After 18 Years BMW Returns To DTM Racing To Play With The Big Boys

The return of BMW to the DTM from 2012 is reality: This was confirmed by the company during the DTM race weekend at the Hockenheimring. In April this year BMW had announced its intention to race in the DTM in principle from 2012, the first time since its departure from the series in 1994. The Board of Management of BMW AG considers conditions tied to a positive decision to return to the popular touring car series have now been met.

In recent months BMW has been working with the DTM umbrella organisation ITR e.V. and the other manufacturers represented in the DTM on issues relating to the future technical regulations, and the long-term internationalisation of the championship. The positive nature of these discussions means BMW Motorsport can now begin planning its DTM comeback in greater detail.
 

Dr Klaus Draeger, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG with responsibility for development, says: “The return of BMW to the DTM is a fundamental part of the restructuring of our motorsport activities. With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW is returning to its roots. The race track is the perfect place to demonstrate the impressive sporting characteristics of our vehicles against our core competitors in a high-powered environment. The DTM is the ideal stage on which to do this.”

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen comments: “The entire team at BMW Motorsport is approaching this exciting project with absolute commitment. We began making technical preparations following our declaration of intent in April, and established parameters for a high-performance vehicle concept for deployment in the DTM. The positive decision of the BMW Board of Management means we can now shift up a gear and give the green light for development.”

Hans Werner Aufrecht, 1st Chairman of the Board of ITR e.V. (DTM commercial rights holder and promoter): “We welcome the decision by BMW to enter the DTM from 2012. This is a further milestone for the future of our popular racing series, and proves that our efforts over the past few years have paid off. We laid the foundation for this in conjunction with the DMSB and the existing DTM manufacturers, namely Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Thus I would like to heartily thank all parties. I am personally looking forward to again seeing the three premium brands of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz competing against each other on the race track. Our fans have waited a long time for this.”

The intention is to use the BMW M3 as the basic DTM vehicle, a car that has enjoyed unique successes in the field of touring and sports car racing in the past. Eric van de Poele (BE) and Roberto Ravaglia (IT) celebrated two DTM titles with the racing version of BMW’s most sporty representative back in 1987 and 1989, while before that Volker Strycek (DE) won the DTM premiere in 1984 in the BMW 635 CSi. This season the current BMW M3 GT2 caused a sensation in the world of international endurance racing, taking victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE).

 

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S1000RRman - 10/15/2010 2:02:39 PM

+2 Boost

Should be good.

I am very curious to see what the 2012 regs are all about :)

SHOWTIME - 10/15/2010 2:43:08 PM

+1 Boost

What is the difference between DTM and ALMS?

Joe_Limon - 10/15/2010 3:15:34 PM

+3 Boost

DTM only had two manufacturers... audi vs bens. Also... dtm has a weird obsession with racing sedans.

Agent009 - 10/15/2010 3:37:38 PM

+1 Boost

DTM is the Euro equivalent to NASCAR on road race tracks.

Joe_Limon - 10/15/2010 5:20:21 PM

+2 Boost

There are nascar road races, you know that right?

http://www.autoracing1.com/Images/2000/NASCAR/SearsPoint1.jpg

bmwcs - 10/15/2010 2:49:20 PM

+3 Boost

If these are the big boys then what was F1? The bigger boys?

LexSucks - 10/15/2010 5:23:52 PM

+2 Boost

^^ You obviously haven't been actually watching any F1 this year:
You can't even compare F1 to DTM. F1 is like 1000 times more popular and is the pinnacle of motor racing.


This year on track passes (Doesn't include pit lane or lapped car passes).

BHN Kubica 6
AUS Schumacher 9, Alonso 8, Hamilton 6, Webber 6
MAL Barrichello 7, Hamilton 5
CHN Hamilton 13, Alonso 10, Vettel 9, Massa 8, Sutil 8
---
TUR Barrichello 7, Hulkenberg 7, Buemi 6
CDN Massa 10, Rosberg 8, Barrichello 7
---
GBR Vettel 9, Massa 8
GER Alguersuari 5
---
BEL Alguersuari 9, Alonso 9, Vettel 8
ITA Sutil 6
SIN Heidfeld 6, Kubica 6
---

And during the last race in Japan Kobayashi passed like 5 cars. All of the passes were breathtaking out braking maneuvers. I'll admit, if it weren't for him the race would have been boring. But there have been more exciting races this year than boring ones.

LexSucks - 10/15/2010 5:24:37 PM

+2 Boost

Replied to wrong person. Sorry

100octane - 10/15/2010 4:01:48 PM

0 Boost

"this season the current BMW M3 GT2 caused a sensation in the world of international endurance racing, taking victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE)."

"world of" = nürburgring? yes it was a victory for bmw, cos the cars in front of them got kicked of the track or broke down after 22 hours. that's not the kind of victory you're proud of, but nevertheless: the result counts.

"then what was F1?"

F1 became a pseudo motorsport without any fan involvement, and champagne like ticketprices 10 years ago. stupid regulation changes every year, to make it even more boring. several races without one single position change on the track. more and more races in countrys without any fanbase, except of the 3 sheiks.

their next plan is the use 4 cylinder turbo engines to show everyone how green this sport is, but using 1000000 bulbs during their night race is ok. strange isn't it?

the cars are awesome (their sound is absolutly outstanding, a must hear for every car enthusiast) and the drivers are the best you can hire for money, but the entire thing doesn't have anything to do with motorsport anymore.

Most tracks don't even make profits with their races, like spa or nürburgring because ecclestone demands a fortune from them.

I still hope that things will change soon. I mean we got rid of mosley, so there's only one small grown and money sucking problem left.

LexSucks - 10/15/2010 5:25:01 PM

+1 Boost

^^ You obviously haven't been actually watching any F1 this year:
You can't even compare F1 to DTM. F1 is like 1000 times more popular and is the pinnacle of motor racing.


This year on track passes (Doesn't include pit lane or lapped car passes).

BHN Kubica 6
AUS Schumacher 9, Alonso 8, Hamilton 6, Webber 6
MAL Barrichello 7, Hamilton 5
CHN Hamilton 13, Alonso 10, Vettel 9, Massa 8, Sutil 8
---
TUR Barrichello 7, Hulkenberg 7, Buemi 6
CDN Massa 10, Rosberg 8, Barrichello 7
---
GBR Vettel 9, Massa 8
GER Alguersuari 5
---
BEL Alguersuari 9, Alonso 9, Vettel 8
ITA Sutil 6
SIN Heidfeld 6, Kubica 6
---

And during the last race in Japan Kobayashi passed like 5 cars. All of the passes were breathtaking out braking maneuvers. I'll admit, if it weren't for him the race would have been boring. But there have been more exciting races this year than boring ones.

S1000RRman - 10/15/2010 5:45:19 PM

+2 Boost

Granted this year has been better than normal, but I suspect a great number of those passes were completed by people starting alot further back than they should (eg a Ferrari starting at the back etc).

Fundamentally I like F1, but in practice, its become sh**... I have watched for about 15 years, and I finally lost interest last year.. I can't see an F1 event ever getting my money again, yes the noise is amazing, but it is without question the worst sport I have ever paid to see live.

100octane - 10/16/2010 8:03:58 AM

+1 Boost

where did i compare dtm to f1? btw, you didn't get my point: passing a virgin in a mc laren has nothing to do with overtaking.

how many passes have there been among the top5 cars on the track?

5 or 6?? in 16 races, exciting...really

Yonder7 - 10/15/2010 4:22:54 PM

+1 Boost

This is gonna be fun....

FrankieNeauvou - 10/15/2010 6:06:48 PM

+2 Boost

So if this is a long term commitment for BMW, will the next M3 retain its V8 engine?

aarononymous - 10/16/2010 11:06:30 AM

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DTM engines have nothing to do with production cars, they run 4.0 V8's in the MB C-Class & Audi A4

1BadMan - 10/15/2010 7:49:53 PM

+2 Boost

The F32 M3 will have a twin-turbo inline 6. The S65 V-8 is going away with the E92 M3 Coupe, E93 M3 Cabriolet & the slow selling E90 M3 Sedan.

Steve - 10/16/2010 3:50:17 PM

+1 Boost

Hats off to BMW!

BTW, in recent decades, BMW has been criticized for making heavy, slow "Gentlemen's Mounts" rather "real" motorcycles. Y'know, boxers and all. Since they released their K1000RR, and entered multi-brand racing (unlike the Boxer Cup), they have regained credibility as makers of world-class sports bikes. That's not to say that BMW hasn't been credible in car racing, but just a note that BMW is capable of impressing on the track in a big way.

Let's see what they pull off in DTM. Kudos!