The German Touring Car Championship is back!

This year there will be GT3 cars, more manufacturers than ever and a high-class field of drivers with F1 experience and hopeful youngsters. Fans will be excited to see Red Bull’s return to the series, which not only brings two young heroes with it Alex Albon and Liam Lawson, but for the first time also the legendary prancing horse from Ferrari and two female drivers.

Back in business: Red Bull

After a short break, Red Bull is back in the DTM: a long-time regular Mattias Ekström As a driver of Abt-Audi celebrated 23 race wins and two titles (2004, 2007). Marco Wittmann brought Red Bull a third championship (2016) in a BMW M4. Other winners in Red Bull colors were Martin Tomczyk (Abbot Audi) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Schnitzer BMW).

Red Bull is re-entering the DTM as a partner of the Piacenza-based team AF Corse of the owner and managing director Amato Ferrari (with no relationship to Enzo Ferrari and his family). The team achieved a number of victories and titles in the World Endurance Championship (including the Le Mans 24 Hours), the former GT1 World Championship and several GT3 series. The car used is the stunning 488 GT3 Evo, which was first unveiled in 2016 and to date has achieved 355 race wins and 91 championships.

Alex Albon in the breathtaking Ferrari 488 GT3 in AlphaTauri colors

© Julian Kroehl / Red Bull Content Pool

“This challenge was started by Gerhard Berger, it was his idea. It didn’t take us long to come to an agreement with Red Bull. We are looking forward to entering the DTM with a lot of enthusiasm. Our goal is very clear: to win, ”says Amato.

Liam Lawson, New Zealand’s rising star in Formula 2, will drive the Ferrari Red Bull Racing colors during the season, while Alex Albon and Nick Cassidy share a 488 GT3 in the distinctive colors of Red Bull’s own premium fashion brand, AlphaTauri. Red Bull’s F1 reserve and test driver Albon will compete in Monza despite his F1 commitments that will come together after the date change for the French Grand Prix. “Jüri Vips will be working on the simulator during the French GP weekend, ”explains Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsports Advisor and Head of Driver Development. “Alex will be ready. If something should happen to one of our drivers, he will be flown to Le Castellet immediately to replace him. “

Lawson won the 2019 Toyota Racing Series in his native New Zealand. “GT racing is very new to me,” says the driver, who is currently eighth in Formula 2, “but I’m really excited about this opportunity to prove myself in a high-class series and with experienced drivers like Alex to compete. “The Toyota series turned out to be an excellent development championship for young hopefuls: the previous winners include Mitch Evans (now Jaguar Racing’s Formula E championship contender), Nick Cassidy (Japanese super formula champion now in FE and DTM), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin’s F1 driver) and Robert Shwartzman (now Lawson’s opponent in F2).

Albon, who was born in London and has British and Thai citizenship and a Thai racing license, says: “The DTM is an outstanding series with many talented drivers and exciting races. These cars are completely different from the single-seaters I used to drive. The last time I drove tin-tops was in 2015 when I was nominated for the Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award. We have a lot less downforce and have to keep up with tire management, which requires a different driving style. It will take time to adjust, but I’m looking forward to this challenge. “

Liam Lawson’s DTM car is a Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo in Red Bull colors

© Julian Kroehl / Red Bull Content Pool

The original DTM replaced the German Racing Championship from 1984 to 1996 (including the final stage as ITC) and was reinvented in 2000 as the German Touring Car Championship (but still widely known as the “DTM”). It was conceived as a manufacturer series and included Audi, Opel (until 2005), BMW (from 2012) and Mercedes-Benz (until 2018). In 2019, Aston Martin Vantages were driven by R Motorsport (St. Gallen / Switzerland) under license from the manufacturer. However, Audi and BMW announced that they will be leaving the DTM at the end of 2020. This also meant the end of the short-lived Class 1 vehicles (two-liter, four-cylinder turbo, 650 hp, front-engine, rear-wheel drive), which were designed in 2014, but only introduced in 2019.

Thanks to the vision of DTM boss Gerhard Berger, the DTM is now being revived on the basis of GT3 regulations that are more affordable for private teams. “Now that the sport has arrived, everything is different from the long months of preparation and the hard job of building the series. What I’m particularly happy about is the fact that we were able to hold an extraordinary team together, ”explains the Austrian. And he doesn’t try to hide his satisfaction: “We got the best drivers and the best teams with the support of six manufacturers. The new regulations based on GT3 vehicles were the only sensible solution to keep the DTM alive. “

DTM is headed by ex-F1 star Gerhard Berger (center)

© Philipp Carl Riedl / Red Bull Content Pool

The biggest difference to class 1 cars is that GT3 vehicles are based on production sports cars and are easily recognizable for fans. GT3 cars are heavier than class 1 (weighing 1,300 pounds versus 1,000). In GT3, drivers can rely on traction control, ABS and steel brakes (in Class 1, on the other hand, on carbon brakes). Another difference is the much lower downforce of GT3 vehicles, which demands more skill from the drivers. With around 550 hp, the cars are now around 100 hp below class 1. Philipp Eng, a former DTM race winner and one of the most experienced GT3 drivers, estimates the lap times in Hockenheim to be a little slower than in class 1 because there are no GT3 vehicles have the carbon fiber monocoque typical of class 1 cars.

The rules: what stays the same and what is new?

The traditional standing start is being replaced by an Indy-style rolling start. The race lasts 55 minutes plus one lap and includes a mandatory pit stop to change tires, with only six mechanics allowed to work on two wheel cannons. For the first weekend in Monza, however, the race time will be reduced to 50 minutes due to the high-speed configuration of the track and the higher fuel consumption. In order to balance the field in terms of performance, a Balance of Performance (Bop) or handicap system – including additional weight for the three podium places in the race beforehand (25, 18 and 15 kilos – just like with the point system).

The drivers: a great mix of talents

The ’21 class has a lot to offer: two drivers with Formula 1 racing experience (Albon, Timo Glock), three former DTM champions (Gary Paffett, Mike Rockenfeller, Wittmann) and eleven nationalities. There are two drivers: F3 graduate Sophia Flörsch (20) from Munich, who starts an Abt-Audi, and Esmee Hawkey (23) from Great Britain, who won the Pro-Am category in the British Porsche Carrera Cup last year and before drove in the first W series. However, due to obligations in ABB Formula E, Paffett will not take part in the first two events.

Red Bull, Ferrari and AlphaTauri are ready for DTM action

© Julian Kroehl / Red Bull Content Pool

Twelve teams will field cars from six manufacturers: Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren (selected races) and Mercedes.

The tracks: eight in five countries

• 18.-20. June: Monza, Italy – host of the DTM for the first time and thus the 40th race track in the series.

• 23-25 July: Lausitzring, Germany

• 6-8 August: Zolder, Belgium

• 20.-22. August: Nürburgring, Germany

• 3rd-5th September: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria

• 17th-19th September: Assen, Netherlands

• 1-3 October: Hockenheim, Germany

• Postponed: Norisring Nuremberg, Germany

The new DTM offers a broad supporting program. DTM trophy is a junior series for young drivers who want to advance. DTM electrics future-oriented touring car sport is shown. DTM classic shows former cars from glorious times. And gaming fans will be entertained by DTM sport. “Like the entire industry, racing is in a transition phase. That is why we implement diversity with an offer for a responsible and innovative future, ”adds Gerhard Berger.