PC Valkyrie

In the last few years, I've become more and more interested in the German Touring Car Series (DTM). As many of you know, it is sort of like the American NASCAR series in that the race cars are "based" very loosely on stock production cars.

There are very strict rules about engine design, brakes, gearbox, etc, which makes the competition very close (unlike Forumula 1). And cars do sometimes "touch", again like NASCAR. Many ex-F1 drivers have participated, like Jean Alesi and Mika Hakkinen.

In 2005, there were 3 manufacturers that particpated: Mercedes Benz, Audi, and Opel.

In 2006, Opel pulled out which left only Mercedes Benz and Audi providing cars. The cars are based loosely on the C-class and A4. And they look great, IMO.

The only thing missing is BMW. Why not have a 3 series race car compete in the DTM? Why not duke it out on the racatrack with your competitors?

This picture from the 2005 DTM season is my favourite:

PC Valkyrie

And here is an excerpt from the DTM website about the car requirements from their 2006 season.

Philosopy:The DTM aims to deliver spectacular, but at the same time cost-conscious touring car sport. Numerous components such as the gearbox, prop-shaft, engine electronics, rear wing and carbon-fibre brakes are identical and stipulated by the regulations to be used by all manufacturers. A DTM engine must last an entire race season.

Cars: A DTM car is a no-compromise touring car with the silhouette of a four-door production car designed specifically for motorsport and is constructed around a steel space frame. The bodywork is manufactured from composite plastic. The steel roof originates from the production line. Rear wheel drive is mandatory, and electronic driver aids such as ABS or traction control are forbidden.

Engines: Only V8 engines with a cylinder bank angle of 90 degrees and a maximum displacement of four litres and a maximum of four valves per cylinder are permitted in the DTM. The induction system must be fitted with two air restrictors each of a maximum 28 mm diameter.

Gearbox: Only two different gearbox-differential units, supplied by either X-trac or Hewland, are authorised in the DTM.

Tyres: The tyres are supplied exclusively by Dunlop. There is one slick and one rain tyre version.

Brakes: The carbon fibre brakes discs, brake pads and calipers are also supplied by a single manufacturer to all teams.

Aerodynamics: The aerodynamic configuration for all cars of a single manufacturer must be determined no later than eight days before the start of the season and may not be changed during the season.

Weight: According to the decision of the DTM commission, the new 2006-spec cars must have a minimum weight of 1,070 kilogram the 2005-spec cars must weigh 1,060 kilogram, while the 2004-spec cars’ minimum weight was reduced to 1,020 kilogram.

Electronic: All cars work with a common control unit supplied by Bosch. Data transmission (telemetry) is forbidden when the vehicle is in motion.

Saftey: The driver is surrounded by a carbon-fibre safety cell in the cockpit. Furthermore, every car is fitted with crash structures in the area of the front and rear bodywork sections.

RICHBOY

That's a good question!

Just_me

I think they once said they wanted to focus on other motorsports instead. Simpel answer

vabboud

are those the exhausts sticking from the window? i neevr noticed that before, although i have seen a good deal of DTM cars

NarutoRamen

Thats a good question. I'm not familiar with DTM all that much so I hope someone can answer that question.

PC Valkyrie

What other motorsports is BMW officially involved in other than F1? And I'm not talking about independent race teams using a modified M3 to race. I'm talking about the BMW factory teams.

Just_me

Motorsports isnt my thing. I pass the question to someone else. However I know they compete in something called STCC/BTCC.

Imhotep Evil

WTCC is more cost effective and it's a FIA World Championship sloted bellow only Formula 1 and the WRC.

So why don't MB and Audi participate in the WTCC ?!

Habitual Speeder

That's not an exhaust...the exhaust is lower. I'm pretty sure that's where the fuel goes in.