RE: DTM uber alles!

Tuesday 1st May 2012

DTM uber alles!

As BMW re-enters DTM Riggers heads to Germany to see what we're missing



As a nipper, in the mid-90s I was a regular spectator of the BTCC, during the height of the Super Touring glory days. Back then, we as punters were endlessly told that we were watching the world's premier tin-top series.

Latest DTM cars less aero-dependent
Latest DTM cars less aero-dependent
True, the series packed a punch, with decent grids, some handy drivers, slick teams and serious manufacturer involvement. Some genuinely entertaining racing rather helped with the spectacle, too, and helped to draw hefty crowds.

But however slick and big-budget the BTCC operation was, it never felt like this. I'm standing in the paddock at Hockenheim on race day of the first event of the 2012 DTM season, being jostled (albeit politely) by a throng of motorsport fans streaming past immaculate team transporters, and expensive-looking hospitality suites, all hoping to catch a glimpse of a favourite driver or other celebrity of the motorsport circus. PH among them, as detailed in our earlier blog.

Meaning tighter racing
Meaning tighter racing
They'll let anyone in these days...
In fact, the quality of the kit on show isn't far off the sort of stuff you see in the paddock at a GP or Le Mans. Except that in sports car racing or F1 you can't get anywhere near the paddock unless you're rich, important, or both. Or, perhaps, you're a scruffy journalist with a temporary media pass. Ahem. But while I've only ever felt ridiculously out of place taking a behind-the-scenes glimpse at an F1 or Le Mans paddock, at a DTM meeting, any punter can pay for a pass and rub shoulders with drivers and team owners.

And there are a lot of punters. Official word is that the weekend has brought a record 142,000 spectators out for the action, not least to witness BMW's return to DTM after a 20-year absence and the possible dawn of another golden age like that of the E30 M3 and Merc 190 Evos of the early 90s. I can easily believe that figure, since Hockenheim's considerable grandstands are filled to near-capacity in anticipation of the afternoon's race, bringing that feeling you only otherwise get at a GP and the sense of a whole large town's worth of people all gathered for one thing - the spectacle of motor racing.

Look who's doing a burnout...
Look who's doing a burnout...
Schumacher effect
The whole weekend package feels rather GP-like, actually. There aren't a whole lot of support races going on, but there's all sorts of entertainment to keep the masses happy (many of which are camping in immaculately tidy campsites) including demonstration runs by the likes of Nico Rosberg in a 1950s Mercedes GP car and one Michael Schumacher in last year's Mercedes F1 contender.

Of the support races, probably the most entertaining is the CNG-powered VW Scirocco R-Cup, the 235hp one-make racers, with their push-to pass buttons liberating an extra 50hp and loose rear ends making for an entertaining spectacle. In all honesty, the DTM boys could learn a little from these cars, because the new-era DTM regs, for all their spectacular technology (and the carbon fibre monocoque, with its steel roll cage, integrated seat and carbon body panels is truly trick) make the cars look, sound and behave all the more like prototype sports cars.

'That's what a real racing car looks like'
'That's what a real racing car looks like'
Trading paint
This is frankly a bit weird to those raised on a diet of production-derived saloon-car racing. On the other hand, once the racing gets underway, cars that looked glued to the road during qualifying suddenly seem a bit more lairy when they're all trying to pass and not be passed. There's little in the way of panel bashing or catch-it-or-lose-it slides, but the racing is certainly hard-fought and close.

Just how hard they're battling becomes clear when the HWA Mercedes team mates Jamie Green and Gary Paffett slip past Audi man Mattias Ekstrom. Paffett, behind Green, proceeds to chase down the lead Mercedes of Green before the leader pits and Paffett is left on his own. Paffett duly pits a short while later and, on exiting the pitlane, finds himself side by side with Green, a situation only resolved in Paffett's favour quite a few corners later and only after the two almost swap paint at more than 160mph. No team orders there, then.

Nico Rosberg. Not in his F1 car...
Nico Rosberg. Not in his F1 car...
BMW's return was impressive, with Dirk Werner nabbing third place on the grid. Sadly, in the race Werner made a poor start, before getting tipped into a spin early on. That left Andy Priaulx to fly the BMW flag, and he fought hard to finish an impressive sixth, just a few car lengths behind Mike Rockenfeller's Audi. As the many T shirts worn by the fans said (see right), BMW is back.

Headed your way
It's this sort of top-level fight, and the fact that even F1 drivers of the calibre of Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard won't stroll to the front of the pack, that makes the DTM a genuinely involving spectacle. Sure, it's not got the dressed-up banger-racing appeal of the BTCC, but its charms are more subtle than that. And they're certainly not lost on 142,000 German fans.

Dad Keke looks on
Dad Keke looks on
So could we replicate the DTM format in the UK? Probably not - we don't have the right sort of venues. Look at the age of some of the grandstands at Hockenheim and you realise the Germans have been welcoming hundreds of thousands of spectators to circuits on a regular basis for many years.

Then again, if you want to see the DTM in Blighty, you need only to head to Brands Hatch on May 20.

 

Author
Discussion

e21Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
I used to work for a Formula Opel Euroseries team that supported the DTM back in the 90's. Absolutely loved the combination of technology and vaguely road cars. As a fan of BMW it's great to see them amongst what has been far too many Mercedes, Audis and Opels in recent years. The more marques the better.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
A great series and a great example of German Motorsport, and Teutonic efficiency, if that isn't a cliche. I know there isn't a lot of love for the DTM on British Motorsport forums; using the 'exciting' BTCC as a weapon to beat it with. However, the cars are 'proper' racing cars, lots of noise, lots of power, etc and look at presentation and the sponsors involved. Now compare to the BTCC, which is like a village fete.
All the DTM needs now is some real racing, with slightly more overtaking, and it will be fantastic!

e21Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
DTM drivers don't feel the need to punt each other off at every corner either.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
quotequote all
e21Mark said:
DTM drivers don't feel the need to punt each other off at every corner either.
Yeah, except old Ralfy boy.... wink

The BTCC is more action packed, but the driving standards are pretty poor.

pagani1

683 posts

201 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
I'm pleased it's coming to the UK. Shame they can't put on a show at Goodwood Revival, it would really wake up some old farts who think an Austin A35 is fast-Ha!Ha! which of course it is, or was last year.
3 cheers for the Earl of March-and the pub!

t1grm

4,655 posts

283 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
I saw the DTM at Donnington back in the 1990's. It was very impressive.

"in the mid-90s I was a regular spectator of the BTCC, during the height of the Super Touring glory days"

I would consider the height of recent touring car history as being the late 80's with Rouse and Soaper battling in the Sierra RS500 Cosworth... but each to their own. smile

DJRC

23,563 posts

235 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
pagani1 said:
I'm pleased it's coming to the UK. Shame they can't put on a show at Goodwood Revival, it would really wake up some old farts who think an Austin A35 is fast-Ha!Ha! which of course it is, or was last year.
3 cheers for the Earl of March-and the pub!
Eh? 250GTOs, Cobra Daytonas and GT40s not quick enough for you then?

What a random post.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
DJRC said:
pagani1 said:
I'm pleased it's coming to the UK. Shame they can't put on a show at Goodwood Revival, it would really wake up some old farts who think an Austin A35 is fast-Ha!Ha! which of course it is, or was last year.
3 cheers for the Earl of March-and the pub!
Eh? 250GTOs, Cobra Daytonas and GT40s not quick enough for you then?

What a random post.
Front-page articles always generate comments like that.



DTM highlights are on ITV4 on Saturday at 10:30am.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Its been around for ages, its been coming to Britain for ages on and off, why do I feel its suddenly on someone's agenda that I hear a lot more about it and like it?

Our own domestic touring car series isnt exactly boring at the moment and is more accesible to the masses, yet the BTCC barely rates a mention on PH news pages.

Could it be as part of a marketing drive from Merc, Audi and/or BMW to link their print/web advertising with Haymarket, to getting more people seeing their cars race? In which case, fk 'em. There is an Audi in BTCC that no one from VAG is paying any interest in, why should we follow those brands to their domestic series?

Is there an odour of a rodent to be smelled? Or is just my tin-foil hat needs a clean?

BTCC doesnt need British mass media telling the local public how good everyone else's series is. They need more exposure for their own. And as its such a close community and many of us are or have been part of it, I'm amazed we'd sooner bleat on about F1 cars with body-kits in Germany, than actual PHer's efforts in the BTCC.

Having said that, British media short changing their own sporting pursuits by at best, ignoring them (particularly in motorsport) isnt exactly new, is it?

For those who correctly pick this post as feedback regarding website content, I am sorry, I tried.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Because PH has to cater to the masses, and most of PH think that both of the Cs in BTCC stand for 'chav'.

Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Reardy Mister said:
Its been around for ages, its been coming to Britain for ages on and off, why do I feel its suddenly on someone's agenda that I hear a lot more about it and like it?
Riggers drove over to Germany to watch the last round in his Golf GTI, so as a result we did a bit of build-up and a story on the race itself. Not going to be regular, it was added as part of his road trip and was a nice additional reason to drive across Europe smile

BTCC we like, if we get the opportunity to do things with them we certainly won't ignore it.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Garlick said:
Reardy Mister said:
Its been around for ages, its been coming to Britain for ages on and off, why do I feel its suddenly on someone's agenda that I hear a lot more about it and like it?
Riggers drove over to Germany to watch the last round in his Golf GTI, so as a result we did a bit of build-up and a story on the race itself. Not going to be regular, it was added as part of his road trip and was a nice additional reason to drive across Europe smile

BTCC we like, if we get the opportunity to do things with them we certainly won't ignore it.
Very well. I will get the silvo out for the hat then.

But I dont think you will have to dig very deep to turn up a wealth of opportunity for BTCC features.

B33FY

87 posts

170 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
I for one am saddened by the recent media coverage the DTM has gained it means that Brands Hatch's best kept secret is no more. Bigger crowds and more chavs having seen the light from BTCC and coming to the F1 of the tin top world. Very little comes close to seeing these cars, two or three abreast, going into paddock on the limit, not giving each other an inch the cars spitting flames popping and banging and the whole car shimmying on the limit of adhesion, We will be there in person the whole weekend soaking up the atmosphere of proper racers in proper race cars.

Craiglamuffin

358 posts

179 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
I keep getting tempted to compare DTM and BTCC too, but I'm sure they're not aiming at the same spot. Having seen both at Brands in the last year, DTM is of course the more spectacular (the noise!!), but the racing was no where near as entertaining on the small Indy circuit as the BTCC race was.

Completely different. Love both.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

221 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Craiglamuffin said:
I keep getting tempted to compare DTM and BTCC too, but I'm sure they're not aiming at the same spot. Having seen both at Brands in the last year, DTM is of course the more spectacular (the noise!!), but the racing was no where near as entertaining on the small Indy circuit as the BTCC race was.

Completely different. Love both.
NB. Im not comparing the two in terms of the spectacle, just suggesting BTCC should get proportionately more airtime on PH. I enjoy both also.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
B33FY said:
I for one am saddened by the recent media coverage the DTM has gained it means that Brands Hatch's best kept secret is no more. Bigger crowds and more chavs having seen the light from BTCC and coming to the F1 of the tin top world. Very little comes close to seeing these cars, two or three abreast, going into paddock on the limit, not giving each other an inch the cars spitting flames popping and banging and the whole car shimmying on the limit of adhesion, We will be there in person the whole weekend soaking up the atmosphere of proper racers in proper race cars.
I'd rather have more 'chavs' than pompous s like yourself.

e21Mark

Original Poster:

16,205 posts

172 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
EDLT said:
Because PH has to cater to the masses, and most of PH think that both of the Cs in BTCC stand for 'chav'.
Not entirely sure that's true given that one of the drivers is a regular poster here.

I always loved the BTCC back in the days of Soper, Winkelhock, O'dor etc. I enjoyed the cars being closer to what Jo Public could own/drive. The DTM was the other end of the spectrum. I met Jan Magnussen (as he'd driven for a Formula Opel team I was gopher for) and he told us about the front ends on his Mercedes being £45k a go! Bear in mind this was the mid-nineties. I lost interest when it became an Opel / Mercedes monopoly though. I think they're just different ends of the touring car spectrum though and there's plenty of room for both.

Riggers

1,859 posts

177 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Reardy Mister said:
Very well. I will get the silvo out for the hat then.

But I dont think you will have to dig very deep to turn up a wealth of opportunity for BTCC features.
The main reason we've been focusing a bit on DTM recently is because a) there have been big changes for the 2012 season, b) we wanted to see what that was like and c) there's no small measure of British participation in the series.

We don't generally cover that much motorsport on a regular basis on PH because, to be honest, it doesn't often attract all that many readers.

However, we are interested in the BTCC, and we do have some plans for it later in the season, so watch this space (well not this exact one, but you know what we mean smile ).

(And I think you can probably guess whose efforts we are most specifically interested in)

chevronb37

6,471 posts

185 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
I welcome any coverage of motor racing, as a rule. PH does cover a pretty decent, diverse range of sporting matters, as well as road cars and all power to it. Some folk will only go to one race meeting a year and others will spend most weekends cold and wet watching their heroes splashing around a distant airfield circuit.

DTM is an enormous deal to the manufacturers. I remember going to the ITC at Donington in 1995 and as a pre-teen bred on Saturdays at Oulton Park watching clubbies, I couldn't believe the amount of money being spent - it was fabulous! Evidently, M-B, Audi and BMW all still see it that way.

The crowd at BTCC rounds has been, how does one say this diplomatically, more varied than one might expect at some race meetings. Even back in the mid-90s there were thousands there who might not necessarily attend the Goodwood Revival. But this should be an inclusive sport and there's nothing like the thrill of watching great racing within a crowd of thousands - it feels amazing. Getting to experience Jenson's win at Canada was made all the more special for being sodden wet and sharing the experience with thousands of others in our grandstand. Same when we watched the GP2 race at Silverstone in 2006 as Lewis pulled off that stunning move into Becketts. The entire crowd arose in spontaneous applause to celebrate a magical moment. I've sat on the grass at Cadwell Park with one man and his dog, and it doesn't match the atmosphere of enjoying great cars at a great venue among a great crowd.

Anyway, can't wait for DTM at Brands Hatch in a couple of weeks. I recently uploaded a couple of photos from previous events.

2011:



2010:


Riggers

1,859 posts

177 months

Wednesday 2nd May 2012
quotequote all
Some really nice points, Chevron. Couldn't have put it better biggrin