AUDI returns to DTM series

[Alex Baumann]

Audi is returning to DTM Series next year with 6 new developed A4. The teams Abt and Joest, which successfully raced in the series and enjoyed the support of Audi AG will be joining the official team.

The new Audi, which is developed in Ingolstadt (home of Audi), will have a 460hp V8 engine.

The probable colors of the new team :

http://www.dtm-news.de/modules.php?name=IndyNews&MediaOp=show&idMediaAss=s254&MediaName=audi04.jpg&MediaNum=1

The rumor has it that BMW is also intending to join the series in 2005, but no official news on that yet. :cry:

[Kaz]

"Returns"? IIRC Audi has continued to participate in DTM using those weird TTs.

[Alex Baumann]

"Returns"? IIRC Audi has continued to participate in DTM using those weird TTs.

Those teams were not official factory teams.

[racerdave]

Alex,

So why the sad face about Audi, and why the tears about BMW possibily rejoining DTM?

[Alex Baumann]

Alex,

So why the sad face about Audi, and why the tears about BMW possibily rejoining DTM?

well, the sad face is because everyone is returning to the DTM with their works teams, but not BMW.

Alfa Romeo also coming with factory team in 2005. Still no news from Munich.

[elbert]

well, the sad face is because everyone is returning to the DTM with their works teams, but not BMW.

BMWs can't compete with CLKs or even Opels, that's why. At least that's what BMW's lack of participation is saying. :thumbdwn:

[Alex Baumann]

BMWs can't compete with CLKs or even Opels, that's why. At least that's what BMW's lack of participation is saying. :thumbdwn:

Hmm, I wouldn't say that. They have retreated from the series after the Motorsports department decided to pour huge finances for the development of the F1 team.

[Kaz]

Hmm, I wouldn't say that. They have retreated from the series after the Motorsports department decided to pour huge finances for the development of the F1 team.


I also recall that being the official explaination. DC is a far bigger company so they probably have more resources to dedicate to both F1 and DTM, and also Mercedes' F1 engine development isn't done in-house, but is by Ilmor, whom they originally hooked up with in the Penske CART days when Chevy left the series and Ilmor needed a carmaker's name to put on their motors.

[elbert]

Hmm, I wouldn't say that. They have retreated from the series after the Motorsports department decided to pour huge finances for the development of the F1 team.

Oh, I know. BMW is a small, privately held company with limited cash. But there are always privateers willing to race a BMW but are told not to, such as Alpina not allowed to run the V12 LMR in ALMS.

I wonder if the DTM was another such case. DTM has been in its current format for a couple years now; the complete absence of a BMW in a German racing series is very conspicuous. It would be like no Ford in NASCRAP.

[Alex Baumann]

Oh, I know. BMW is a small, privately held company with limited cash. But there are always privateers willing to race a BMW but are told not to, such as Alpina not allowed to run the V12 LMR in ALMS.

I wonder if the DTM was another such case. DTM has been in its current format for a couple years now; the complete absence of a BMW in a German racing series is very conspicuous. It would be like no Ford in NASCRAP.

I'm sure there are teams to attend the series, but it is beyond their finances. I don't think that Alpina or AC Schnitzer would be able to carry a full season on their own. That'd be way expensive.

As Kaz mentioned, Mercedes and Opel is fully supported by the factory. In Audi's case, Joest and Abt were already being backed up by Audi. Now these two teams are merging with the factory team and probably will be enjoying both technical and financial support.

A lot of things have changed since the glory days of Alpina and Schnitzer. There is much more high-tech involved in the cars today. And this is practically not possible without the Know-How of the big brother.

[WILLIA///M]

Hmm, I wouldn't say that. They have retreated from the series after the Motorsports department decided to pour huge finances for the development of the F1 team.

And that allows them to pour those huge finances into retaining the best drivers ... oh, never mind.

[richard]

Since the U.S. is such an important market for BMW maybe the limited exposure of DTM here doesn't make economic sense. I've enjoyed Speed's coverage but I get the feeling that is something that could go away at any time. BMW has used F1 pretty well for marketing here.

[SteveT]

Hmm, I wouldn't say that. They have retreated from the series after the Motorsports department decided to pour huge finances for the development of the F1 team.

Does BMW see the DTM as being over regulated limiting their ability to build and enter a better package? As such, the DTM is not a forum where BMW can demonstrate technical excellence. All the teams must use a V8 of the same size and the intension is for them all to have the same output power. Does the A4 come with a V8 in Germany and hasn't Audi been racing the TT with a V8? I'm going to suggest that BMW sees the series as somewhat artificial due the highly regulated nature of the rules. The DTM was very expensive at one time, now they run the engines for almost an entire season I think.