Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
TheDeutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft(DTM) was atouring car racingseries held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based inGermany,it held additional rounds elsewhere inEuropeand later worldwide.
| Category | Touring cars |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Inaugural season | 1984 |
| Folded | 1996 |
| Constructors | Mercedes-Benz Audi Opel Alfa Romeo BMW |
| Tyre suppliers | Michelin,Dunlop,Bridgestone |
| Last Drivers' champion |  Manuel Reuter |
| Last Teams' champion | Opel |
| Official website | www |
The original DTM had resumed racing with production based cars, as the formerDeutsche Rennsport Meisterschafthad switched toGroup 5in 1977 and even to expensiveGroup Csportscars in 1982, leading to its decline. Since 2000, a new DTM has been run as theDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters,again organised by ITR and former Formula 1 driverGerhard Berger.
History
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Rise of the original DTM
editThe original DTM was started in 1984 asDeutschen Produktionswagen Meisterschaft(German Production Car Championship), with cars entered by privateer teams and underFIAGroup Arules, but was extensively modified throughout the years, allowing more modifications. In the late 1980s, works teams joined the DTM, and it became one of the most popularmotorsportchampionships in Europe.
Turbochargers were banned at the start of 1990 season due to cost reasons.
In 1993, the Group A rules were abandoned in favor of a more liberalised 2.5 L engine category called FIAClass 1 Touring Cars,with extensive use ofABS,four-wheel drive,electronic driver aids andcarbon fibrechassis, the former three were technologies that were banned fromF1.Opel,Mercedes-BenzandAlfa Romeoall fielded works teams afterAudiandBMWhad abandoned earlier.
DTM to ITC and demise
editThe DTM expanded its horizons for the 1995 season and the teams contested the inaugural FIA International Touring Car Series[1]as well as the traditional DTM.[2]The former was contested over ten races, all held outside of Germany and the latter over fourteen races within Germany. Plans were then made to combine the two into one new series, the International Touring Car Championship, for 1996. The ITR governing body then sought approval and support from theFIAto begin the new series. In exchange for FIA support, the ITR let the organisation take control over many aspects of the way the ITC was run: crucially, the financial side of the championship was revolutionised. A large proportion of the revenue generated by the championship went to the FIA, with the result that less went to the teams who subsequently complained of little return on their increasingly large investment in the high-tech series (this was further exacerbated by the travel costs to the new international rounds inSuzuka,JapanandInterlagos,Brazil). The FIA also increased the price for television rights dramatically with the result that television coverage of the series disappeared from all European countries exceptItaly,Germany and Finland, prices for tickets to races were almost doubled, and access to the circuit paddock to meet the drivers (which had previously been a big hit with fans) was drastically reduced. The choices of circuits on which to hold rounds of the championship were also unsuccessful – the rounds atMagny-Cours,Franceand particularly Interlagos suffered very poor attendance. Questions were also raised by the manufacturers as to why they were racing in countries in which their cars were not actually sold (Alfa Romeos were not sold in Brazil).[citation needed]OpelandAlfa Romeoboth left the championship after the 1996 season, leaving only Mercedes; the championship was consequently cancelled.
The new DTM
editThe DTM returned in 2000 with different rules and with semi-International Championship status. The DTM initials stands forDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters.
Champions
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- In 1995 there were two different series with same drivers and teams competing. DTM consisted of seven German (2xHockenheim,Avus,Norisring,Diepholz,Nürburgringand Singen) events andITCfive non-German (Mugello,Helsinki,Donington,Estoril,Magny-Cours) events.
See also
editExternal links
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References
edit- ^1995 ITC schedule and standingsRetrieved from motorsport-archive on 17 November 2009
- ^1995 DTM schedule and standingsRetrieved from motorsport-archive on 17 November 2009
- ^motorsport-archiveRetrieved on 17 November 2009
- ^FIA results for the 1995 International Touring Car SeriesRetrieved from web.archive.org on 16 November 2009