2018.06.23

Final new 'CLASS 1' regulations announced by GTA and ITR. Use by DTM from next season, and Japan-Germany joint races planned

On June 23, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series umbrella organization ITR (Chairman, Gerhard Berger) and the SUPER GT umbrella GTA Co., Ltd. (Chairman, Masaaki Bandoh) held a joint press conference during the fourth round of the DTM series at Norisring (Germany) to introduce the final version of the new “CLASS 1” technical regulations that the two organizations have jointly developed for mutual use. Speaking at the event, Mr, Berger described this “CLASS 1” regulations resulting from the collaboration between GTA and ITR “A milestone for international motor racing.”

 

 

Chairmen Bandoh of GTA and Berger of ITR exchange copies of the new “CLASS 1” technical regulations

 

 

With this, the DTM vehicles will fully meet the ‘CLASS 1’ regulations from the 2019 season. The SUPER GT cars of the GT500 class will also conform to these new regulations from the 2020 season when the design of the current monocoque is scheduled to be changed. Also, since the DTM races are run in a sprint format while the SUPER GT races adopt a semi-endurance format, some changed will be made to will make some changes in their race format while retaining the unique appeal that currently characterizes the SUPER GT series.

 

Mention was also made in the conference about the possibilities of joint races between SUPER GT and DTM machines that fans around the world are looking forward to. It was announced that in as soon as the 2019 season, there will be such races run with the cars in their 2019 specifications (with adjustments), one in Asia and one in Europe. Furthermore, joint races will be held from 2020 with cars from both series that meet the ‘CLASS 1’ regulations 100%.

 

Demonstration runs were held with DTM and GT500 class cars at the final round of the SUPER GT series last year
 

 

As a result of ongoing negotiations between GTA and ITR, the CLASS 1 regulations include a unified monocoque based on the DTM design which was adopted in the SUPER GT cars of the GT500 class (but built by a Japanese manufacturer in the case of GT500 cars) from 2014, as well as other common parts. After that the regulations for the engines remained different for DTM and GT500 cars, but under the final CLASS 1 regulations the engine regulations will also be unified around the 2-liter, 4-cylinder, direct injection turbocharged format that has already been adopted in GT500 cars. Designed with primary concern for clear cost reductions, additional safety and equal-opportunity areas, these new regulations are sure to become a foundation for motorsport regulations going forward.

 

 

 

Speaking at the press conference Chairman Berger said, “First of all, I want to thank Bandoh-san and all the peers that jointly worked on the new ‘Class 1’ regulations very much. This is a milestone for international motor racing. I’m really happy about the fact that DTM and SUPER GT made a crucial step on the way to our ultimate goal: to jointly hold races. By the creation of these regulations, we kept on pursuing our previous course consequently. After all, there are three criterions that always will represent the top priority: safety, cost reduction and equal opportunities. Furthermore, we set the course for the future of DTM that will fully adopt the ‘Class 1’ regulations from 2019, thus remaining an attractive platform for the car manufacturers.”

 

In the press conference Chairman Bandoh expressed his joy at the completion of the ‘CLASS 1’ regulations and his expectations for next year’s joint races. “I would like to thank Mr. Berger, DTM and the SUPER GT manufacturers and all concerned for your dedication in working together toward the same goal of completing this CLASS 1 regulation down to the finest detail so that we could introduce it today,” said Mr. Bandoh. He continued by saying, “This has brought us very close to our long-held ideal of having cars sharing the same parts racing in DTM in Europe and in SUPER GT in Asia, and it has thus set the ground for joint races between us. As you can see from the great success of our show runs done in both Germany and Japan last year, our collaboration has been further deepened. In 2019, we are going to hold not demonstration runs but the first-ever joint race events where DTM and SUPER GT cars compete together here in Germany and in Japan. These joint events will surely bring new excitement for motorsports fans around the world. I strongly believe that both SUPER GT and DTM will continue to develop together, and I am looking forward with great expectations to next year’s joint races.”

 

 

 

 

Chairman Bandoh served as a presenter for that day's Race 1

 

 

≫ DTM & Super GT organize two joint races! (YouTube)

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