[DTM] 2015 DTM news & rumours

[werner]

According to the English commentators of the DTM-race on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-_iWcL5Gww, next year there are no more option tyres.

IMO let them have the soft ones, that would at leat for some interesting strategy/car set-up; will the tyres hold?

[Hawkwood]

Autosport reporting that Wittmann is getting an F1 test with Toro Rosso as a reward for winning the 2014 title.

I wonder why they've decided to reward him?
Could he be about to become a Red Bull driver?
Is he looking at a possible F1 future?
Is he simply a friend with a Toro Rosso boss?

[iceman-1987]

accordint to touringcartimes option tyres shold be eliminated. imho its a good idea.

honestly i also would like to see two races of 90/100 km each one rather than one only race of 190 km!! in this way there would be more show and the fight for the championship could be more interesting.

[DS"]

Originally Posted by iceman-1987

honestly i also would like to see two races of 90/100 km each one rather than one only race of 190 km!! in this way there would be more show and the fight for the championship could be more interesting.

According to Motorsport-Magazin.com, that very idea is being considered for 2015. But of course, the costs play a role in this decision. I also agree with Werner's opinion that the soft tire should have been kept, rather than the hard compound. But I guess that harder compounds are more cost-effective for the motorsport directors.

One would think that a series with three premium manufacturers behind it wouldn't have to worry about costs, yet I constantly hear about costs. Now I understand that the failure of the ITC is some sort of trauma for the series and it's a good thing that they learned from it. However: If manufacturers don't want to spend more money to do more races, let alone promote the series, I wonder why they bothered to do DTM in the first place. For the money they spend in DTM, they could have easily done WTCC or some other touring car series. But maybe I should stop complaining and wait for concrete news for 2015. The DTM Drivers Association has formed during the 2014 season and I hope that they'll offer some great input in the process.

Quoted from the 2014 thread:

Originally Posted by JoestForEver

From this season, I really believe the Audi camp should drop Molina and Tambay for better young talents. Poor performance from such a competitive car all the season.

I agree on Tambay, but I'm not sure about Molina. That guy's got some potential, but he needs way more consistency. Then again, he's a series regular since 2010 so maybe it's time to send him somewhere else, like GTs. In any case, I'd finally like to see Johan Kristofferson in the series. That guy has talent, he's fast, yet he's not your 1000th generic open-wheel driver. It'd also be nice if Audi promoted some guy from GTs like our "evergreen" Rene Rast (Evergreen, because he's been rumoured for a DTM drive since like 2008/09).

[Rf1 Fan]

According to Motosport Total we may see Ocon or Rosenqvist at Mercedes next year.

In case of Petrov departure or 8th car.

[Hawkwood]

I hope Ocon isn't wasted by putting him in DTM.
Merhi had two years wasted, I wouldn't like the same to happen to Ocon.

[Andrew Abbott]

Gary Paffett has also hinted at some possible changes to the race format for 2015 as well.

http://www.touringcars.net/2014/10/g...ly-really-hard

[TimRTC]

Ocon to Merc seems very plausible given that Lotus F1 will be running Mercedes engines next year and I doubt the F1 team can afford to lose either of their well sponsored drivers at present to offer him a seat.

Any change to the race format will be welcome given how dull this season has been.

[Bramzel]

The Lotus Merc switch also means the end of their Total backing, and with that I read Grosjeans seat is in danger.

[DS"]

No chinese race in 2015: http://www.motorsport-magazin.com/dt...nnen-in-china/

I can actually understand the argument of HWA, saying that it's more cost effective to let SuperGT run in Asia, since they'll have the same regulations as DTM from 2017 on. On the other hand, the DTM would still like to race there in 2015 and 2016, in order to advertise the German manufacturers there. Still, if it's too expensive to run in Asia, DTM shouldn't do that and instead put their complete focus on Europe. Europe's touring car scene is yet in shambles, but a series like the TC3 series may very well pick up the pieces. So DTM should put more effort on Europe, in order to really become Europe's #2 behind F1.

[FIRE]

WEC, WTCC and F3 (Macau) can race in China but DTM can't afford it? Is it not more the case the Chinese don't care about motorsport?

Personally I would say keep DTM in Europe. Six races in Germany, six races in rest of Europe.

[Mies7337]

Indeed, DTM is a German championship, it doesn't need to go to china, that's up to world championships. More than the current 12 races would be very welcome, 15 or 16 races would be fantastic. 8 or 9 within Germany, the rest in Western Europe.
Zandvoort INCLUDED!!!!!!!!! This year's race was amazing!

[FIRE]

Currently there are only 10 events.

[Metzo]

ITR want a race in China as its a important market for Audi, BMW & Mercedes.

i don't think the costs to go to china are the problem, even wtcc can afford going there. the only problem is HWA's dream of having a streetrace in China, which doesn't make sense as China has a lot permanent tracks today.

[Mies7337]

Originally Posted by FIRE

Currently there are only 10 events.

Somehow I wrote 12, don't know why.
I know it's 10.

The thing is that there's only one permanent track in Germany that's not used by DTM: Sachsenring. But more German street circuits would be a good idea.

[JoestForEver]

Street race in China never really worked. Remember the A1GP in Beijing? Or the flying well cap in Shanghai several years ago? I believe HWA boss never learn from the pass.
Zhuhai International Circuit or Shanghai would be a fantastic venue for DTM, the cars are fast enough to run on a Grade 1 circuit, at least better than WTCC

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Metzo

ITR want a race in China as its a important market for Audi, BMW & Mercedes.

Just make an exhibition event together with Super GT after the series is over in Europe.

[werner]

Originally Posted by Mies7337

The thing is that there's only one permanent track in Germany that's not used by DTM: Sachsenring..

*Cough* Nordschleife *Cough*

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by werner

*Cough* Nordschleife *Cough*

Which is part of the Nürburgring which is used though in a different configuration

[DS"]

Originally Posted by Mies7337

The thing is that there's only one permanent track in Germany that's not used by DTM: Sachsenring. But more German street circuits would be a good idea.

The Sachsenring only has a limited amount of racedays available, which are already used by MotoGP and the ADAC Masters Weekend. HWA has said in the past that if one raceday becomes available, the DTM would be there in a heartbeat.

More and more rumours arise about DTM doing two races per weekend in 2015: http://www.motorsport-magazin.com/dt...de-begeistert/

I'd definitely be in favour of that and I hope that the manufacturers can find some 10€ bills somewhere to make it work .

[FIRE]

I would like that too.

[Go_For_Pole]

So if Audi is leaving DTM for F1 as written today we are in for a crisis, aren't we?

[DS"]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

So if Audi is leaving DTM for F1 as written today we are in for a crisis, aren't we?

They won't leave. While DTM hasn't got the standing it had a couple of years ago, the DTM still gives Audi some presence in their home market. I honestly doubt that they're willing to give up that presence, in order to burn plenty of money in F1.

[Andrew Abbott]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

So if Audi is leaving DTM for F1 as written today we are in for a crisis, aren't we?

Utter nonsense.

https://www.facebook.com/AudiSport/p...04457499638895

[DS"]

Originally Posted by AndySpeed

Utter nonsense.

https://www.facebook.com/AudiSport/p...04457499638895

Case closed, I'd say.