Rover 75 in DTM 2005

[anonymous-user]

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

According to the report, it was initiated by SAIC to try to get more european exposure for the marque, although my understanding of the SAIC/Rover deal isn't purchase of Rover shares by SAIC per se as the article suggests, but a joint venture.

At least, that's what my poor German understands:

said:

Stuttgart (dpa) - Rover tritt in der kommenden Saison als vierter Hersteller neben Audi, Mercedes und Opel beim Deutschen Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) an. Hans-Werner Aufrecht, der Präsident des Dachverbandes ITR, bestätigte gegenüber dem Fachblatt «Auto Bild motorsport» den Einstieg der Briten: «Ja, es stimmt, Rover kommt 2005.» Angeblich plant die Traditionsmarke den Einsatz von zwei Rennwagen auf Basis der Mittelklasse-Limousine Rover 75 V8. Als Initiator für das DTM-Engagement werde das chinesische Unternehmen Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. vermutet, das Anfang Dezember 70 Prozent der Rover-Group-Anteile gekauft habe, um sich auf dem europäischen Markt zu etablieren.

[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.