Since returning to two-race weekends in 2015, the championship has run a 40-minute race on Saturdays without a pitstop, before a 60-minute race with a pitstop on the Sunday.

All races this year will run to 55 minutes plus one lap, again with one each day of the nine weekends and both featuring a mandatory pitstop.

Tyre warmers have been dropped to coincide with the introduction of softer rubber and the DTM’s revamped cars.

Teams are also now restricted to two crew members using a wheel gun, one each side, with a view to slowing down pitstops, while there will be no stipulated pit window.

“The new race format encourages creative strategies and highly perfectioned sport from both teams and drivers,” board member of DTM promoter ITR Florian Zitzlsperger said.

“For the spectators, the DTM intends to offer an increased number of spectacular races and entertainment on both days of the race weekend.”