DTM Opel returns to DTM?

**FIRE** · 27 Jul 2010, 17:17 (Ref:2734072)

According Motorsport Aktuell Opel decides in the next 2 months if they join DTM in 2012.

With a clearer and healthier link between Opel and mother company GM it's time Opel returns to motorsport. They can use some promotion.

skells22 · 27 Jul 2010, 17:36 (Ref:2734085)

any guesses about drivers if that is true.

**FIRE** · 27 Jul 2010, 18:31 (Ref:2734116)

That's a bit early

Plenty of good drivers available. First let Opel decide to enter.

rich07 · 28 Jul 2010, 00:59 (Ref:2734354)

Well with BMW looking as though it may return, it may tempt Opel to join the fray once again.

**ghinzani** · 28 Jul 2010, 01:15 (Ref:2734361)

Frentzen?

Andy77 · 28 Jul 2010, 05:04 (Ref:2734416)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghinzani

Frentzen?

Has he dropped his Aston Hybride Project now ?

rich07 · 28 Jul 2010, 07:54 (Ref:2734460)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy77

Has he dropped his Aston Hybride Project now ?

Slightly OT, but what Aston Hybrid project?

Speed-King · 28 Jul 2010, 09:02 (Ref:2734489)

Gumbert Hybrid, not Aston - never heard of that again...

What's even more interesting than the question which drivers they'll use is: which team. Holzer doesn't exist anymore and depending on how many cars Audi is going to field they won't be able to join up with Phoenix either.

And building a factory team from the ground up is REALLY expensive, especially for a cash-strapped company like Opel...

Valker · 28 Jul 2010, 11:23 (Ref:2734532)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

What's even more interesting than the question which drivers they'll use is: which team.

Kissling?

Speed-King · 28 Jul 2010, 12:07 (Ref:2734564)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valker

Kissling?

I could see them as their B-Team, but not as their main effort...

They surely are a good team, but good enough to develop a winning package for DTM? I have my doubts... There are still rumors that something might rise from the ashes of Zakspeed, but then Zakspeed wasn't the force it used to be in recent years.

cmk · 29 Jul 2010, 00:56 (Ref:2734897)

Quote:

Originally Posted by skells22

any guesses about drivers if that is true.

I expect they will all be human.

As far as teams go, I could see them finding a German group from the open-wheel ranks just as easily as someone active in touring cars or sports cars. Then again, it's pretty easy to build up a team from scratch anyway. Or depending on who they get to build the cars, some of the support could come from that end if the builder also has a racing arm.

Lots of IFs anyway!

**FIRE** · 29 Jul 2010, 08:42 (Ref:2734992)

I agree with you cmk about teams.

NaBUru38 · 29 Jul 2010, 13:17 (Ref:2735154)

Does Opel race in rallying today as they did in the 1990s?

Speed-King · 29 Jul 2010, 13:33 (Ref:2735169)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Does Opel race in rallying today as they did in the 1990s?

There is an Opel Corsa S2000 project, but I am not sure how much the factory is involved in that one and so far it hasn't been particularly successfull. A lot of privateers in Germany are however still flying the Opel flag, especially with older Kadetts in the freestyle-category (Gruppe H)

**BertMk2** · 29 Jul 2010, 14:05 (Ref:2735190)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

There is an Opel Corsa S2000 project, but I am not sure how much the factory is involved in that one and so far it hasn't been particularly successfull. A lot of privateers in Germany are however still flying the Opel flag, especially with older Kadetts in the freestyle-category (Gruppe H)

If memory serves me right the Corsa S2000 was being developed with a view of tempting the factory into the project rather than being developed with the backing of the factory from the start. And as you say - it's not been a roaring success has it?

**FIRE** · 29 Jul 2010, 16:54 (Ref:2735307)

The Corsa S2000 was developed by MSD. According S2000Rally.com there are 2 cars built in 2008. Since then not much heard so we can conclude they got no support from Opel.

Off-topic
Look how many S2000 rally cars are built in the last few years:
Ford Fiesta
Peugeot 207
Skoda Fabia
Abarth Grande Punto

Why can't this in touring car racing?

Hazard · 1 Aug 2010, 08:10 (Ref:2736991)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

The Corsa S2000 was developed by MSD. According S2000Rally.com there are 2 cars built in 2008. Since then not much heard so we can conclude they got no support from Opel.

Off-topic
Look how many S2000 rally cars are built in the last few years:
Ford Fiesta
Peugeot 207
Skoda Fabia
Abarth Grande Punto

Why can't this in touring car racing?

Do you mean why can't they race in touring?

S2000 Rally regs aren't the same as Touring. The main difference is S2000 Rally allows AWD.

6157 · 1 Aug 2010, 08:14 (Ref:2736997)

Talk about a change in fortune.

Doubling their manufacturer support and rules alignment with other national series.

Pretty good for a series that was almost flatlined a couple of years ago.

**FIRE** · 1 Aug 2010, 10:44 (Ref:2737117)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hazard

Do you mean why can't they race in touring?

S2000 Rally regs aren't the same as Touring. The main difference is S2000 Rally allows AWD.

No, I mean why are there so many S2000 rally cars built compared to S2000 touring cars.

cmk · 2 Aug 2010, 17:36 (Ref:2738311)

Currently rumoured that Williams will be involved with the Opel programme; makes sense given their solid touring car pedigree with the Renault Laguna (still the only ST car I have ever seen run in the flesh!). Adam Parr says that they've met previously and no deal was reached, but that he's interested. Hard to know whether this would be only as a constructor/developer, or whether they would help put together the racing arm of the programme too.

dank · 2 Aug 2010, 17:53 (Ref:2738322)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

Currently rumoured that Williams will be involved with the Opel programme; makes sense given their solid touring car pedigree with the Renault Laguna (still the only ST car I have ever seen run in the flesh!). Adam Parr says that they've met previously and no deal was reached, but that he's interested. Hard to know whether this would be only as a constructor/developer, or whether they would help put together the racing arm of the programme too.

Rumoured? That's some major gossip. Care to divulge where you might have heard this?

Edit: Oh, just seen it online, syndicated by the guff that is GMM!

Speed-King · 2 Aug 2010, 22:41 (Ref:2738474)

Williams also had a hand in Opel's 1995/96 ITC-programm and designed much of the running gear of the class killing Calibras...

**FIRE** · 3 Aug 2010, 09:26 (Ref:2738643)

Yep

Williams is also (main?) shareholder in a company that develops KERS technology (for example used by Porsche). Maybe also a reason to team up with Williams?

EuropaBambaataa · 6 Aug 2010, 12:07 (Ref:2740343)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I could see them as their B-Team, but not as their main effort...

They surely are a good team, but good enough to develop a winning package for DTM? I have my doubts... There are still rumors that something might rise from the ashes of Zakspeed, but then Zakspeed wasn't the force it used to be in recent years.

There are several teams that can be lured away to the Opel camp, if Williams don't run the cars themselves.

Running GM products in other categories, there are DKR Engineering, Callaway, Verschuur, Graff Racing. Maurer Motorsport could come back to force, or someone like Engstler could be recruited, just because they race BMWs in the WTCC and ADAC Procar, doesn't mean they can't race Opels in the DTM.

Valenok · 6 Aug 2010, 12:47 (Ref:2740365)

One thought. Opel is part of GM. Is it possible to connect Opel returning with ITR-GARRA negotiations? If Big Three is interested in silhouette road racing like DTM, maybe Opel returning is part of GM attempts to enter Grand-Am?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Opel DTM in EERC	27tim	Sportscar & GT Racing	7	7 Apr 2005 18:00
Opel to withdraw from DTM	BSchneiderFan	Touring Car Racing	37	16 Oct 2004 01:59
Opel to pull out of DTM??	JAG	Touring Car Racing	49	25 Feb 2003 17:27
Is Opel IN or OUT of DTM?	a_r_c_a	Touring Car Racing	6	28 Nov 2002 23:52
DTM testing - opel on the pace!	pink69	Touring Car Racing	3	13 Mar 2002 15:34