Ingolstadt, 16 December 2005



Audi to increase DTM commitment

New V8 engine for Audi A4 DTM DTM is the most attractive racing series outside Formula 1 Long-term commitment planned
After clinching the title in 2004 with Audi factory" driver Mattias Ekstr?m and being defeated this season by only a narrow margin, the objectives for next year are very clear: We want to recapture the lead from Mercedes-Benz to thus underline our position as the sportiest manufacturer in the premium car segment," says Professor Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. At the same time, together with Mercedes-Benz, we are going to continue to work on strengthening the DTM's role as the most attractive racing series outside of Formula 1. With a long-term commitment to DTM, which currently is planned for at least three years including 2008, we are adding our part to that."

Audi and Mercedes-Benz, the two leading German automotive manufacturers, compete against each other at the highest level in the 2006 DTM to continue a great tradition. It will re-enact the famous duel which thrilled spectators 70 years ago when the legendary Silver Arrows" from Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz raced against each other. Mercedes-Benz has been committed to the DTM for many years. Audi, DTM champions in 1990, 1991, 2002 and 2004, is one of the most successful and prestigious brands of the DTM - a series which breaks one record after another: 922,500 fans attended the eleven DTM races last season and approximately two million spectators on average watched every race live" on ARD TV - thus making 2005 the most successful so far in the DTM's 21-year history. Furthermore, on an international scale, the DTM reached record TV audiences, far surpassing those of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and other racing series.

It is obvious that spectators want to see spectacular touring cars at the highest level," says Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. And this is exactly what the DTM offers them. Additionally, the cars are so appealing that the DTM even attracts the world's best racing drivers." At the same time, the financial investment is reasonable - a prerequisite for entering ten cars, as Audi is planning to do for the 2006 season. The Technical Regulations envisaged for 2007 will further reduce costs, thus making the DTM even more attractive for automotive manufacturers who are currently considering a commitment or are active in another series. With Audi and Mercedes-Benz committing to DTM on a long-term basis, it gives the series `security' for all interested partners and other manufacturers."

In the 2006 DTM, Audi will be competing with an A4 DTM version that has been subjected to further development, bearing the internal project name R12 plus". Apart from modifications to the aerodynamics and suspension, the A4 DTM will be fitted with a new V8 engine which has been running on the dyno since the end of October.

A total of twelve DTM races are planned for the 2006 season - six of them in Germany, one of AUDI AG's most important markets. New venues on the calendar are Brands Hatch (Great Britain), Le Mans (France) and Barcelona (Spain), and thus three European circuits which are extremely rich in tradition.

In 2006, the DTM's attractive supporting programme will again include the SEAT Leon Supercopa and the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup.



Communication Motorsport

 

The cars bear enough physical resemblance to the actual street cars to stir some interest. I have to admit that the "face" of the new A4 has grown more appealing to me because I've seen it on DTM races.

NASCAR no longer sells Luminas because the body shells have essentially morphed into a generic blob with headlight decals.

 

IIRC ABT talked DTM into allowing them to fudge a TT and put a V8 in it but I'm pretty sure the rules require a V8 based street car to morph it into a legitimate silouette racer.

Mind you, the A4 is an "a4" not an S4 in DTM. Oh the joys of "rules" heh.

Maybe when the next M3 comes out.

 

Maybe because all the $ went to Sauber. Making a front line F1 team isn't cheap.

 

Nope, there is no such need.

 

the V8 was an adaptation of an abandoned DTM engine though

 

BMW is a pretty small company to mount a F1 program and another super-expensive "prototype" team. I mean DTM cars are virtually prototype race cars with sedan silouettes but it's a pretty "limited" spec:

Found the regs;
Philosophy: The DTM wants to offer spectacular, at the same time however cost-conscious route car haven. Numerous construction units such as transmissions, cardan shaft, engine electronics, tail wing and carbon fiber brakes are uniformly prescribed for all manufacturers. An DTM engine must hold a whole running season.

Vehicles: A DTM vehicle is compromiseless for the engine haven conceived route cars with the silhouette of a four-door mass production vehicle and on a steel tube framework is developed. The body consists the sheet metal roof of plastic, originates from the series. Rear propulsion is prescribed, electronic driving assistance such as ABS or traction control is forbidden.

Engines: In the DTM are only V8-Motoren with a cylinder bank angle of 90 degrees, maximally four litres capacity and maximally four valves per cylinder certified. The air intake system must be equipped with two air limiters with maximally 28 mm in diameter each.

Transmission: In the DTM are certified only two different transmission Differenzialeinheiten, which come from two suppliers (Hewland and x-trac).

Tire: Exclusively by Dunlop are placed. There is a Slick and a rain tire variant.

Brakes: The carbon fiber brakes come just like brake wedges and brake calipers for all teams of a uniform manufacturer.

Aerodynamics: The aerodynamics for all vehicles of a mark must at the latest eight days before first running be specified and may not during the season no more be changed.

Weight: The minimum weight of a DTM vehicle with a aerodynamics variant of 2005 inclusive drivers, suit and helmet amounts to 1050 kilograms. Vehicles with a aerodynamics variant 2004 may weigh 15 kilograms less (1035 kilograms).

Electronics: All vehicles work with a uniform controller of the company Bosch. Data communication while driving is forbidden.

Security: A safety cell made of carbon fiber surrounds the driver in the cockpit. Each vehicle is besides with Crashstrukturen in the range of the front and heckpartie equipped.

 

And DTM would of had no problem bending that rule if it exist to have BMW in.

 

"A DTM vehicle is compromiseless for the engine haven conceived route cars with the silhouette of a four-door mass production vehicle and on a steel tube framework is developed."

 

heh, that's Alta Vista...I didn't see an English Language option on their site ;-P