Manufacturers confirm commitment

"The DTM is the most popular international touring car series, the pinnacle in touring car racing," said Audi motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "This suits the Audi brand in an excellent way.

"For a manufacturer, the DTM provides excellent value for money. That means you get a lot in return for your resources.

"It has shown that the spectators want to see spectacular touring cars at the highest level and that is what the DTM is offering them."

"During the course of the last six years the DTM has developed remarkably," added Ullrich's Mercedes counterpart Norbert Haug.

"The series offers the spectator interesting sport and an attractive programme. An increasing number of visitors at the racetracks and high TV ratings prove that the concept to focus on the spectators worked out well.

"The technical regulations provide the basis for justifiable cost and the media coverage guarantees an unequalled cost/performance ratio."

Mercedes and Audi have provided the full 20-car field between them this season after Opel's departure. The original DTM and its successor the International Touring Car Championship came to a sudden end in 1996 when both Alfa Romeo and Opel withdrew.

The organisers recognise that the current series' long-term prospects would be even healthier if additional manufacturers joined up.

"The fact that Audi and Mercedes-Benz are already now committing themselves to the DTM on the long term is a clear signal to the partners and to other car manufacturers to benefit from the successful DTM platform in the future as well," said Hermann Tomczyk, deputy chairman of the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund.