[DTM] 2018 DTM schedule

[NaBUru38]

https://www.motorsport.com/dtm/news/...w-audi-944212/

DTM chairman Gerhard Berger has suggested that the series' calendar could expand into new countries to suit the needs of any new manufacturers wishing to enter the championship.

BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt however urged caution over any radical change to the calendar, saying that any new territory would have to make "financial sense" for the DTM to visit.

Asked about the prospect of fewer German races on the calendar, Audi motorsport boss Dieter Gass simply said: "It’s a little bit early to assess that, but in theory, why not?"

I still don't understand why German manufacturers think that having races in Britain, Italy, Spain and Belgium is not prioritary.

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I still don't understand why German manufacturers think that having races in Britain, Italy, Spain and Belgium is not prioritary.

They've done so in the past and apparently that didn't make sense financially? To return the question, why would it be a priority? What would DTM bring to those countries that GT3 (which is already there) can't?

[Metzo]

making the calender (and series more international) makes it easier for the teams to justify the high budgets they have for a "national" series. that's one of the main reasons DTM became the ITC, two decades later they are making the same mistakes...

[Juntos]

Where do they want to expand? To Italy (cause of Alfa)? To Spain (cause of SEAT)? To China (cause of Geely)?

All mouth and no trousers, Mr Berger.

[Cinghio44]

Berger has a difficult task now. Obviously he can't say "hey our championship is sinking" after the Mercedes quit, but the reality is that the DTM is in a deep crisis now.

I don't know what the solution would be, surely i don't see any manufacturer enter in the next future. The championship need a revolution but with only BMW and Audi onboard is impossible.

[BSchneiderFan]

BoP to let Super GT cars compete? I could imagine Lexus wanting to race in front of German fans, against BMW and Audi.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

BoP to let Super GT cars compete? I could imagine Lexus wanting to race in front of German fans, against BMW and Audi.

If they really want why haven't they done it already?
I don't see Japanese manufacturers spend millions on a semi German series, Doesn't make sense. There are also the new Lexus and Honda GT3 cars.

With low car numbers of course a manufacturer with interest has some power to set rules the way they want.

[DS"]

One of the potential lifelines for DTM could be a TV deal for 2018:

The current broadcaster, the ARD with their first program, has done an absolutely crappy job in properly promoting the DTM over the last 12 years, since they exclusively show the series. This year alone, they didn't show the restart from the sunday race at Norisring, because an interview the Green Party candidate for the upcoming federal election here was more important. This is just an example out of many. Hell, even being ad free isn't a saving grace anymore: The DTM already streams the races ad free on YouTube, even with proper commentary.

However: The rights landscape on German TV is about to change for 2018. It's very likely that Formula One is going to move most races on German pay tv, with sky most likely picking up the races. That would leave six free tv races and the ARD is a very likely contender to pick up these races, along with long time broadcaster RTL.* Furthermore, it is very likely that the ARD and the DTM will end their partnership after this season. So, if ARD gets Formula One, RTL may pick up DTM as a consolation price. Given that the DTM's future is in doubt, the rights may not even be that expensive. And if DTM fails, Formula E may become available in the future. However: RTL has proven that they can promote seemingly niche sports and make them big. They basically made Formula One and Boxing huge events in the 1990's. It did help that they also had heroes to promote, like Michael Schumacher in Formula One. And while DTM may not have heroes on the scale of Schumacher, they have drivers with the potential to become at least known names among the Jens Mustermanns in Germany. So if the DTM does make a deal with RTL in 2018, it may be a chance, maybe the last chance for DTM to grow back a little bit.

*The joys of public rights TV: The ARD couldn't do **** with DTM, yet they are willing to pick up Formula One for the ratings, so they can have a prestigious broadcasting right. License fee funded TV can be disgusting, especially in Germany.

[Matt K]

Personally, I think that ARD is a crap and hopefully DTM will get a deal with some different broadcaster. I don't know RTL but as you say about it, I'm pretty sure RTL would do a way better job.