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This has been further
bolstered by the fact that
Porsche will also join the
fully-electric series at the
>>
same time as Mercedes,
having decided to pull the
plug on its LMP1 e©orts just
a year after its sister brand
Audi.
Automotive relevance has
become just as important
as success on track, as
Mercedes is also looking to
full-electrification as a future
powertrain solution on its
road cars. So embracing
Formula E will help them
to fast track their research
and development towards a
cleaner driving future.
The road car division has also
been in the news regarding
emissions as well, as it will
have to recall three million
diesel cars that were sold
from 2011 onwards, with the
repair bill set to be around
220 million Euros.
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport’s
Toto Wol© was clear in a
recent interview with German
TV channel SWR, saying
that one of their reasons for
moving to Formula E was to
do with having a consistent
racing strategy, with Formula
1 also being a big part of their
success in the new hybrid era.
The biggest issue about the
DTM having to go forward
without its talisman after
31 years means that there
is a lot of work for Gerhard
Berger to do, having to fight
for its survival.
The next 18 months will fly
by for him and his team,
but there will be no stone
unturned to help DTM lick its
wounds and return to halcyon
days of glory, like the ones
that we’ve experienced over
the last 30 years.
What could I suggest to help
the DTM get back on track?
It’s diµcult to say, but one
thing sticks in my mind above
all: keep it in Germany and
help a tradition stay alive.
Other ideas would include
more compulsory spec parts
to be used in order to help
the teams in terms of cost-
cutting, as well as even
having a universal engine
provided by an outside
source. Cosworth for
example.
But it is still too early to
speculate on what direction
DTM will head into for 2019,
when the supposed “Class
One” regulations are due to
be introduced. But as a
non-FIA ratified
championship, Gerhard
Berger was right in saying
that the DTM needs to
concentrate on itself, rather
than worry about further
expansion.
So could we see DTM go
back-to-basics? Time will
only tell, but there will be one
heck of a party next October,
when one legendary brand in
touring cars says goodbye.
WHAT’S
THE NEXT
STEP?
Drama
Für
DTM
?
PRO-AM
SUMMER 2017
14