DTM 2008 Off-season: News & Rumours

[N.A-D.R]

No to Indy 500 and Le mans? Their like the 2 biggest races of the year outside of f1!

[Robbe]

I can understand Ralf doesnt want to go to Indy after his bad experience in the oval turn of the GP course.

To be honest I don't expect Ralf to be back in any series... he always reminded me of Jos Verstappen, mainly racing for the money.
But even Verstappen is in Le Mans this year, so who knows..

[Icebaby]

Ralf S would be a resonable draw from a PR view point for Audi or Merc but I would question his reasons for doing it and I have not seen any evidence to suggest he would be sucessful or worth the salary he may Impose.

Shame Michael has said no to DTM as I really thought this would be a natural move for him after F1.

[Bramzel]

Lexus in DTM?



On Lexus' teasersite for the Tokyo Motor Show there's an image of a IS race car that looks very much like a DTM car. Would this be an indication for the upcoming season?

The link: http://lexus.jp/brand/event/autosalon2008/

Source: autoblog.nl

[Last2LiftOff]

Ah...Lexus.

Not gonna get my hopes up Bramzel, but they can bring that all day long, twice on Sundays.

[Last2LiftOff]

Race the Lexus IS 350.

Sorry, I couldn't resist, where were we?

[werner]

Hasn't got Lexus' mother Toyota a German ex-F1 driver on their payrol?

[FIRE]

This looks really like a DTM car.

If I remember well Toyota tested an Opel Vectra in Japan a few years ago.

[Last2LiftOff]

Maybe they're not bankrolling an F1 team in two years neither, notice in lieu of severance to Tadashi Yamashina...

Originally Posted by werner

Hasn't got Lexus' mother Toyota a German ex-F1 driver on their payrol?

Yeah but with luck Ralf's not part of the package Werner.

[Alex K]

That's what I'd think of too L2LO. They've got HQ in Marsdorf in Germany, in these times they cannot accomodate F1 and DTM ubnder one roof, but this can change in two years time.

FIRE, can you put more light on Toyota (TOM'S?!) purchasing OPC vehicle, pls?! I heard about it years ago, and didn't know, and still don't know if it is true or not?

[helgi]

Does anybody know official and non-official reasons,why they have stop using Nordschleife?

[JMeissner]

Safety?

[Ellmau]

Track too long, to hard to cover on tv. There can be a loads of reasons for it

[alfan]

No DTM for Lexux - GT2 in ALMS instead
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080108....le-mans-series

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by alfan

No DTM for Lexux - GT2 in ALMS instead
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080108....le-mans-series

I strongly doubt it. That was a project funded by Lexus US and built by an external party, not the Japanese factory. Supposedly it was to run in '06 already, but it never saw the daylight.

[Mr Pink]

Seems a bit strange..
The car in the article (if it´s the one on the pictures) doesn´t look a bit like the "DTM-one".

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by helgi

Does anybody know official and non-official reasons,why they have stop using Nordschleife?

Current cars would not survive a lap...

[duke_toaster]

And it's too dangerous and impossible to cover for TV.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

And it's too dangerous and impossible to cover for TV.

I don't agree. The 24 hours of the Nordschleife has 228 cars on the grid and live TV coverage.

[Ellmau]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I don't agree. The 24 hours of the Nordschleife has 228 cars on the grid and live TV coverage.

I think that's doable, because it's a different kind of event. But for the WTCC organisers to do that, it would be a lot harder.

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by Ellmau

I think that's doable, because it's a different kind of event. But for the WTCC organisers to do that, it would be a lot harder.

I think it would work with a lot of on-board cams, 1-2 helicopters and cameras on spots where they either cover a long stretch of track or where a lot of things happen.

[AxelF]

Lexus: I don't know, how they will enter GT2 with a 4-door-saloon-car??????
I think, there is no chance against a Ferrari or Aston Martin.

They are also no real competitor to them - would be Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Alfa!

Nordschleife: it's all about safety! The cars are too fast for this old track!
TV-coverage would be ok, as it was in the days of old DTM and 24h-race!

Christian

[SALEEN S7R]

So it seems Paffet still isnt certain of a 2008 Mercedes at the minute according to Autosport, now that Hakkinen has left there is a 2008 car available, it would seem however that it is between Margaritis and Paffet. Fingers crossed if there is a shoot out of some sort that Paffet delivers the goods as we all know he is capable of.

[Ellmau]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

So it seems Paffet still isnt certain of a 2008 Mercedes at the minute according to Autosport, now that Hakkinen has left there is a 2008 car available, it would seem however that it is between Margaritis and Paffet. Fingers crossed if there is a shoot out of some sort that Paffet delivers the goods as we all know he is capable of.

Where do you get the name of Margaritis from? I think Di Resta has a much bigger chance of getting the seat. Even bigger than Paffetts chances.

[SALEEN S7R]

Di Resta a better chance than Paffet? Perhaps but I doubt it, Paffet is a proven Champion and would likely be the title favourite if he were to get a 2008 seat. IMO. Di Resta is good yes but he hasnt proven himself to the same extent as Paffet has yet and if things go according to Plan for Paffet Di Resta would only have to wait 1 more season before he gets a new car as Paffet is one of the favourites for the Prodrive F1 bid, which as we all know is effectively the Mercedes B team.