DTM umbrella organisation ITR and Super GT promoters GTA have agreed to stage a joint race at the Fuji Speedway in Japan in November, whilst Super GT drivers will make a guest appearance at the DTM finale at Hockenheim in October.
The two organisations have been working together in recent years on the new Class One regulations which both series are to use from this year onwards, and the organisations have now announced the details of their much-anticipated joint races.
The first full joint-race will take place at the Fuji Speedway in Japan on November 23 – 24, marking the culmination of the cooperation.
The race will see DTM cars from Audi, BMW and Aston Martin take on Super GT models from Honda, Lexus and Nissan in the foothills of the famous mountain.
Furthermore, Super GT cars will appear in the season finale at Hockenheim in Germany in October.
“I’m delighted that we’ve taken a major step in regards to the planned joint event of SUPER GT and DTM,” said ITR Chairman Gerhard Berger. “This is another milestone in the partnership of both series promoters GTA and ITR.
“I would like to thank GTA Chairman Masaaki Bandoh as well as the organization of the Fuji Speedway for their work so far. Fuji is a world-famous, modern racetrack – a worthy venue for a spectacle with racecars from SUPER GT and DTM.”
GTA boss Masaaki Bandoh is equally excited to be able to reveal the joint race to take place in Japan.
“The joint race meeting of DTM and SUPER GT finally can be realised. I’d love to thank ITR and its Chairman Gerhard Berger for the good collaboration.
“Furthermore, I thank the Fuji Speedway officials who were actively involved in the realisation of our plan. I’m really delighted that we are going to jointly organise this event.”
The Fuji race will feature 12 DTM cars competing against an as-yet unspecified number of Super GT cars. For the Super GT participation at Hockenheim, the three Japanese brands will each send one car to the grid – a necessary restriction as the Super GT season does not end until 3 November.
The Fuji race will follow the usual DTM format, with two sprint races contested with no driver changes. All cars are expected to be fitted with Hankook tyres. No criteria have yet been revealed as to how the 12 DTM cars will be selected.
ITR Managing Director Achim Kostron is looking forward to seeing six brands on the grid for a DTM race for the first time in the modern era.
“This means that we provide our European fans with a huge additional highlight,” said Kostron. “Six brands on the grid of a DTM race – that’s impressive.
“This demonstrates the huge potential of the cooperation of SUPER GT and DTM.”