Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
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The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (German Touring Car Championship, or DTM) was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide.
The original DTM had resumed racing with production based cars, as the former Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft had switched to Group 5 in the mid 1970s and even to expensive Group C sportscars in the 1980s, leading to its decline. Since 2000, a new DTM has been run as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, again organized by ITR.
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[edit] History
[edit] Rise of the original DTM
The original DTM was started in 1984 with cars entered by privateer teams and under FIA Group A rules, but was extensively modified throughout the years, allowing more modifications. IIn the late 1980s, works teams joined the DTM, and it became one of the most pouplar motorsports in Europe. In 1993, the Group A rules were abandoned in favor of a more liberalized 2.5 L engine series called FIA Class 1, with extensive use of electronics, ABS, four-wheel drive and carbon fibre chassis. Opel, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo all fielded works teams after Audi and BMW had abandoned earlier.
[edit] DTM to ITC and demise
Having expanded its horizons for the 1995 season to include several non-German rounds dotted around Europe (including rounds in Helsinki, Finland and Donington Park, England), the DTM made plans to morph into a completely international championship known as the ITC (International Touring-Car Championship) for 1996. The ITR governing body then sought approval and support from the FIA to begin the new series. In exchange for FIA support, the ITR let the organization take control over many aspects of the way the ITC was run: crucially, the financial side of the championship was revolutionized. 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 exasperated by the travel costs to the new international rounds in Suzuka, Japan and Interlagos, 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 except Italy, 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 at Magny-Cours, France and 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, and neither Opels nor Alfa Romeos are sold in Japan). Opel and Alfa Romeo both left the championship after the 1996 season, leaving only Mercedes; the championship was consequently cancelled.
[edit] The new DTM
The DTM returned in the year 2000 with different rules and without Championship status. The DTM initials now stand for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (German Touring Car Masters).
[edit] DTM champions 1984-1996
Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Manuel Reuter Joest Racing Opel Calibra |
Bernd Schneider AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Alessandro Nannini Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 |
1995 (ITC) | Bernd Schneider AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Jan Magnussen AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Dario Franchitti AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
1995 (DTM) | Bernd Schneider AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Jörg van Ommen Zakspeed Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Klaus Ludwig Team Rosberg Opel Calibra |
1994 | Klaus Ludwig AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Jörg van Ommen Zakspeed Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Nicola Larini Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 |
1993 | Nicola Larini Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155 |
Roland Asch AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E |
Bernd Schneider AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E |
1992 | Klaus Ludwig AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E |
Kurt Thiim Zakspeed Mercedes-Benz 190E |
Bernd Schneider AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E |
1991 | Frank Biela AZR Audi V8 |
Klaus Ludwig AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E |
Hans-Joachim Stuck SMS Competition Audi V8 |
1990 | Hans-Joachim Stuck SMS Competition Audi V8 |
Johnny Cecotto Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3 |
Kurt Thiim AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E |
1989 | Roberto Ravaglia Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3 |
Klaus Niedzwiedz Eggenberger Ford Sierra RS500 |
Fabien Giroix Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3 |
1988 | Klaus Ludwig Grab Racing Ford Sierra RS500 |
Roland Asch BMK Mercedes-Benz 190E |
Armin Hahne Wolf Concept Ford Sierra RS500 |
1987 | Eric van de Poele Zakspeed BMW M3 |
Manuel Reuter Ringshausen Ford Sierra RS500 |
Marc Hessel Zakspeed BMW M3 |
1986 | Kurt Thiim Nickel Racing Rover Vitesse |
Volker Weidler RSM Marko Mercedes-Benz 190E |
Kurt König Maass BMW M3 |
1985 | Per Stureson IPS Volvo 240 Turbo |
Olaf Manthey Nickel Racing Rover Vitesse |
Harald Grohs Obermaier BMW 635CSi |
1984 | Volker Strycek Gubin Sport BMW 635CSi |
Olaf Manthey Nickel Racing Rover Vitesse |
Harald Grohs Vogelsang BMW 635CSi |
- In 1995 there was two different series with same drivers and teams competing. DTM consisted seven German (2x Hockenheim, Avus, Norisring, Diepholz, Nürburgring and Singen) events and ITC five non-German (Mugello, Helsinki, Donington, Estoril, Magny-Cours) events.