The German Touring Car Masters has existed since 1984, but it has recently become less important and German manufacturers are withdrawing. Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger tries to save the car – and now decides to sell it. The ADAC takes over the “motor sport heritage”.
The future of the DTM is yellow, the dreaded From the traditional series averted: ADAC takes over the world-famous DTM brand and will be responsible for the series that was first held in 1984 in the future. Gerhard Berger, previously the strong man in the DTM, no longer plays a role in the realignment. “No other brand represents German motorsport like the DTM,” said ADAC Sports President Gerd Ennser. The ADAC is concerned with “preserving the DTM, because it is part of motorsport culture. It not only enjoys an excellent reputation in Germany, but also in motorsport worldwide.”
From next year, the DTM will “start a new chapter in its long history under the umbrella of the ADAC,” promised Ennser – and in doing so relieved numerous motorsport fans in Germany who had feared the end of the DTM. The DTM was in a precarious situation recently, due to major financial difficulties the previous umbrella organization ITR was unable to complete another season. On Wednesday, according to several media reports, there was a big bang. The end of ITR GmbH at the end of the year was announced.
“Now the time has come to lay the foundations for the long-term future of the DTM,” said Berger, who had held the rights with his Berger Motorsport AG: “That’s why I decided to hand over the brand to the ADAC. I’m sure convinced that the brand is in the right hands with ADAC.”
At a press conference in Munich on December 8th, questions about the sporting orientation of the DTM are to be clarified. Possible points are format, race calendar and participants or the future of the ADAC GT Masters. The ADAC stated that it was acquiring the DTM brand “also with the aim of reorganizing the structures in German motorsport, creating synergies in the economic area and consistently pursuing the path towards more sustainability in motorsport.” All previous participants in the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters should be given “opportunities” in the 2023 season to “get involved on the ADAC platforms”. Both series recently relied on GT3 cars.
The German Touring Car Masters (DTM) has existed since 1984. For a long time, the DTM was secured thanks to the financial support of the major manufacturers and drove with significantly more expensive Class One cars. After the end of this era and the factory withdrawal of Audi and BMW, the DTM switched to cheaper GT3 cars for the 2021 season – and thus entered direct competition with the ADAC GT Masters.
There were verbal digs from both parties, and some drivers and teams tried to start in both series. Due to some overlaps in the racing calendar, this was only possible to a limited extent. The switch to GT3 for the DTM did not offer a way out with prospects, the series also produced too high costs and was not driven economically. Berger, 210-time Grand Prix starter in Formula 1, ten-time race winner and twice World Championship third, ultimately drew the consequences.