a good future for the series.”