Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft

The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (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.

Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft
CategoryTouring cars
CountryGermany
Inaugural season1984
Folded1996
ConstructorsMercedes-Benz
Audi
Opel
Alfa Romeo
BMW
Tyre suppliersMichelin, Dunlop, Bridgestone
Last Drivers' championGermany Manuel Reuter
Last Teams' championGermany Opel
Official websitewww.dtm.de

The original DTM had resumed racing with production based cars, as the former Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft had switched to Group 5 in 1977 and even to expensive Group C sportscars in 1982, leading to its decline. Since 2000, a new DTM has been run as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, again organised by ITR and former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger.

History

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The Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI DTM of 1993 champion Nicola Larini. The 155 holds the all-time record of 38 victories in DTM.

Rise of the original DTM

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The original DTM was started in 1984 as Deutschen Produktionswagen Meisterschaft (German Production Car Championship), with cars entered by privateer teams and under FIA Group A rules, 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 popular motorsport championships 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 FIA Class 1 Touring Cars, with extensive use of ABS, four-wheel drive, electronic driver aids and carbon fibre chassis, the former three were technologies that were banned from F1. Opel, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo all fielded works teams after Audi and BMW had abandoned earlier.

DTM to ITC and demise

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The 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 the FIA to 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 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).[citation needed] Opel and Alfa Romeo both left the championship after the 1996 season, leaving only Mercedes; the championship was consequently cancelled.

The new DTM

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The DTM returned in 2000 with different rules and with semi-International Championship status. The DTM initials stands for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.

Champions

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Klaus Ludwig won the 1992 drivers' title with a Mercedes-Benz 190E
Season Series Name Champion
/ Car
Second Third Manufacturers Champion [3]
1984 Deutschen
Produktionswagen
Meisterschaft
  Volker Strycek
(BMW 635CSi)
  Olaf Manthey   Harald Grohs not awarded
1985 Deutschen
Produktionswagen
Meisterschaft
  Per Stureson
(Volvo 240 Turbo)
  Olaf Manthey   Harald Grohs not awarded
1986 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Kurt Thiim
(Rover Vitesse)
  Volker Weidler   Kurt König not awarded
1987 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Eric van de Poele
(BMW M3)
  Manuel Reuter   Marc Hessel not awarded
1988 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Klaus Ludwig
(Ford Sierra RS500)
  Roland Asch   Armin Hahne not awarded
1989 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Roberto Ravaglia
(BMW M3)
  Klaus Niedzwiedz   Fabien Giroix not awarded
1990 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Hans-Joachim Stuck
(Audi V8 Quattro)
  Johnny Cecotto   Kurt Thiim not awarded
1991 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Frank Biela
(Audi V8 Quattro)
  Klaus Ludwig   Hans-Joachim Stuck   Mercedes-Benz
1992 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Klaus Ludwig
(Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo 2)
  Kurt Thiim   Bernd Schneider   Mercedes-Benz
1993 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Nicola Larini
(Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti)
  Roland Asch   Bernd Schneider   Alfa Romeo
1994 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Klaus Ludwig
(Mercedes-Benz C Class)
  Jörg van Ommen   Nicola Larini   Mercedes-Benz
1995 Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Meisterschaft
  Bernd Schneider
(Mercedes C-Class V6)
  Jörg van Ommen   Klaus Ludwig   Mercedes-Benz
International
Touring Car
Series
[4]
  Bernd Schneider
(Mercedes C-Class V6)
  Jan Magnussen   Dario Franchitti   Mercedes-Benz
1996 International
Touring Car
Championship
  Manuel Reuter
(Opel Calibra V6 4x4)
  Bernd Schneider   Alessandro Nannini   Opel
1997–
1999
DTM / ITC not held
2000–
present
Deutsche
Tourenwagen
Masters
See Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 1995 ITC schedule and standings Retrieved from www.motorsport-archive.com on 17 November 2009
  2. ^ 1995 DTM schedule and standings Retrieved from www.motorsport-archive.com on 17 November 2009
  3. ^ www.motorsport-archive.com Retrieved on 17 November 2009
  4. ^ FIA results for the 1995 International Touring Car Series Retrieved from web.archive.org on 16 November 2009