Rover 75 in DTM 2005

[Ahonen]

p490kvp said:

Funny how short our memories are in this sport... Aiello, French touring car champion, German touring car champion, British Touring car champion and I think easily lead the Le Mans 24hr for Audi in 2001.

From last year's performances it's hard to believe that Aiello was DTM champ in '02 and also, for quite a while, regarded as the finest touring car driver in the World. How he must regret leaving Abt...

Frentzen kept his place for PR reasons, I imagine. Dropping Scheider in particular is just unfathomable.

I know Andretti said 'if you can drive, you can drive, period', but some drivers can't change disciplines easily. It took Kristensen almost all season to get to grips with DTM - though he got there in the end - while Wendlinger (once more highly rated than Schumacher...) couldn't get the hang of DTM at all. There are lots of reasons why some drivers can't quite get their heads round certain cars - but in any form of touring car racing it looks obvious due to the closeness of the field. Being half a second off in a GT is okay, but half a second off your team mates in the worst car in the field looks terrible. That's not a reason to keep H-HF though, obviously.

I hear the ITR is finding the MG entry - getting ready for Opel's withdrawal so the series doesn't fall on its arse like it did in '96...

[p490kvp]

Writing off drivers on the strength of a bad season - the detail of which only the team will know. Opel as an example were using Dynamics dampers until budget problems caused a switch - who got what thereafter?

Seem to remember Button had a pretty poor time with Renault - slated by all - funny how everyone loves him again and he is the greatest once more.

Fickle business, fickle followers and to call someone like Aiello a plodder is pretty crazy.

[Ahonen]

I didn't know about the damper issue. That would make quite a difference. I have a mate at Dynamics so I'll ask him about that. Like you say, there's so much going on behind the scenes that no one knows about. For example, if the engineer and driver don't gel it can still be a disaster, despite all the data.

So, p490kvp, if you are who I think you are - what did you think of the Monaro GT car? Or didn't it stay running long enough to get an impression?

[p490kvp]

Yeah another one of those ha, ha, ha moments! You are right sadly I didn't do a flying lap in it. On paper it should be really good - but as you say - just like the Rover 75.

Without all the elements in place it can't hope to be quick. You got to say that having a DTM program announced at Christmas with only an artist's impression puts things on the back foot!

[anonymous-user]

For those of you who speak German: www.eurosport.de/home/pages/v4/l1/s10005/sport_lng1_spo10005_sto666675.shtml

[anonymous-user]

Confirmed now.

www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view.asp?cid=13&nid=105779

Crash.net said:

British marque MG has confirmed that it will be competing in the DTM in 2005 with a 500hp MG ZT. The move from the manufacturer is one driven to push sales in the crucial European market and also will bolster the DTM marques with the prospect of Opel leaving Audi and Mercedes Benz otherwise to themselves at the end of this season. "Racing against prestigious brands in DTM is an exciting way to raise the MG profile," says Rod Ramsay, managing director of sales & marketing for MG Rover. "We see the young audience that the series attracts as key to the growth of the marque across Europe." The series attracts top names such as ex Formula One drivers Mika Hakkinen, Jean Alesi, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Allan McNish. It is not currently known who will be driving the MG Zytek-built cars. The British company has enjoyed previous success in the DTM's earlier inclination, with driver Kurt Thiim taking he championship in 1986 in a Rover. This time out, powered by V8 4.0 litre engines developing 500 bhp, the MG-Zytek team will race two MG ZTs.

And DTM's site itself:
www.dtm.de/newsausgabe.en.php?id=2436

www.dtm.de said:

MG to enter two ZT’s for the 2005 DTM season The British automobile manufacturer MG returns to DTM to battle it out with Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Opel. MG will contest the eleven rounds of the most popular international touring car series with two MGs ZT, powered by a Zytek V8 4.0-litre engines. “I’m truly proud and delighted that we have the opportunity of welcoming MG as additional DTM manufacturer,” said ITR Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht. “MG’s involvement proves DTM’s attractiveness for manufacturers. With four brands on its grid, DTM has got on a solid basis and will provide even more excitement and thrill in its forthcoming season.” MG will contest DTM with two MGs ZT Years ago, already, the company enjoyed great success in DTM. In both 1984 and 1985, the British brand Rover was just pipped in the battle for the title and finished runner-up, but in 1986, Rover won the championship with Kurt Thiim. Two weeks after the official launch in Hamburg, taking place on 5th April, DTM and its four manufacturers will kick the new season off on 17th April, with six of its eleven rounds taking place in Germany and the other five being held abroad, in Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France and Turkey.

[andy_b]

NOW CONFIRMED

The DTM Rover, which I've had a hand in has finally been announced to the press.

[url]www.dtm.de/newsausgabe.de.php?id=2435[/url]


along with a couple of my images

[ettore]

well, I wish thm the best of luck, Zytek sem to be a decent firm, so I guess the rest is down to budget?

[tonytonitone]

andy_b said:

NOW CONFIRMED The DTM Rover, which I've had a hand in has finally been announced to the press.

Very aggresive! Lets hope its as fast as it looks.

What involvement have you had?

[andy_b]

concept sketches and illustrations and some other "arty" bits

[egoboss]

LexSport said:

According to a news report a German colleague just sent me, Rover are to enter 75 V8s in next year's DTM.

great news. fingers crossed they're semi-competitive.

aussie v8 series may have been more viable but the marketing kudos would be very limited.

ironically, much of europe seems to value rover/mg cars more so than us brits.

the 75 is still a damn fine looking car i believe. should look rather cool in dtm spec and do sales of the mg spec no harm at all.

good luck!!

[andy_b]

egoboss said:

aussie v8 series may have been more viable but the marketing kudos would be very limited. ironically, much of europe seems to value rover/mg cars more so than us brits.

not yet as Aussie rules only allow Holden and Ford, for the moment, there is talk of change.

I think MG Rover do particuarly well in Germany and Italy, at least they use to a few years ago