Sunday 30th July 2017

Mercedes to quit DTM...

...to enter Formula E. Another big manufacturer joins electric racing!

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And so an era ends for Mercedes, with its departure from DTM. Having raced for 26 seasons since the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft was founded in 1984 and competing in 18 consecutive championships since changing over to its new format in 2000, the most successful DTM manufacturer has announced it will be leaving the sport to focus its efforts on both Formula 1 and Formula E. VP of Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, Dr Jen Thiemer said, "It is now time to start on a new path."

The glory days!

The fact that Mercedes is to enter Formula E should come as no surprise, given an announcement was made last year after an option agreement was signed between Mercedes Grand Prix and Formula E Operations Ltd for a 2018/19 entry. This has now been extended to the 2019/20 season.

It is a step to join other major manufacturers already involved in the series, with Thiemer adding, "Formula E is a significant step in order to demonstrate the performance of our attractive battery powered electric vehicles, as well as giving an emotional spin to our EQ technology brand through motorsport and marketing." But what does this all mean for DTM? With Mercedes pulling out, the fight falls to Audi - already in Formula E - and BMW, which is joining in the 2018 season. Could BMW and Audi also pull the plug, killing off the series as we know it?

And the future...

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport and Executive Director, sees the electrified series as a form of racing that reflects the current automotive landscape. "Formula E is like an exciting start-up venture: it offers a brand new format, combining racing with a strong event character, in order to promote current and future technologies."

As for this year's DTM, Mercedes-AMG will carry on as was. Winning a championship would be some way to announce your departure...

 

Images: LAT Photo

[HorneyMX5]

Can you hear that F1? It's the sound of deaths door opening.

[lucido grigio]

Oh dear ,DTM was quite dull with 3 manufacturers with 6 cars each.

It can't continue with 12 cars.

[Johnspex]

The old saying is racing improves the breed. Well, the way things are going they'll have improve the electric breed so they will race electric cars. How soon will sales of Ic cars dry up before legislation kills them off completely?

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.

[E65Ross]

On a (slightly) different note, there are numerous reports saying Porsche are pulling out of WEC as well....

[R66STU]

Im not really liking how the future looks for motoring in general including racing.. electric..

[moffat]

Who actually watches Formula E?

I not met a single person who has watched it. I tried and found it terminally dull.

[cuprabob]

I've tried to give Formula E a chance but just can't get into it at all. In theory it should work, it has good drivers, the strategic element and close racing but it just doesn't work.

[lucido grigio]

It doesn't make any difference who enters Formula E ,Pagani or Koenigsegg could enter if they want to, it is still

sleep inducing.

It has some "proper" drivers in it ,some are Formula 1 failures but some are up and coming like Alex Lynn ,who won in New

York couple of weeks ago.

[Krikkit]

E65Ross said:

On a (slightly) different note, there are numerous reports saying Porsche are pulling out of WEC as well....

Having sunk €100m Euro into their facilities (with specific ICE testing etc making up a significant chunk) I'd be surprised if they do.

Interestingly I can see Mercedes pulling out of F1 in a few years once FE is more established.

[lucido grigio]

Krikkit said:

Interestingly I can see Mercedes pulling out of F1 in a few years once FE is more established.

This has already been rumoured but so far Mercedes vehemently deny it.

[cuprabob]

Krikkit said:

Interestingly I can see Mercedes pulling out of F1 in a few years once FE is more established.

Eddie Jordan was saying this a few weeks ago directly to Toto Wolff. To be fair he was also saying Petronas woukd pull out of sponsorship of Mercedes, which has subsequently been proven wrong

[Uncle John]

Nanook said:

Every time I've put it on, they're no tiny little street circuits so there's no overtaking.

Why is that?

I think it's so that the crashes are more spectacular.

Also the noise, grates the ears and is just the same as a 1:1 scale Scalextric.

F1 has been dead for me for a few years now and just look at the safety halos that will be introduced next season......

But the alternative seems even worse....

[cuprabob]

Nanook said:

moffat said:

Who actually watches Formula E?

I not met a single person who has watched it. I tried and found it terminally dull.

Every time I've put it on, they're no tiny little street circuits so there's no overtaking.

Why is that?

I think it's down to the limitations of battery power and to add to the"excitement"

[Steamer]

cuprabob said:

I've tried to give Formula E a chance but just can't get into it at all. In theory it should work, it has good drivers, the strategic element and close racing but it just doesn't work.

Same here.

But still sounds like a radio controlled car race... and the cars bounce over the curbs with about as much finesse too.

[Cold]

Do they still change cars halfway through the race in Formula E due to flat batteries, or has racing improved the tech?

[lucido grigio]

Formula E in Battersea park was an instant success.......

Even electric cars was too much for the NIMBY locals.

[Steamer]

Cold said:

Do they still change cars halfway through the race in Formula E due to flat batteries, or has racing improved the tech?

Yes - still have to do the change

[cuprabob]

Cold said:

Do they still change cars halfway through the race in Formula E due to flat batteries, or has racing improved the tech?

No, they still swap cars in the middle.

[SpeckledJim]

Nanook said:

Every time I've put it on, they're no tiny little street circuits so there's no overtaking.

Why is that?

Is it because the cars are slow enough that a normal F1-type circuit will make them look a bit daft?

[TXG399]

Uncle John said:

I think it's so that the crashes are more spectacular.

Also the noise, grates the ears and is just the same as a 1:1 scale Scalextric.

F1 has been dead for me for a few years now and just look at the safety halos that will be introduced next season......

But the alternative seems even worse....

Why exactly is a significant safety improvement like halo a bad idea? As someone who has been watching the sport for over 25 years I can name a fair few worse things that have happened.