With the 2017 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season set to get underway this coming weekend at Hockenheim, further changes to the sporting regulations have been enforced to enhance the spectacle for the fans.
It turns the focus towards how the drivers perform in not only their new cars for 2017, but also how they adapt to the changes that will show how they cope with reduced information.
Radio communications from the pits will be restricted, with the customary pit boards still being part and parcel of the information that can be relayed during a race situation.
But in the case of a Safety Car, pit stop or yellow flag situation, the ban is lifted between driver and engineer.
Restarts will have an interesting twist from this season onwards, as the drivers will do a rolling start in a side-by-side row format, which could further add to the action.
DRS will be at the drivers’ fingertips, as ITR have decided to restrict the use of it for a maximum of 12 laps or 36 activations, with the driver still needing to be within a second of the car in front to activate it.
In qualifying, the three fastest drivers will now score points towards their respective campaigns, with the pole sitter for each race taking three points, with two for second and one for third.
The base weight for each brand has now been set at 1,125 kilograms, with no manufacturer receiving any dispensation from the DMSB, in light of the new technical regulations enforced.
Qualifying will still determine the Performance Weight system that DTM has used since Hungary in 2014, with weights going as high as 15 kilos over the base weight or 30 kilos under, which can only be carried out in 2.5 kilo increments.
“In the DTM, we want to put the sport into the centre of the attention. It has an outstanding and strong field of drivers and the fans want to experience this performance in the races”, explained ITR chairman Gerhard Berger.
The 4.574-km Baden-Württemberg circuit will see the drivers and teams start their battling once again, as Marco Wittmann will be looking to take a third drivers’ title with BMW, when the action gets underway on May 5th.