DTM to USA?

According to the Speed Report and Autoblog, we are going to be joined by DTM in 2013. They are going to run 12(!) races here with 6 concurrent with NASCAR events, and a further 6 running with Grand Am.

What does everyone think of this? Supposedly DTM is also in talks with JGTC to coincide the 2013 rulebook with GT500 rules.

Could we have another multi constructor high level motorsport road racing series here in the US? Would any one here make plans to go see it? Does anyone care?

I would LOVE to go see it!

Mixed feelings. If it works it could be great. The DTM commentators often seem to fawn over NASCAR, and in reality DTM is a shadow of it's former self and is NASCAR for Europe. Spec tube frame race cars with spec V8 engines running spec bodywork. It's just that they are allowed a higher level of technology round and they get to turn right every race rather than just twice a year. The monster race cars of yesteryear are a thing of the past. It seems to have very specialist drivers with talents that don't always transfer from other disciplines, Ex F1 stars haven't had a good track record in making the switch. Right now there are only two cars, M.B. and Audi, but BMW and Nissan are rumored to be coming in next year. If they do this right it could be awesome, if they do it wrong it could be Hindenburg esc with a crashing Huge Manatee!!!

I'd love to see the DTM cars at the Rolex, and it would probably encourage me to see Grand-Am in another venue, like Homestead Speedway.

I don't think it will get nearly as much crossover support from the NASCAR side, though. It will certainly be interesting to see how this works out.

From what I've been reading, this is the DP group working with DTM- the NASCAR connection is just because GrandAm is owned by NASCAR.

It's interesting to see that DTM is basically NASCAR- I honestly didn't know that, but am not all that surprised. I kind of like the BTCC and the ETCC better, since they are much closer to real cars.

But I will have an open mind about this- not sure what class of GranAm they are looking at to commonize- can't really see any of the DP cars being transformed into audi's and Benzes. But, technically, they are fairly close together.

I support this. More racing in the United States is hardly a bad thing, however you slice it.

unevolved wrote: I support this. More racing in the United States is hardly a bad thing, however you slice it.

+1

But I gotta say, I'd rather see BTCC or a series like that come over instead. Modern DTM stuff just doesn't excite me. However the prospect of seeing more racing in American, always good.

I have to admit i have no idea about this DTM thing. i have never heard of it before, but if it is NASCAR light as the previous posts seem to indicate i will pass. i am already sick of hearing seventeen different shows on speed and espn talking about why i should care about a left turn only sleep aid that NASCAR already is. it seems to me that another roundy -round series would only make that worse. what i would rather see is something like the australian V8 supercar races here. maybe that would be a good enough reason for the american car companies to make a REAL V8 rear wheel drive sedan again. (not a lumina that shares nothing with its race car namesake) IMHO the australians nailed what NASCAR SHOULD have been.

itsarebuild wrote: I have to admit i have no idea about this DTM thing. i have never heard of it before, but if it is NASCAR light as the previous posts seem to indicate i will pass. i am already sick of hearing seventeen different shows on speed and espn talking about why i should care about a left turn only sleep aid that NASCAR already is. it seems to me that another roundy -round series would only make that worse. what i would rather see is something like the australian V8 supercar races here. maybe that would be a good enough reason for the american car companies to make a REAL V8 rear wheel drive sedan again. (not a lumina that shares nothing with its race car namesake) IMHO the australians nailed what NASCAR SHOULD have been.

It's not quite "NASCAR light."

In my mind, NASCAR is to DTM as IndyCar is to Formula 1.

If nothing else gets you going, I have always liked the DTM bodywork and aero-packages...

alfadriver wrote: But I will have an open mind about this- not sure what class of GranAm they are looking at to commonize- can't really see any of the DP cars being transformed into audi's and Benzes. But, technically, they are fairly close together.

I would venture that the DTM/GrandAm link-up will result in a separate support racing series.

Marshall Pruett (SpeedTV contributor) reported the collaboration would allow for the DTM cars to race a select Nascar events, including the Nationwide series. This means DTM could race at Montreal and Elkhart Lake and (maybe) Watkins Glen and Sears Point with the Cup cars. The GrandAm events would likely be at venues where MB, Audi, BMW, et al want to boost sales in specific geographic areas.

I like the idea and the manufacturer support is encouraging, but we'll have to wait and see if this produces anything of substance.

I would much rather see BTCC. The racing is a lot better, way more action, not b/c of bad driving, but because of the close racing. They also drive the hell outta those cars. DTM is kinda boring, once Audi or Mercedes finds a good setup, the rest of the teams get the setup from that team, and one manufacturer will dominate the race. But, it's cool the USA is recognized to be good enough for a high profile series.

Steven

unevolved wrote: I support this. More racing in the United States is hardly a bad thing, however you slice it.

+1

oldsaw wrote:

alfadriver wrote: But I will have an open mind about this- not sure what class of GranAm they are looking at to commonize- can't really see any of the DP cars being transformed into audi's and Benzes. But, technically, they are fairly close together.

I would venture that the DTM/GrandAm link-up will result in a separate support racing series. Marshall Pruett (SpeedTV contributor) reported the collaboration would allow for the DTM cars to race a select Nascar events, including the Nationwide series. This means DTM could race at Montreal and Elkhart Lake and (maybe) Watkins Glen and Sears Point with the Cup cars. The GrandAm events would likely be at venues where MB, Audi, BMW, et al want to boost sales in specific geographic areas. I like the idea and the manufacturer support is encouraging, but we'll have to wait and see if this produces anything of substance.

I'm not sure throwing DTM cars into the Nationwide/Cup mix at roadcourses would be such a wise idea, unless either series DRASTICALLY changed their formula (DTM dumbing itself WAY down, or Nascar at least creating a second set of rules/regs for roadraces to make cars more in-line with DTM/JGTC, if not outright changing their base formula to be closer to GT500/DTM cars while still being relatively useful on ovals. just stick the same bodies on them, 3/4 of the NASCAR fanbase won't know the difference or care I'm guessing), since the Nationwide/Cup cars would get absolutely slaughtered on roadcourses and the DTM cars would likely be uncompetitive on the ovals, although I can't really see MB or Audi wanting to go roundyround racing with their roadrace cars anyway

I don't think they meant that they would be run simultaneously, just on the same weekend as a support race.

thanks for the clarification all.

yes, if it is with cars similar to what platinum90 showed and on road courses not ovals i am all for it. whether it is paired with cup cars or separate it will definitely make the nascar experience better. i'd till like to see it encourage ford and gm to build real v8 sedans though.

Here is a good reason why it should come here...

jstein77 wrote: I don't think they meant that they would be run simultaneously, just on the same weekend as a support race.

Yep!

The first sentence/paragraph in my response to alfadriver is crucial. Ignore that and one goes down the wrong rabbit-hole REAL fast.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: Here is a good reason why it should come here...

Whee, that was fun.

Yea they will be running as a support series race not on the track at the same time as the "stock" car boys...they could run in a Grand-Am race as their own classification. That would be cool.

Oh and if we can get Aussie V8 SuperCars to coincide with ALMS...we'd be all set here in the US!

AUV8 supercars on track at the same time as DTM cars and the two top-tier (DP and GT) Grand-Am classes at Daytona would be absolutely spectacular to watch, and would DEFINITELY make for an interesting 24 hours. granted, the track would be a LOT more crowded, same with pit lane, but if you could somehow make it work...

Daytona is big enough that you might be able to make it work. Pit lane could get crowded, but it can accommodate at least 43 cars at once, so stack up a couple pit boxes, and you have a fix.

I think it would be great to see DTM here.

But this whole idea was nothing more than a "run it up the flag pole and see what people say." Multiple sources confirm there has been no such discussion between DTM/nascar on this subject.

I'd buy that for a dollar!