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DTM to Introduce Radical Qualifying Format for 2016

DTM, also known as the German and less diversified version of the British Touring Car Championship, is pushing the envelope for 2016. The seventeenth season of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters will see the introduction of an innovative qualifying format unlike any other before it.
BMW M4 DTM and BMW M4 1 photo
Photo: BMW
On the 6th of May, at the Hockenheimring Baden-Wurttemberg motor racing circuit, participating teams and drivers will get their first proper taste of the format. Because DTM race cars are based on the BMW M4, Audi RS5, and Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe, a comparison between the race cars and the production cars makes a lot of sense.

DTM management describes the qualifying format as follows: “In the run-up to every race of the forthcoming season, every driver may complete two free laps: one with his racing car and the other with the production car it is based on. The two lap times will be totted up and the result will be crucial for a driver’s position on the grid.“ Simple as that.

When you think about it, this is what DTM needs more than anything. Jens Marquardt, the head honcho of BMW Motorsport, is thrilled by the idea. “I liked the plan right from the start but had my doubts if realizing such a format would be possible,” he commented. Don’t know how the drivers feel about this change, but DTM fans will be chuffed to bits. Pascal Wehrlein, the champion of the 2015 DTM season, is excited about it.

Now that I’ve leveled up to the king motorsport, I can’t help but think that the qualifying format will be carried over into Formula 1 as soon as 2017. Happily for me, my Manor has a Mercedes-AMG Hybrid Power Unit under the hood, the best and most powerful engine in Formula 1. As if that wasn't enough, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe trumps the M4 and RS5 regarding out-and-out horsepower,” said Wehrlein with a smug look on his face.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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