Opening DTM races in doubt after new government measures
The future of the DTM season opener at Norisring and the third round at Zolder has been plunged into doubt following new preventive measures against coronavirus in Germany and Belgium.
Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmes and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Wednesday that all mass gatherings in their respective countries will be prohibited until August 31st.
The timescale includes the Norisring race, scheduled for July 11-12, as well as the Zolder round on August 8-9.
The organisers of the street race around Nuremberg had already requested the DTM for more time to decide whether the event could go ahead as planned.
With no trackside audience allowed to recoup the expenses involved in putting together the temporary facilities, the race is unlikely to be held until the restrictions are lifted off.
Moreover, the Norisring street circuit is located in Bavaria, the region most affected by the pandemic in Germany.
Question marks have also been raised about the viability of the race in Zolder following the announcement.
SRO has already moved to postpone its Spa 24 Hours event, which was scheduled just three weeks before the Zolder DTM race in Belgium.
However, there have been no announcements yet from the DTM, Formula 1 or the FIA World Endurance Championship, all of which have events slated in August in Belgium.
Between the season opener at Norisring and the third round at Zolder, another DTM race is scheduled at the new Igora Drive facility in Russia on August 1-2.
The fourth round of the season is scheduled just weeks later at Brands Hatch on August 22-23 as part of a packed rescheduled calendar released last month.
As of yet, there has been no directive from the governments in Russia or the UK against sporting events in August.
The DTM has previously ruled out hosting races behind closed doors while the pandemic runs out of steam, with ITR chairman Gerhard Berger against the idea of running events without spectators.
Spengler wants DTM farewell after abrupt BMW exit
Rast: Kubica will face steep learning curve in DTM
How the DTM has come back stronger from its Norisring nadir
OPINION: Questionable driving standards and farcical team orders meant the DTM's first season under GT3 regulations ended under a cloud. But the organisation has responded firmly by banning team orders and welcomed new manufacturers, making for an intriguing season ahead as new and returning names prepare for battle.
The remarkable career of 'classy' champion Martin Tomczyk
Over two decades as a factory driver with Audi and BMW, Martin Tomczyk earned the respect of teammates and rivals as a hard but fair racer. After calling time on his racing career, the 2011 DTM champion sat down with Motorsport.com to look back.
Jamie Green: The other Hamilton conqueror seeking career revival
On his rise through the ranks before reaching Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton was usually a cut above the rest. But he never truly asserted himself over a Mercedes-backed fellow Briton who traded single-seaters for touring cars and is now seeking new opportunities after a year largely spent on the sidelines.
How the DTM's shambolic finale poses awkward future questions
OPINION: The scenes at the Norisring as Mercedes used blatant team orders to secure the first DTM title of the new GT3 era totally undermined the credibility of the championship. But as well as overshadowing the season, it also presents uncomfortable questions to series bosses about the direction it is headed in.
How Audi's new DTM flagbearer is closing on his "childhood dream"
Having learned the ropes in GT3 alongside Rene Rast, Kelvin van der Linde is in line to take up the three-time champion's baton as Audi's new DTM king. From humble origins in South Africa, it's been a remarkable journey so far for the current series leader, but he knows that the 2021 title is a long way from settled just yet.
The number-crunching behind the new-look DTM's equalisation drive
Switching to GT3 regulations marked a fresh start for the DTM in 2021, but it has also drawn a line in the sand against other series using similar cars by engaging AVL Racing to develop a bespoke Balance of Performance system. Here’s how it works.
The initial verdict on DTM's move to GT3 cars
OPINION: Facing collapse last year, the DTM has shifted its philosophy from a championship for silhouette-based touring cars to GT machines not too dissimilar to those racing across multiple series worldwide. But despite some initial BoP-based teething troubles, there were some pleasant findings as the 'new DTM' got underway at Monza
Why Albon has his work cut out in the new-look DTM
The DTM moves into its bold new GT3 era with welcome support from Red Bull, which enters two AF Corse-run Ferraris. That includes one for ex-F1 driver Alex Albon, who’s determined to make a success of his GT switch