Spectator-friendly and reliable. In the coming season, the DTM time schedules feature standardised starting times for the Saturday and Sunday races. All the races will start at 13:30hrs. “I’m really happy that we can fulfil the wish of many fans with this move,” says Achim Kostron, CEO ITR GmbH, regarding the new starting times. “Thanks to our new TV partner, SAT.1, we will be able to provide – in addition to the uniform starting times – extensive and elaborate pre- and post-event coverage.”
No rule without exception – but an exception with a cause. In the race meeting at Misano, Italy, DTM will hold its first night races in the history of the sport. The two races on 25th and 26th August will be started at 22:20hrs local time. Late-night racing promises spectacular pictures and top-class entertainment for the fans and tourists at the Italian Adria coast. To date, the only DTM event held under flood light was held at the Nürburgring on 16th August 2003 – but this was just a qualifying session. But there are good reasons for starting the races of the Italian meeting late at night: in summer, the temperatures in the vacation resort Misano can climb up to 40 degree Celsius. Furthermore, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli already features a track illumination system.
And there is another variation on the calendar: the final race of the season, on 14th October: to offer the spectators on site the opportunity to enter the pit-lane right after the 20th and final round of the season to appropriately celebrate in front of the podium together with teams and drivers, this race will be started at 15:05hrs. After all, opening the fences only will be possible if the DTM race is the last on the day’s time schedule.
The two races at Brands Hatch will be started at 12:30hrs BST which means that the German TV viewers can watch the two rounds contested at the tradition-rich British circuit as usual live from 13:30hrs CEST.
The DTM races at the Lausitzring will also be contested at the usual times – but on a different track layout. This year, the action is supposed to take place on the 4.534 kilometres Grand Prix circuit – subject to the confirmation by the German Motor Sport Association (DMSB). With 14 corners in total and a balanced proportion of slow and quick passages, this track version is especially challenging and should offer the drivers another good overtaking possibility at the end of the long back straight in the South end of the circuit.
The 2018 DTM season will be kicked off at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg from 04th to 06th May. Tickets can be purchased online at www.dtm.com/tickets and via the hotline +49 1806 386 386 (€0.20 including VAT per call from the German landline / maximum €0.60 including VAT per call from the German mobile network).
