Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

BMW believes rule changes will spice up DTM in 2013

BMW has backed the rule changes being made in the DTM this year, which include the introduction of Formula 1-style option tyres and DRS

The Munich-based manufacturer won the championship on its return to the category last season, with ex-Mercedes driver Bruno Spengler leading its line-up and taking the drivers' crown.

After experiments in winter testing, series bosses decided to introduce DRS and an option tyre for this year. Race weekend track time has also been reduced.

BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt says he expects the changes to spice up the racing.

"The combination of the two changes, both the option tyre and DRS, promises to provide some exciting moments," he said.

"We endorse the use of both elements, and see them as a good decision for the sport and the fans."

Marquardt added that the teams are still unsure of how the softer compound of tyres will perform in a race.

"The option tyre was developed to make the DTM even more exciting," he said. "It is faster than the normal tyre over the first few laps - only the race will reveal exactly how much faster.

"However, the tyre does degrade after a certain time. Even after the tests, we do not know exactly how it will behave.

"We will only find that out in Hockenheim [for the season opener on May 5]. There is still a certain unknown quantity in this area."

Marquardt said BMW is happy with the shorter weekend format, although he hinted that the manufacturer was pleased the amount of free practice time was not reduced in its comeback season last year.

"Generally speaking we welcome the new race format, as we believe it will make the weekends more compact and exciting," he said.

"In 2012 we were newcomers to the DTM and initially had to get used to the series and the specific processes involved.

"We succeeded in this at the first attempt. The reduction of race weekends to two days now poses another challenge."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Audi believes its 2013 DTM driver line-up is the best yet
Next article Tomczyk, Farfus to double up during Brands Hatch DTM weekend

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe