DTM targets US-based series from '13

The plan is part of the internationalisation project that has gathered pace this year following BMW's interest in returning to the DTM ranks.

The Munich-based marque confirmed its entry for 2012 today at Hockenheim and DTM promoter ITR also revealed details of plans to allow the cars to race in America and Asia in the future.

ITR boss Hans Werner Aufrecht told AUTOSPORT: "In America, we are working with the NASCAR organisation. Beginning in 2013, we hope to have a championship with 12 races in the United States.

"They will be six with Grand-Am and six with NASCAR events, for a standalone championship in America. I believe this is very, very good for the future of motorsport in the United States."

Aufrecht confirmed that the planned races would be exclusively for next-generation DTM cars, rather than running as a class in another series in America.

While the American plans are still at the discussion stage, Aufrecht added that the Japanese motorsport federation is close to agreeing to run the top class of Super GT - GT500 - exclusively to DTM technical regulations from 2013.

"We are finalising an agreement with the Japanese at the moment," he said. "I believe this will be completed in November and then we are together.

"If it happens, the Japanese federation will accept the regulations from Germany, so that in the future the GT500 cars will race with the same regulations as here in Europe."

The DTM will introduce its new technical regulations to its current European-based championship in 2012.