DTM USA; Looks like its happening in 2013!

[I Rosputnik]

Via good old Autosport!

I think I see what's happening here; DTM in the USA, DTM in Europe, DTM/Super GT in Asia?

DTM Global Series?!?

Seems like WTCC/GT1/F1/LMIC better watch out, there's a new kid on the global stage!

***

Anyway ignoring rampant speculation, looks like the DTM wants to go to the USA in 2013. New manufacters anyone?

[R4z3rw33n]

Although the thought is interesting, I've never been a firm believer. Primarily because GA doesn't seem to thrive in scenarios requiring cooperation.
With the likelihood of GT3 chassis (or some *******ised variant) becoming eligible for GrandAm competition next year, one would assume the adoption of DTM rules would be of little significance to manufacturers with GT3 chassis already available.

After all, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW have GT3 chassis available, and with a likelihood of potential categories in both the US and Japan for 2011, I don't see why the DTM merger is necessary (from GA's perspective).

If the move is successful it could have far reaching ramifications.
The ALMS may as well farewell any chance of future Audi (although that's a foregone conclusion) or BMW participation.

[Sodemo]

So that would make it the "ATM" then?

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I'm quite excited by this announcement.

What's going on with Grand Am though? I can see NASCAR finding a DTM based series with heavy backing from the Euro and Japanese factories a lot more marketable than the current GA plan to American road racing fans but I can't see them sacrificing their own baby for it either.

It appears a massive sea change in global motorsports is in the making, 2014/15 could be very interesting years for the sport as a whole.

[mountainstar]

I was a huge DTM fan back in the 1990's and I remember about 1994 or so there was talk of a US round which never came to pass. From about 1993-1998 you could watch all the DTM and supertouring races from Germany with an english overdub/commentary here in the USA on a channel that ended up becoming Fox Sports. The late 80's stuff was before my time, but I've watched some races from back then in recent times and that was great as well.

Now though the cars are too unrealistic and a bit plain and it just doesn't click for me.

Italian Superstars is more like it to me.

However, I'm open to ideas and will be open to this series, if it happens.

[Roninho]

If these manufacturers want it to happen then it more then likely will.

But i think it's an awfull idea. Imo DTM is an overpriced factory touring car championship, and a national one that is. There is no need to expand the serie either in Europe (with WTCC & BTCC) or the US. If Mercedes, Audi and BMW want to race and spent 50 million+ each, i'd much rather see them enter Sportcars, Nascar or Indycar.

[davyboy]

I disagree. This makes perfect sense. BMW, Audi and Mercedes are the largest premium car brands in the world. What better than to run series showcasing 'suped up versions' of their cars in their three biggest markets - US, Germany and Japan. Indycar, sports cars or even F1 bear no relation whatsoever to the road going output of manufacturers... at least DTM looks somewhat like them. DTM is massively successful in Germany and if these additional series even garner a fraction of the attention in the US and Japan, they'll have made sense.

[redshoes]

Road racing in general and Grand-Am in particular gets very little media interest in the US. I doubt this will do much to change that attitude.

[Jamesy-18]

As long as NASCAR's around, I doubt any Touring Car series, however successful it is in Europe and other parts of the world, will succeed in America.

[NaBUru38]

DTM has one driver per car, 175-190km, 60-70min races. That has nothing to do with the current Grand-Am Rolex Series. In addition, it's sedans running, which have more sales than coupés.

The ACO shouldn't worry because they do endurance sports car races, not sprint touring car races.

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by davyboy

I disagree. This makes perfect sense. BMW, Audi and Mercedes are the largest premium car brands in the world. What better than to run series showcasing 'suped up versions' of their cars in their three biggest markets - US, Germany and Japan. Indycar, sports cars or even F1 bear no relation whatsoever to the road going output of manufacturers... at least DTM looks somewhat like them. DTM is massively successful in Germany and if these additional series even garner a fraction of the attention in the US and Japan, they'll have made sense.

Imo DTM is succesfull in Germany because the manufacturers spent tens of millions in promotion of the events. I really don't think it in the cars. I'm very confident that if DTM was a serie with LMP1 or Superleague cars it would be way more popular (assuming the manufacturers would spent the same $ on promotion).

Apart from the manufacturers (through ITR) controlling the serie i see no advantage for going this route over entering in LMP1 or indycar.

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

The ACO shouldn't worry because they do endurance sports car races, not sprint touring car races.

Agreed.
The question remains though why they cannot interest BMW (and Mercedes) to enter Le Mans. BWM and Mercedes could win at le mans with the money they are (going to) spend(ing) on DTM.

[ptclaus98]

If GARRA runs this, then it will never be more than a sideshow. Too bad the SCCA and NASA are complete shambles.

[helgi]

Originally Posted by Roninho

why they cannot interest BMW

Herr Draeger said BMW is returning to its roots and it's touring car or silhouette racing, not sports cars.

Originally Posted by Roninho

why they cannot interest Mercedes

They already have an expensive F1 toy.

Besides, BMW and Mercedes bosses have weidhed pros and cons before this step. If somebody thinks he's found some mistakes in their risk weighting then he should connect with Mario - maybe BMW Motorsport boss will change his mind, take his team out of that and employ that "somebody".

[Speed-King]

I'm very confident that if DTM was a serie with LMP1 or Superleague cars it would be way more popular

Calling Cow-poo on that one. Except for a brief period in the early 80s, Germany's top-series has always been production-based (or at least production-based looking), and that's what people here are looking for...

[Valker]

Originally Posted by helgi

Herr Draeger said BMW is returning to its roots and it's touring car or silhouette racing, not sports cars.

Actually this is what he said:

The return of BMW to the DTM is a fundamental part of the restructuring of our motorsport activities. With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW is returning to its roots.

Even though he means DTM, which is not production car based, that comment suits their S2000 and GT programmes.

[helgi]

We were talking about that long time ago. Works BMW need to compete in the series where their market rivals are. BMW need to advertise their M3 in USA and Japan. What they can do? Of course, they are already in Grand-Am (well, their engine and nostrils) and ALMS. But they can not make money with their M3 GT2. They need cheep solution. Voila, here DTM M3 comes.

And. FIA couldn't work out a true international platform for touringcars (well, smth like touring, as only BMW 320si is a true touring car and Chevy and Seat are real prototypes with non serial engine, not saying about Lada). Maybe manufacturers will be able to make it on their own? Put a new Group 5 forward!

[juicy sushi]

I have to say I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, it could be really interesting. But in order for it to work it would need a lot of promotion from NASCAR (so far not seen in their Grand-Am offshoot), at least one US manufacturer (to give some hometown appeal on the branding front) and significantly different technical rules (that would allow the cars to actually put on a good race).

I think that the second and third aspects may be resolved (Opel is looking at possibly jumping in, and if they do, it wouldn't be hard to rebrand an Opel in North America as a Buick). And the 2012 rules should be much better on the racing front (unless the ITR is completely incompetent; although I have not encountered a sanctioning body that isn't).

But with regards to the first issue, I have some serious concerns. If NASCAR genuinely want to do this as a new premium series to reach fans not interested in their traditional product; then I think the series could really work. However, part of me thinks that this may just be a way to divert big manufacturers away from competing series by providing them somewhere to race which satisfies their technical requirements (since they are not about to go for pushrods, carbs and suspension from the 60s), but which keeps them in a convenient location which denies resources to NASCAR's competition.

I really don't know if it's the former or the latter.

[Speed-King]

Official statement with quotes from Aufrecht and Grand Am president Tom Bledsoe

[Last2LiftOff]

Stateside coverage available this am, for a change.

[johntt]

They should call it Trans-Am

I like the idea of DTM cars going round tracks like Road America, Montreal and Watkins Glen, lets hope it will happen.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by johntt

They should call it Trans-Am

I like the idea of DTM cars going round tracks like Road America, Montreal and Watkins Glen, lets hope it will happen.

The SCCA, AFAIK, owns the rights to the name, which I presume could always be purchased or leased.

[NaBUru38]

Where could they race? These are Nascar's and Grand-Am's most high-profile races:

January / February - Daytona
May - Charlotte
June - Watkins Glen
June - Road America
July - Indianapolis
August - Watkins Glen
August - Montreal, Trois-Riviéres?

Plus boring Grand-Am races at Homestead, Virginia, Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio, Miller, New Jersey.

[Speed-King]

Grand Am draws relatively well at Barber, New Jersey, Virginia and Mid Ohio, so I'd think those would be on the schedule.

So here's what I think the schedule will be

Daytona (N) - Barber (G) - VIR (G)- Lime Rock (G)- Road America (N) - Sonoma (N) - New Jersey (G)- Watkins Glen (N) - Montreal (N) - Mid Ohio (G) - Homestead (N)

That's one race short and mostly based on this year's schedules, but I think overall that should be about it.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Grand Am draws relatively well at Barber, New Jersey, Virginia and Mid Ohio, so I'd think those would be on the schedule.

So here's what I think the schedule will be

Daytona (N) - Barber (G) - VIR (G)- Lime Rock (G)- Road America (N) - Sonoma (N) - New Jersey (G)- Watkins Glen (N) - Montreal (N) - Mid Ohio (G) - Homestead (N)

That's one race short and mostly based on this year's schedules, but I think overall that should be about it.

Think the schedule would start with a Friday race at Daytona with the GA guy for the 24 hour? Would give you the full compliment of events but I didn't read any of the articles to see if they are starting with a Speedweek event leading up to the Daytona 500.