The DTM used to be the most important racing series for “racing cars with a roof”. The ADAC, as the new owner, is trying to bring momentum back into the badly plucked paddock with a few ideas. Next weekend (07.07.-09.07.2023) the racing series will start on the Norisring – a street circuit in Nuremberg.
No, the two DTM races at Zandvoort weren’t David Schumacher’s thing either. The son of ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher retired on the last weekend in June in Zandvoort in the first race on Saturday after a collision after the first lap. On Sunday things didn’t go much better – the 21-year-old finished 15th of 17 drivers who crossed the finish line.
DTM – in the hands of the ADAC since the end of 2022
David Schumacher’s performance could very well symbolize the state of the DTM 2023. The racing series is struggling for acceptance and recognition after almost completely disappearing from the scene in recent years. Gerhard Berger’s company had the DTM, which years ago was still considered the most important series for “Racing cars with a roof” and was considered a ratings hit behind Formula 1 in the 1990s, was put up for sale in October 2022. It was no longer financially worthwhile for the former Formula 1 driver.
It struck the German ADAC, which has been organizing a similar racing event with the GT series for years. Insiders of the scene rated the ADAC commitment as “lifeline” for the DTM, which in its heyday was mainly financed by the car manufacturers involved, such as Audi, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford and Opel (later BMW and Aston Martin joined). The whole thing worked as a kind of “factory championship“, private teams didn’t stand a chance at the time.
| Date | Route |
|---|---|
05/26 – 05/28/2023 | Motorsport Arena Oschersleben |
23.06. – 06/25/2023 | Circuit Zandvoort / NL |
07.07. – 09.07.2023 | noris ring |
04.08. – 06.08.2023 | Nurburgring |
08/18 – 08/20/2023 | Lausitzring |
08.09. – 09/10/2023 | Sachsenring |
09/22 – 09/24/2023 | Red Bull Ring / A |
20.10. – 22.10.2023 | Hockenheimring |
Motorsport in crisis
But motorsports with internal combustion engines have not been selling well in Germany for some time – the car manufacturers gradually lost interest – and stopped financial support. The exits of the manufacturers Mercedes (2018), Audi and BMW (both 2020) plunged the DTM into a deep crisis, but in Berger they found an official who bought and further developed the trademark rights and the company behind it, ITR – and the DTM completely from a prototype series to a series with so-called GT3 vehicles. It was the fourth”birth” of the racing series since its inception in 1984.
From the 2021 DTM season, the touring car championship started with GT3 cars: which opened the way for many private teams and an additional variety of brands – albeit at a significantly lower financial level. With racing cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, BMW, McLaren, Porsche and Audi, the DTM now presents itself in a diverse manner – but it still has trouble being accepted by TV viewers.
ADAC with innovations
With the new owner ADAC, some new paths should therefore be taken. Was recently also driven in Imola and Portimao (in front of mostly empty ranks), the series is now returning mainly to Germany. Six of the eight race weekends take place in Germany, for example in Oschersleben and at the Sachsenring. In addition, the DTM drives in Zandvoort and at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Unlucky: David Schumacher
Two championships practically became one – the DTM continued to exist as a professional racing series. The in-house ADAC GT Masters continues to use the same vehicles as the DTM, but has been downgraded and merged with a prototype series. The rules have been simplified and made more cost-effective for the teams (including a flying start that is less likely to cause accidents), and fuel is used that consists of half renewable shares.
No more “electric” and no more eSports
The “DTM electric“, even if this development platform is still officially advertised as a playing field for the industry. It will not continue to be actively operated. And: There was no longer any talk of eSports when the takeover was taken over. Apparently, the realization has matured that the hype after the contactless Corona time has come to an end.
The loud combustion engines will roar at the Norisring this weekend. And David Schumacher will try to get a slightly better result than last time.