2019-spec DTM will be the most powerful ever

Front intake

The 2019 DTM series will be the most powerful in the sport’s 32-season history.

The adoption of new technical regulations which begins to unify the equipment raced in Europe by the DTM and in Asia by the Japanese SUPER GT series, means that this year’s turbo-charged cars will be the most powerful in history.

In addition to this year’s all-new four-cylinder, direct-injection two-liter turbo engines, and a planned reduction in downforce, the introduction of the following performance features will ensure the DTM remains a thrilling and exciting sporting spectacle:

DRS (Drag Reduction System)

Huge rear wing

The DTM will once again retain the DRS wing system, but it will be fitted to new, wider rear wings fitted with one element, compared to the two-element wings used in 2018. The single-element rear wing is already used successfully in SUPER GT, and is activated by the drivers when they are within three seconds of the car ahead – an increase over last season’s one-second gap.

For this year, however, an extra amendment to the regulation has been introduced to increase the action and excitement on-track: for the final five laps of each race, every driver can activate DRS – regardless of the gap ahead. The intention is to maximize action and overtaking as the drivers push for the checker.

Push-to-Pass button

Another new introduction for 2019 is a push-to-pass overtaking system. For the very first time, drivers will be able to access an additional 30hp by way of a fuel-mass flow restrictor, which briefly injects more fuel into the engine as a means to further improve the spectacle and action on the track.

Drivers start each race with 12 opportunities to use the push-to-pass system.

Vehicle weight

The mandatory minimum weight for this year’s new DTM cars has been brought below 1000kg. Without the driver and fuel, the minimum weight for a DTM car is now just 981kg, which is 50kg less than 2018’s 1031kg limit.

Together, these three proposals mean that 2019-spec DTM will be more powerful than ever before. To put that into numbers, the lower minimum weight and increased power transforms the power-to-weight ratio, bringing it down below the magical 2kg barrier to just 1.6kg per hp.

Allied to the two new overtaking tools (DRS and push-to-pass), this year’s DTM cars are expected to exceed speeds of 300km/h (186mph) on the fastest sections of the tracks on the calendar, such as the Hockenheimring’s Parabolika section.

“These additions are the perfect ingredients for spectacular overtaking – and that makes for thrilling racing," said Achim Kostron, Managing Director of DTM’s umbrella organisation ITR GmbH. “Thanks to the significantly reduced performance weight and the new aero package, the skill and courage of the drivers will really be placed under the spotlight: out on the racetrack."

In addition to these changes, this year’s DTM cars will sport bigger front inlets and larger bonnet outlets, making them look meaner and more aggressive than their predecessors.

These increased cooling demands even created an unintended problem for series partner Deutsche Post, which has had to move its distinctive ‘number plate’ logo from the front of the car to two offset positions on the car’s flanks. Another striking change: the cars will have just one tail pipe that was moved slightly more to the front and ends on the passenger side of the car.