The DTM this week announced further details as to the restructure of its race weekends for the coming season.
The German touring car series revealed recently that it was to switch to a two-race-per-weekend schedule, but could not confirm how the format would play out, until now.
From the knock-out qualifying of previous seasons, the series has taken the decision to place two 20-minute qualifying sessions per weekend, allowing both grids to form in a natural manner; however, both races are to follow a rather different path.
Saturday’s event will last 40 minutes plus one lap, but changing tyres will be optional. This was determined to open up potential strategy options, with those stretching tyre life placing themselves against those who opt for pitstops and the faster lap times that come with fresher tyres, although the strategic thinking will also need to weigh up time lost sitting in the pits.
Sunday’s race is to be a 60-minute plus one lap affair, with a tyre change mandatory for all runners through the duration.
ITR Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht commented, “With two championship rounds per weekend we provide the spectators twice as much of the things that count: more door-to-door battles, more thrilling decisions, and more fascinating motor racing. And we are convinced that the differing race formats will make for entertaining and thrilling races.”
Both races are to be weighted with full championship points. The season begins at the Hockenheimring at the beginning of May and will once again be supported for the most part by the FIA European Formula 3 Championship.
