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The German Touring Car Championship is in danger of disaster: Audi surprisingly announces its retirement. After saying goodbye to Mercedes and Aston Martin, the DTM currently remains a single manufacturer. And BMW announces that it wants to “reevaluate the situation.”
For years, the DTM looked worriedly into the abyss, but was always able to avoid a fall, but the crown crisis now seems to be a decisive shock to the racing series: Audi will also leave in late 2020, the next manufacturer will leave the boat. , only BMW remains. And the DTM, at least in its current form, is on the brink.
“Today is a difficult day for motorsports in Germany and Europe,” said DTM chief Gerhard Berger. The Austrian said that Audi’s decision should be respected, but criticized the short-term nature: “Here, especially at the time of the Crown, we would have liked to act in the spirit of our common society.” The situation now “has worsened further, and the future of the DTM will largely depend on how partners and sponsors react to this decision,” Berger said.
The DTM and its predecessor, the German Touring Car Championship, have been around intermittently since the 1980s, considered by many to be the centerpiece of German motorsports and also enjoyed international popularity. Audi has been a crucial part of this series, especially since the restart in 2000. Last season was the most successful in its DTM history for Ingolstadt, Rene Rast won the drivers’ title and Audi was also at the forefront of the classification of manufacturers and equipment.
Electric racing instead of DTM
A few months later, the exit is now safe. The company said it had “decided in the context of the economic challenges resulting from the crown pandemic.” The future of motorsport lies in the Formula E electric series.
For the DTM, this is the next violent hit in just a year and a half. The record champion Mercedes had already said goodbye at the end of 2018. Berger, a long-time driver, official and partner in Formula 1, fought for the future with the help of his contacts, but it was and is a difficult fight, the successes they are modest. In early 2019, British automaker Aston Martin started out as a beacon of hope, but said goodbye last January after just a year.
In Formula E, Audi has won a driver’s title and a team championship.
(Photo: imago images / Agencia EFE)
Berger also revived old contacts with Asia, gave hope for future cooperation with Honda, Toyota and Nissan, which start in the very similar Super GT. Now that only BMW is left of the DTM, these plans also seem fragile. The Bavarian manufacturer was also surprised by the withdrawal of Audi: “Together with the umbrella organization ITR, we have always passionately fought for the future and further development of the DTM. Now we will assess the situation and the possible consequences from all angles.”
If the DTM is to survive, creative solutions are required. However, the competition between German premium manufacturers is just motorsport history at the end of the year.
