Drivers urge DTM to adopt DRS and option tyres for 2013
The DTM should waste no time in introducing Formula 1-style option tyres and a DRS, according to a number of top drivers in the series
Both concepts were extensively evaluated at this week's four-day official test at Barcelona, ahead of a board meeting of series promoter the ITR at which a vote will be taken on whether to adopt the concepts this year or to wait until 2014.
Option Hankooks give greater performance than the rubber used in the championship since last year, but for a shorter period of time, thereby reintroducing a tactical element to racing that disappeared along with the banning of refuelling for the switch to new-generation cars in 2012.
A DRS, meanwhile, would increase the likelihood of overtaking by flattening the rear wing element on straights.
Team Rosberg driver Edoardo Mortara, the only man to win a race for Audi last year, led the calls to bring in the new concepts.
"I really like the DRS. I really hope that we can run with the system this year," Mortara said.
"In my eyes this is the right way to get more overtaking and in doing so to make the races more interesting. After all, it also works in Formula 1. The same applies to the option tyres."
Last year's top rookie Augusto Farfus, who won at Valencia, agreed.
"It was great trying the option tyres and the DRS," the Brazilian added. "Both innovations certainly have got what it takes to help us provide the DTM fans with even more thrilling motor racing."
Further analysis of both systems is due to take place during the second and final pre-season test at Hockenheim from April 9-12.
Previous article
DTM testing: BMW rookie Marco Wittmann leads last day
Next article
DTM introduces F1-style DRS and option tyres to spice up races
About this article
| Series | DTM |
| Author | Jamie O'Leary |
The slow-burner threatening to unseat Audi's DTM king
It's taken him a while to emerge as a consistent title challenger, but in the final year of DTM's Class One rule set, Nico Muller has smoothed the rough edges and has double champion stablemate Rene Rast working harder than ever to keep up in the title race
How a DTM failure became an unlikely Nurburgring conqueror
Opel's fortunes in the DTM had taken a turn for the worst by 2003 - hardly the pedigree that suggested it could take on the toughest 24-hour race of them all. But that's exactly what it did
The season that revitalised a sleeping giant
On the 20th anniversary of the resumption of hostilities in the DTM, Autosport revisits a classic season that brought a staple of German motorsport back to life with a bang and set in motion the careers of some notable names
Does 2000 hold the answers to DTM's current crisis?
It's 20 years since the DTM roared back into life at a packed Hockenheim with a back-to-basics approach as the antidote to its high-tech past. Now it's on its knees again, so is it time to recall the lessons learned in 2000?
The last-chance saloon of Germany's forgotten tin-top champions
The Opel Vectra GTS was the last in the line of the marque's DTM challengers, but failed to hit the lofty heights of its predecessors when financial constraints hit
Ranking the 10 best Audi DTM drivers
Audi last week announced it would be exiting the DTM at the end of 2020, bringing the curtain down on 20 years of continuous participation since the series' reboot in 2000. Autosport's expert panel ranks its 10 best drivers from the period
How the DTM landed itself in crisis
Audi's announcement that it will withdraw from the DTM was the latest bodyblow for a series that has lost three manufacturers in as many years. Some major soul-searching will now be required to assess how it can survive
The FE cynic who had to accept change in his series
DTM boss Gerhard Berger was an ardent detractor of Formula E and was reluctant for his series to embrace greener engine technologies. But this cynic's tune has had to change to ensure the DTM's existence in the future of motorsport
