Due to the lengthy negotiations between ADAC and Gerhard Berger about the future, it is currently unclear how the DTM will continue. The teams are still waiting for a calendar and the general conditions for the 2023 season. Even team boss Gottfried Grasser, who actually wanted to continue with four Lamborghini cars in the DTM, is currently unsure.
“We are planning a series in Germany, now we have to put it that way,” says the Austrian in an interview with ‘Motorsport-Total.com’. “And it’s getting more and more difficult, because we need an embodiment for planning security.”
Why is his team’s original DTM plan shaky? “Actually, four cars were planned for the DTM. But now we’re on the subject: How many cars per manufacturer are allowed to be used? Are only two allowed per team? You hear so much that I don’t even dare say a number name,” he explains.
“I can’t conclude anything for four cars because that might not be feasible at all. And so much is unclear,” the Austrian describes his situation.
Complete lack of clarity due to the lack of a commercial agreement
The driver interest in the DTM for 2023 is still great. “But every conversation ends with: ‘Let’s see where we drive. We don’t know what the entry fee will be, what the tire will cost. What about e-fuels? How much does it cost? You also hang out with them Riders in the air. It’s very difficult for teams to go in one direction right now.”
In fact, the DTM umbrella organization ITR was considering introducing a limit of six vehicles per manufacturer and a rule that two vehicles must share a pit stop facility. However, nobody knows whether these plans would still play a role in a possible series takeover by the ADAC.
In addition, because of the missing calendar, there is a lack of clarity as to possible overlaps with other series. According to the ITR, the final dates should finally be announced at the beginning of December. The question is whether the “Commercial Agreement” – i.e. the contract between teams and series – will then also be followed, in which the framework conditions for the 2023 season are set.
Grasser team plans to compete in the IMSA series
“Everything is in limbo at the moment because everything depends on the calendar,” explains Grasser. “That’s why the IMSA has become more and more topical for us, because as a team I can’t twiddle my thumbs from October 4th to December 4th. And hope that the right thing will fall into my lap. You need to be able to plan – and that’s in not available at the moment.”
In addition to the plan to complete either the long-distance races or even the entire IMSA long-distance series in the USA with a Lamborghini in the GTD class, Grasser is observing current events in Germany relating to the DTM and ADAC GT Masters.
Even a comeback in the ADAC series, in which you competed from 2011 to 2021, is conceivable. “Theoretically it could even be that we do two cars in the ADAC GT Masters and two in the DTM,” explains the team boss and ex-racing driver. “Everything is possible at the moment. Maybe we’ll only do two cars in Germany at all.”
“Maybe we’ll only do two cars at all”
A double program in the two racing series depends on possible joint racing weekends and, above all, on overlaps. “I admire people like Torsten Schubert, who managed to do both this year. Because on some weekends you have to use four cars in different series – or in our case it would be six,” he explains the problem.
“Where do you get the staff and the capacities? That’s impossible. But if you have a calendar without overlaps, then that would be an option.” Due to the current lack of clarity regarding the calendar, it is still uncertain whether top driver Mirko Bortolotti can stay with the team – and possibly in the DTM.
“You can’t say anything because a lot depends on the LMDh program for him,” explains Grasser. “He certainly has a very intensive program. He also drives one or the other series. If there were any collisions with the DTM, then he would be out, which would be very painful.”