Gerhard Berger “curious about new hydrogen car”

Gerhard Berger, the chairman of DTM promoter ITR, has said he believes the new HYRAZE project launched earlier this week “makes sense” and that its partners have the capability of making it a success.

The ADAC – together with DEKRA, the DMSB (German ASN), HWA AG, Schaeffler AG and WESA – announced the creation of the new racing concept based on a hydrogen-powered drive in the latest move towards alternatively-fuelled racing.

The HYRAZE concept was launched with a generic futuristic prototype bodywork concept, with development ongoing of the hydrogen drive. The target is to start the series in 2023, with an ambition to move to a global championship in 2025.

Given the figures involved in HYRAZE – which include former DTM chief Hans-Werner Aufrecht – there has been suggestions that manufacturers and partners currently involved in the DTM could be interested in the concept, and Berger said he was keeping an eye on how it panned out.

“I am following all innovations and concepts related to the future of motorsport with great interest,” Berger told TouringCarTimes.

“To me, it is perfectly clear that motorsport has to go through a serious transition in order to better demonstrate its aim for sustainability and for professional racing in particular to become the pioneer in terms of development and technology for production cars again.”

Berger thinks that the involvement of HWA and Aufrecht in particular is a strong foundation for the new concept.

“With Hans Werner Aufrecht, they have an entrepreneur and a visionary man at the helm for whom I have great appreciation,” he said, “and one who has proven more than once that he will successfully turn his vision into reality, even though the road is still long.”

Berger added that having the concept converted into a sustainable, reliable and safe racing car for 2023 is a tight schedule, but believes the project is a necessary step in the evolution towards greener and more sustainable technologies.

“To me, the time frame is an extremely ambitious one, but I think that the project makes sense,” he said. “I am convinced that hydrogen technology will be playing a role in the future.”

The DTM was looking at introducing hybrid technology for 2022, before the announcement of Audi’s exit at the end of the current season put a premature end to the trajectory of the Class 1 concept.

Audi Motorsport’s boss Dieter Gass recently acknowledged to TouringCarTimes that the manufacturer is instead looking into an electric touring car.

“Which drive technology eventually makes its breakthrough and is suited to providing attractive racing for the fans, we will see in a few years from now,” continued Berger.

“Whoever succeeds in turning such a project into reality will be setting an example. From my perspective, the fact that the partners who have now presented the project have been significantly involved in motorsport for a very long time already is a good place to start from. I am curious to see the hydrogen car in a race for the first time.”

The DTM is currently working on a 31st of August deadline to present its regulations for next year, with a GT3-based format the most likely option.