New Russia round completes 2020 DTM calendar
The 2020 DTM calendar has been completed with the announcement that the series will head to new Russian circuit Igora Drive after signing a five-year deal with the venue.
As reported by Motorsport.com, Russia was in frame to return to the DTM calendar for the first time in 2017, although the series admitted that it was also in discussions with other circuits in Europe.
The confirmation of a new five-year contract with Igora Drive was made during a live-streamed press conference at Hockenheim on Thursday.
The Hermann Tilke-designed, FIA Grade 2 circuit, north of St Petersburg, has filled the slot the DTM had called a "very exciting" addition when it announced its calendar last month, and the race weekend will take place on May 29-31.
The circuit is currently targeting FIA Grade 1 classification after construction, which began in 2016, was recently completed.
The high-speed circuit has multiple configurations but the full layout includes an uphill final sector with a series of quick-fire corners following a hairpin before heading onto the long main straight.
Two-time DTM champion Rene Rast said: "We can't wait to go on track. Already now we went a few times around the track and we asked for race cars to race today. In 25 years of racing experience, I've not seen anything like that."
BMW driver Philipp Eng said: "The facility is amazing, I have never seen anything like it before. It's not only the track, but the whole surroundings, and I'm looking forward to racing here next year.
"Especially, the last sector, as a racing driver it is very technical and interesting so we will see spectacular racing here."
The addition of Igora Drive marks the DTM's return to Russia for the first time since 2017, having raced at Moscow Raceway between 2013-17.
Igora Drive is the third new-for-2020 venue on the calendar, joining Monza and former Swedish Grand Prix venue Anderstorp.
During Formula 1's Russian Grand Prix weekend, there had been speculation that the race could move from Sochi to Igora Drive, but Russian officials played down the prospect.
Organisers at Igora Drive confirmed there had been no discussions with F1.
W Series will remain on the DTM's support bill in 2020, with a press release on Thursday confirming it "is expecting to expand its six-race 2019 calendar, remaining committed to partner series DTM, although full details will not be announced until later this year".
2020 DTM calendar
| Date | Venue |
|---|---|
| April 24-26 |  Zolder |
| May 15-17 |  Lausitzring |
| May 29-31 |  Igora Drive |
| June 12-14 |  Anderstorp |
| June 26-28 |  Monza |
| July 10-12 | Norisring |
| August 22-23 |  Brands Hatch |
| September 4-6 |  Assen |
| September 11-13 | Nurburgring |
| October 2-4 | Hockenheim |
Previous article
Button: Super GT wildcard competitiveness hard to predict
Next article
Super GT drivers fear "huge disadvantage" after DTM running
About this article
| Series | DTM |
| Author | Tom Errington |
WRT Team Audi Sport – 2020 DTM Season Review
DTM 2020: Audi bids farewell
DTM: Hockenheim - Race 2 Highlights
DTM 2020: Race 1 highlights – Hockenheim
DTM: Hockenheim - Race 1 Highlights
The slow-burner threatening to unseat Audi's DTM king
It's taken him a while to emerge as a consistent title challenger, but in the final year of DTM's Class One ruleset, Nico Muller has smoothed the rough edges and has double champion stablemate Rene Rast working harder than ever to keep up in the title race.
Does 2000 hold the answers to the DTM's current crisis?
It's 20 years since the DTM roared back into life at a packed Hockenheim with a back-to-basics approach as the antidote to its high-tech past. Now it's on its knees again, so is it time to recall the lessons learned in 2000?
Ranking the 10 best Audi DTM drivers
Audi last week announced it would be exiting the DTM at the end of 2020, bringing the curtain down on 20 years of continuous participation since the series' reboot in 2000.
Why the DTM must reinvent itself after Audi exit
Audi's announcement that it will withdraw from the DTM at the end of 2020 was the latest blow for a series that has lost three manufacturers in as many years. Some major soul-searching will now be required to assess how it can survive.
Why cynic Berger changed his mind over green tech in racing
DTM boss Gerhard Berger was a detractor of Formula E and held a reluctance for his series to embrace greener engine technologies. However, this cynic's tune has had to change to ensure DTM's existence as the motorsport world moves forward
What the fallout from Aston's engine split means for 2020
Aston Martin's DTM arrival, via the R-Motorsport outfit, was heralded as a salvation of sorts for the series. After plenty of bumps in the road in 2019, the team finds itself in a similar position to the one it was in 12 months ago. Can it get its act together?
How the DTM and Super GT can build on their experiment
The Class One 'Dream Race' staged by the DTM and SUPER GT proved a hit - from a competitive and collaborative standpoint. The next step will be for both parties to ensure a successful trial ends up being more than just that.
Robot pitcrews and hydrogen – is DTM's concept plausible?
DTM organiser ITR has mooted a radical plan for a "truly new and inspiring" future motorsport series. How realistic are its suggestions of automated pitstops and 1000bhp hydrogen-fuelled touring cars?
