The 2017 DTM season preview: It’s showtime!

The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is back this weekend, with its home track of Hockenheim hosting the season opener, important changes have been made during the winter that should prove an exciting season.

One of the most important stories from the off-season was Gerhard Berger taking over from Hans Werner Aufrecht as chairman of ITR, the series promoter. The Austrian is joined by Florian Zitzlsperger as vice chairman, with the pair focussing on bringing fan enjoyment back to the DTM, as well as creating an attractive championship for the manufacturers.

The series has presented new technical and sporting regulations, aimed at bringing the focus back to driver dexterity and increasing race excitement. On the technical side, cars now have an increased power output over 500bhp, revised aerodynamics and DRS use and new controlled common parts. Both ITR and the teams have been working in the new regulations and cars for over a year, with a new homologation cycle starting for Audi, BMW and Mercedes on 1st of March.

The main new component, and the biggest question mark, is the slick tyre compound developed by Hankook. More grip is available in its optimal use window, but accelerated degradation ensues after that. Drivers are already predicting possibly of two or more tyre changes during the races which, together with the reduction of mechanics allowed to take part in the manoeuvre, and the elimination of the pit window, promises to add a key and exciting strategic element to the races.

The new technical package has already shown its results in pre-season testing: the 2017 cars are two seconds faster than last year’s, with BMW’s Timo Glock having clocked 1:30.201 in the collective tests back in April, improving from the fastest lap of 1:32.344 set at the season finale six months ago.

There are also important changes in the sporting regulations, with race duration being revised. The events in the 2017 season will have two 55-minute plus one lap races, increasing total track time by 10 minutes during the weekend. The DRS use has also been limited to 12 laps, with three activations per lap. The last move by the ITR board is to reward qualifying results with points to the top three classified in each session.

The grid has been reduced to 18 cars, with the manufacturers downsizing two cars each. BMW Motorsport heads to the new season as the only manufacturer to present an unchanged driver line up, including reigning champion Marco Wittmann alongside Timo Glock, Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin, Tom Blomqvist and Bruno Spengler.

Audi Sport has renewed their line up for the first time in three years, welcoming series debutant Loic Duval and René Rast, who is promoted to a full-time seat. Mattias Ekström, Nico Müller, Jamie Green and Mike Rockenfeller complete a solid formation for Audi.

Mercedes AMG has done the biggest shake up, welcoming former Audi driver Edoardo Mortara in the main driver move of the winter, as well as series returnee Maro Engel. The Stuttgart-base squad possibly presents the strongest line up, with championship fighters Robert Wickens and Paul Di Resta, experienced Gary Paffett and promising Lucas Auer.

The DTM weekend will be complemented with the third round of the World Rallycross Championship, with Audi’s and reigning champion Mattias Ekström again doubling up his programme for the weekend.

Timetable

Friday 5th of May
– 17:00 – 17:30: Free Practice 1.

Saturday 6th of May
– 9:55 – 10:25: Free Practice 2.
– 11:35 – 11:55: Qualifying for Race 1.
– 14:48: Race 1 (55 minutes plus one lap).

Sunday 7th of May
– 10:00 – 10:30: Free Practice 3.
– 12:20 – 12:40: Qualifying for Race 2.
– 15:18: Race 2 (55 minutes plus one lap).