DTM 2010 – Press Release No. 21

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29.04.2010
   
BMW board sets the course for DTM project from 2012
      
DTM       

Wiesbaden/München - The BMW board has made a positive decision of general principle regarding a BMW involvement in DTM from the 2012 season. An involvement that will be realised if certain conditions should be met. This was announced by the company in a press release published today. The BMW engineers will work on the preparations that have to be executed for the DTM involvement of the premium-car manufacturer. The car that is supposed to represent the BMW colours on the DTM grid is the BMW M3.

The basis for BMW’s involvement in DTM are the new DTM regulations that currently are developed by DMSB (German Motor Sport Association) in cooperation with DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. The development of the new regulations also was supported by the engineers of the manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The new regulations are supposed to also allow the usage of the DTM cars in other international motor-racing series.

BMW competed in ’Old’ DTM from 1984 to 1992 and celebrated numerous successes, in that period if time. Volker Strycek, for instance, a BMW driver in those days, secured the maiden DTM title for the Munich based company. And the DTM champions of the years 1987 and 1989 also secured their titles with BMW vehicles.

Quotes on occasion of the BMW press release

ITR e.V. Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht
“BMW in DTM - that’s something the DTM enthusiasts have been waiting for for quite a while. By dint the orientation of our future strategy we always tried to pave the way for a DTM involvement of other manufacturers. And this effort seems to bear fruit, now. Now we mustn’t rest on our laurels but have to keep on working hard on the DTM platform. I’m convinced that we are on the right track, with the new DTM regulations. We’d like to welcome BMW in the DTM fraternity.”

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Audi Motorsport Director
“On behalf of Audi I want to say right now: ’Welcome in DTM.’ We look forward to the new competitors from Munich who most definitely will prove to be extremely competitive. With its long and successful motor-racing tradition, BMW suits DTM perfectly. I’m convinced that the squad will learn quickly to demonstrate its competitiveness within a short period of time.”

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BMW working on 2012 DTM return

By Matt Beer    Thursday, April 29th 2010, 09:36 GMT

BMWBMW has moved closer to returning to the DTM after an absence of two decades, but it will not join up until 2012 at the earliest.

The German manufacturer has announced that it is beginning work on a DTM car with a view to entering the championship in two years' time provided "certain basic requirements" proposed by its board are met by DTM organiser ITR.

"The planned return to the DTM is an exciting challenge for our team," said BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen.

"Over the coming months we will be making all the necessary technical preparations that should allow us to be competitive right from the start should we join the series in 2012."

BMW last raced in the DTM in 1992. It is restructuring its motorsport programmes in the wake of its Formula 1 pull-out last year.

This season the company is racing primarily in the World Touring Car Championship and GT racing. It has confirmed that the M3 GT2 will continue racing through 2011 at least, but has yet to decide its long-term future in the WTCC - although it is working on a replacement for its current S2000 touring car.

"For 2011, BMW is developing a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with direct injection that can be used in championships in accordance with the new Super2000 regulations
- such as the FIA World Touring Car Championship," said a BMW statement.

"A new racing car is being developed as a successor to the current BMW 320si for the coming years. How the BMW involvement in the World Touring Car Championship will look beyond the 2010 season will be decided over the course of the year."

BMW has been involved in the shaping of the next generation DTM technical regulations since August last year, when it formed a Technical Working Group with Audi and Mercedes to come up with the specs of the car.