I was thinking yesterday, long after the DTM. Enough time had been in the rather dreary race indeed well enough. Therefore, there is now no looking back for the race, but a few thoughts on the series.
That the DTM has a problem is not new. One should not forget that the DTM is one of Germany after the Formula One to known and most popular motorsport series. What certainly has to do with good TV coverage and even better marketing of the manufacturer. And the fact that all other racing series in Germany, they were ever so well run, well below the horizon of the audience attention. And yet - almost everyone who is interested in motor sport shrugs at the mention of the series with the shoulders. With motor sport has nothing to do, whispered to me the other day a VLN-pilot, whom I met by chance at the ring. And who yesterday compared with those of the DTM race of the BTCC, which could only come to a similar conclusion. While in England flew the tatters and we explored the precision work in color on the bumper of the enemy, in the DTM, little was going on. Why is it that the series for many fans has such a bad state?
The ingredients of the series actually vote. The cars do not look bad, if you take of the three million additional wings aside, the V8 engines sound good and be fun. The series is technically on a high level and it is balanced mainly due to the very rules. The time intervals are in the range of hundredths and sometimes it is too narrow, as in Formula One and other sports. And it is so much wrong:
First The Teams
The series is dominated by Mercedes and Audi. This in itself is not a problem. The V8 Supercars in Australia consists only of Holden and Ford, which NASCAR would work even if only Ford would go against Chevy. The teams in the DTM are not independent. You get the material from the manufacturers who make them taste the lot. So what are the teams, whether they are called HWA, Phoenix or Rosberg, under the influence of the manufacturers. And determine how to go out and have a race driver who may end up in which position. There are no visible competition and thereby falling away an important element for the spectators and the fans. In the U.S., Hendrick moves against Stewart-Haas, even if both teams are at Chevy and Hendrick gives the competitors also chassis and engines. In Germany it was once the case. A few will remember the example of the legendary battles between the "Gelo-Team" (Georg Loos) and "Kramer", "Kremer". Both Porsche teams, and made war anyway you look at every race. Without competition the team is missing a key ingredient for a series.
Second The car
You can already look good, I can not complain one. One could wish for wings work less, so the car will be half a second slower immediately, if they lose a flap front right times. But that's about it. This is ultimately a boring car in the mid-size cars is not just to avoid. It's all about that one wants to sell a car, and a Lotus Cortina in the 60s now, was not exactly an exciting car in terms of the design. And yet - something wrong with the car. Maybe they are just souped up too much and have a bit of a vehicle that has for too long rumgestanden at D & W at the door. For this, the aerodynamic sensitivity of the cars mentioned. Norisring do not mind, and then the races are also good on all other routes does the Aerodynmik out too much. The cars would have to be less sensitive, perhaps a little less menacing. The GT2 is a good base, you can look at. I can understand the manufacturers that currently they do not want to sell their sports cars. A midsize car makes more sense from a marketing perspective, but that should not be a problem to find such a regulation.
Third The policy
The DTM is a marketing series, no motor sports series. The idea is to present the latest generation of midsize cars, it is important that sponsors make a nice weekend. And it will not disturb please. And that race will be designed in a way that will feel in the end no one uncomfortable. Harmless bump, as the last of Ralf Schumacher, Jamie Green, be punished with a warning, Lauda had before, because he has left Katherine Legge in a tough duel too little space, occupied by a three-second penalty. The one-seater racing in such actions does not look like it is understandable for security reasons, but in touring car racing? Since such a thing ever heard it. A race is not to degenerate into a "demolition derby", but if every driver will stop at an overtaking maneuver, because he shall fear, a light touch can a punishment can not be that too.
This is not understandable for all the "strategic" decisions, that is the Trump Card. Zandvoort was now not the first race, the outcome was decided this way. Such a thing is destroying the sport, but also shows clearly what happens to the manufacturer at the end. This is the brand forward. The drivers have to be traces of it, or they can seek new employment.
4th The routes
Since the DTM can not directly for anything. There are just a few road that you can use in Germany. Hockenheim and the Nurburgring are not the best routes in the world, Oschersleben is not bad, but too narrow, the Lausitzring is something faceless (though not bad). The most fun you have with the DTM, significantly, but at the Norisring, from a boring layout is firmly on track. And the lack of the series. An old airfield circuit, a race at the Sachsenring, a street circuit. That would certainly wish. And if you already travels abroad, why not also in Spa? Or Imola? Oh, to want to Zandvoort and Brands Hatch because nobody can see the show.
5th The driver
No, not a bad word about the pilot. They range in each series of "world class" to "start up space." The power density of the pilots is to the very tight, even if one looks into the back field. But the drivers are not the main characters of the series. They are brand ambassadors, not more. Audi is ultimately care less whether or Ekström and Scheider wins, I am convinced that you especially Abbot equip all with the same material. But in the DTM, the brand is in the foreground, not the driver. At yesterday's race in Oschersleben drove Scheider, Ekström, Tomczyk at intervals of four seconds behind the other. As soon comes to suspect that it has reached an agreement after five laps on a "hold position". And because the driver may not always be as they want, they stay just a little pale.
It is also striking: in recent years has lost no touring car ace from other series in the DTM. The field made up with their own offspring, now and then "buys" you look like a star Schumacher. No one in the WTCC, BTCC or the other series has appeared in the DTM. Not even from the rich reservoir of the GT-pilot. And angular figures as Uwe Alzen are long gone.
How should it go?
The DTM is facing major problems. Economical and sporty. The economic crisis has already led to the 2010 one has to go with the car this year. Not a few see it as a harbinger of even a possible end of the show. But there is certainly room for improvement.
First Regulate
Even now, you get barely 20 cars at the start, which also has a lot to do with the fact that you are in terms of regulations is gone astray. An adapted to the needs of the GT2 marks Regulations of the series would help significantly. BMW already has a car in store, other brands would certainly show interest if you have a set of regulations that would allow manufacturers to use the car with slight modifications in other series.
Third More manufacturers
But because the DTM so far stands by its own rules, as do other manufacturers in rows. Toyota (Lexus) will not come, Citroen has just committed to the WRC in 2011, BMW has fundamental problems with the series. But only if more manufacturers get into the series, will improve power and the competitive situation.
4th Private team
With one, as I'm concerned for the needs of the DTM, modified GT2 rules would also create incentives for private teams to go into the series. And I mean real private teams, which do not come through the mercy of the manufacturer in the DTM. Even that would bring more salt in the soup. In a truly stable GT2 regulations, these teams will also have chances to win. A good example is the full blown Super 2000 regulations. In the BTCC Independents' yesterday climbed onto the podium. In a two-year-old Honda Civic. But those are the things you want to see as a motor sports fan. Surprises, small teams to go forward, and suddenly the driver celebrating a third place as a victory.
I realize that probably nothing will happen from that. If the DTM align their rules for the GT2, you have a problem, especially at Mercedes. For at least the R8, Audi, with whom in the GT3 class experience. Convert an A4 GT2 should not be a problem for Abt. BMW M3 and the 6 would have the Alpina (GT3). Mercedes has nothing. That would be pretty expensive.
I'm also pretty sure that the manufacturer will not move away from the concept of marketing mastery. This is precisely the reason why they do it. How uncomfortable would it be if one is suddenly struck by a private team.
But how nice it would be for the spectators and fans, when it would again be a "real" DTM. One can make the teams and drivers made a name in which the driver stands in the foreground and fight each other in the pilots allowed, without waiting for all the time to commands from the radio.
And what else?
Description of the DTM are racing and the BTCC race tomorrow at P1mag. I will cut out pictures later still. Then there are also some of the BTCC.
No related posts.
Well, that makes it very well.
Hi Ron Dahlmann,
a very good analysis of the DTM situation. In particular point 3, it is well aimed. The DTM is essentially a marketing and event sponsors, who m. M with C-and D-list celebrities adorn. Everything is well organized to the smallest detail, is now probably the "race". A few little nudges and the Stewards had heart attacks, after all, is a family event ....
I have often wondered whether the DTM could not even go back on the big circuit at Brands Hatch. Or, as you wrote, in Spa. I remember, no matter how well the old Teutonic race at the circuit in the Ardennes. But I'm afraid that would Flipperchen zugepflasterten DTM with coaches, Dingle Dell, or at Eau Rouge strip off all the plastic parts ..
I am convinced that the DTM does end 2010 a year of reflection for 2012 with a completely new set of rules, which also have a realistic chance of winning a private driver to compete again. The dominance of the producers on the team must be terminated. However, I am afraid that those responsible can potter so on and I'm bored, when the claimed DTM TV time again. As I stand now on rather early and see my V8supercars or traveling at a high level of BTCC.
By the way, the great warriors of the DRM-time were the "Kremer" brothers. In "Kramer" I always think of the grocery store and was the force at that time not really ...... :-)
Best wishes from Duesseldorf
Stephan Kremer
@ Stephan Kremer :
Agrees with the Kremer, typed faster than I thought.
But my name is Don, not Ron :)
I think so little "of the past everything was better" ... but after all I can underline, bold, what's up I have to say now time ;).
Who wants to see how DTM race abliefen earlier:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwZCxFNfR7U
Because ... you do see the same misty-eyed as a fan or it goes to sleep one's face when you see an actual race. I fear that this kind of race we never see more on the level in the DTM.
But still, everything was better. : P At least in the DTM. You would do well to at least the last years of the DTM / ITC to focus, analyze the elements of success and some of it back then transfer it to today's DTM to increase its attractiveness. Much of that time is no longer applicable, but as some already but still.
Basically, the entire series has in almost every respect just too artificial, the large and small. To plan is to designed to be secured to sponsor oriented. It has long gone under the impression that there "honest Motorsport" would be offered, with rough edges and spontaneous expressions, with dramas and stories about legends, underdogs, successes and failures, which could exert a fascination. In fact, it all seems like a marketing and promotional event at which one-what in the nature of the matter is, an artificial facade presents and all kinds of unreal is conjured. Whether it up were some teenage bands recently, conventional and rather annoying promotional appearances, or ironed driver interviews away from their true emotional state (can only pay no dissonance ...), or simply the fact that the cars are pure silhouettes (the DTM is not a real "touring car" series more, only in name) - it has simply not "real". And this lack of appeal has long since reached disastrous proportions, because the series is bleeding for years (from contact with manufacturers and drivers of course) without the gaps of equivalent or at least promising and substitute entwicklungsfähigem would be closed. High-class riders, even mittelklassige are hardly motivated to go there. And most of those who are currently operating, are likely to have little future in other places, and moderate level at best, "change" may "rise up" instead.
I also looked again DTM, and that's enough then it for now. Waste of time. And the DTM used to be offered fantastic racing. If you also change nothing else can or wants, you should at least do away with mandatory pit stops.
Hello Don
a great report on DTM Situation.Der report meets such as the famous fist on the eye.
On the lines I do not understand why you always have the short version
(Eg Barcelona, Brands Hatch, Nurburgring) runs.
The short version is also goes to spread the spectators on the grandstands.
All the old, correct DTM miss this video is set to the heart, must look in HD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD932EEPopg
Can be compared with what was once the series to be ashamed of the current state only in the land. As already mentioned in the article is the sporting value close to zero, the rest of the motorsports world does not care a damn for the DTM.
A rules based on GT2 would certainly be a great idea, but will never happen, at least with Mercedes. It is up to the F1 but not used to build a car according to existing rules, in the DTM it was always on the long lever.
Too bad a working DTM would be something great, the current state is just sad. When a DTM race look I feel myself becoming a bit like a dentist, this series is simply false, emotionless and without rough edges.
The DTM is currently plugged into a crisis that is not really deny. But in my view, the main features of the technical regulations are nearly perfect. Since these are prototypes and not to act on car bodies based vehicles, each manufacturer will start with the same conditions. That should be retained and only the Aero limit. If you would take, for example, with GT2 cars, you would have to adjust again different concepts of what goes into regular pants. See WTCC, LMS GT3, I could go on forever. With other manufacturers, the race would again have more flavor. In the WTCC drivers will work under the same team driven at least useful, but there has to be a 3 and of promoting the private operator, which distracts a little.
Addition: Mercedes developed a GT race car currently on the basis of the new SLS.
Maybe you should send the comments to the times gentlemen Haug and Ullrich.
The will then say to the few fans we can do without.
Rather than, or Ullrich Haug HWA should be something to heart. But, true, true racing fans are dispensable for the DTM rather than the marginal amount of interested people, which is reached on Sunday afternoon mass effect, which is numerically important for the effectiveness of advertising and sponsorship satisfaction. That different media representatives among others is read along so well ever was.
Oh yes, absolutely definitely have to recommend also part 2 of the already linked DTM Tributes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCS7CBcHxtA
By comparison, today's DTM toddler group consists of a pack of paper containers on wheels. Very nice too, again to see a race in singing. Ah yes, but earlier it was just better ...