The DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) is the most popular and famous touring car championship in Europe. The long and stormy story of the series started with the 1984 race season with cars that were close to the serial production versions. Technical regulations were changed year by year and the performance was raised to a higher, more professional level.
At the end of the 1996 season the series was stopped, due to the huge amount of expected investment from the manufacturers’ side. After a three year hiatus, DTM returned in 2000 with a different name (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) and a new and successful era started. The new concept was: cost effective race design using technology. As part of the new package, engine size was limited to four liter 90-degree V8 engines, equipped with two 28mm restrictors. With these regulations, the new engines could deliver approximately 500hp in the 1120kg cars.
The teams must all use the same carbon fiber brakes, supplied by AP Racing. The cars were designed around a new monocoque cockpit with a high performance rollcage and they all run on the same Hankook tires. The new rules lived up to expectations and the DTM series became the main battlefield of the three German manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes once again. The series mainly took place on German tracks, but is starting to be held at some foreign tracks, like the Hungarian F1 racetrack, the Hungaroring. The last DTM race was held there in 1988, but in the 2014 season the DTM returned to Hungary, surrounded by huge interest from motorsport enthusiasts.
During the day, the BMW guys provided the opportunity for some lucky people to sit in two legendary DTM cars, the 635CSi and the E30 M3.
It was stunning to see these original race cars on full throttle instead of standing in a dusty museum.
The main event was incredibly close and full of car-to-car body contact.
The gripping, 41 laps race was ended by the victory of the German Marco Wittmann (BMW M4 DTM).
