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 Germany Manuel Reuter
Joest Racing Opel Calibra
Germany Bernd Schneider
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Italy Alessandro Nannini
Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155
1995 (ITC) Germany Bernd Schneider
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Denmark Jan Magnussen
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class
United Kingdom Dario Franchitti
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class
1995 (DTM) Germany Bernd Schneider
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Germany Jörg van Ommen
Zakspeed Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Germany Klaus Ludwig
Team Rosberg Opel Calibra
1994 Germany Klaus Ludwig
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Germany Jörg van Ommen
Zakspeed Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Italy Nicola Larini
Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155
1993 Italy Nicola Larini
Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 155
Germany Roland Asch
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E
Germany Bernd Schneider
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E
1992 Germany Klaus Ludwig
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E
Denmark Kurt Thiim
Zakspeed Mercedes-Benz 190E
Germany Bernd Schneider
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E
1991 Germany Frank Biela
AZR Audi V8
Germany Klaus Ludwig
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E
Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
SMS Competition Audi V8
1990 Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck
SMS Competition Audi V8
Venezuela (1930-2006) Johnny Cecotto
Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3
Denmark Kurt Thiim
AMG Racing Mercedes-Benz 190E
1989 Italy Roberto Ravaglia
Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3
Germany Klaus Niedzwiedz
Eggenberger Ford Sierra RS500
France Fabien Giroix
Schnitzer Motorsport BMW M3
1988 Germany Klaus Ludwig
Grab Racing Ford Sierra RS500
Germany Roland Asch
BMK Mercedes-Benz 190E
Germany Armin Hahne
Wolf Concept Ford Sierra RS500
1987 Belgium Eric van de Poele
Zakspeed BMW M3
Germany Manuel Reuter
Ringshausen Ford Sierra RS500
Germany Marc Hessel
Zakspeed BMW M3
1986 Denmark Kurt Thiim
Nickel Racing Rover Vitesse
Germany Volker Weidler
RSM Marko Mercedes-Benz 190E
Germany Kurt König
Maass BMW M3
1985 Sweden Per Stureson
IPS Volvo 240 Turbo
Germany Olaf Manthey
Nickel Racing Rover Vitesse
Germany Harald Grohs
Obermaier BMW 635CSi
1984 Germany Volker Strycek
Gubin Sport BMW 635CSi
Germany Olaf Manthey
Nickel Racing Rover Vitesse
Germany 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.

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