The DTM is back this weekend with the traditional season opener at Hockenheim, with the championship facing important changes and challenges as Mercedes AMG’s exit after the 2018 season has set the clock ticking for the series.

From a purely sporting point of view, the season starts as yet one of the most exciting in recent years. Audi Sport’s success in 2017, winning all three titles, makes the Ingolstadt-based squad in the team to beat, with their shining champion René Rast as Audi’s spearhead, also welcoming Dutchman Robin Frijns as a replacement for Mattias Ekström.

While Ekström said goodbye to the series in order to focus on his assault to the World Rally Cross championship with Audi’s factory backing. The Swede will be present at Hockenheim at the wheel of a seventh RS 5 DTM running out of the official classification as a farewell event to his fans in the series.

“I expect the field to move even closer together,” said Rast ahead of the season opener. “I’m excited to see if we drew the right conclusions from the pre-season tests and where we stand compared to the competition.”

Jamie Green is another heavyweight for Audi Sport. The Briton has been among the champion candidates and in the overall top three for the last three seasons, edged out of the final fight last year after a controversial team move and a technical issue at Spielberg.

Mike Rockenfeller, who kept his mathematical options for last year’s title until the season finale despite suffering a broken foot at the Norisring, Nico Müller and Loïc Duval continue at the helm for Audi Sport.

BMW Motorsport will align two-time champion Marco Wittmann as their lead driver, also counting with their experienced drivers Bruno Spengler, Timo Glock and Augusto Farfus. The Bavarian team will have two series rookies in their ranks with Swede Joel Eriksson and Austrian Philipp Eng.

“The first race of the season will show where we really stand. We have definitely done our homework, and I am optimistic ahead of the opening race weekend,” said Wittmann.

Mercedes AMG might be on their farewell season, but that doesn’t mean their efforts will be reduced. The Stuttgart-based squad waved goodbye to Maro Engel and Robert Wickens to welcome series’ returnees Pascal Wehrlein and Daniel Juncadella.

With Gary Paffett, Paul di Resta and Edoardo Mortara, who had a difficult 2017 adapting to his new team after six seasons with Audi, as well last season’s title challenger Lucas Auer, Mercedes AMG presents a strong driver line-up for this year’s title fight.

Technical changes

The main novelties for 2018 are the modifications of the aero package, with more standard parts and also a simplification of the number and shape of the wings. The reduction in downforce has been calculated at around 30%, giving more prominence to drivers’ ability, especially under braking.

The base weight has also been reduced to 1,115kg, with the number of engines allowed per manufacturer increased from seven to eight for the whole season.

2018 DTM entry list

Number – Driver – Team – Car

#2 – Gary Paffett – Team HWA – Mercedes AMG C63 DTM

#3 – Paul di Resta – Team HWA – Mercedes AMG C63 DTM

#4 – Robin Frijns – Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline – Audi RS 5 DTM

#7 – Bruno Spengler – BMW Team RBM – BMW M4 DTM

#11 – Marco Wittmann – BMW Team RMG – BMW M4 DTM

#15 – Augusto Farfus – BMW Team RMG – BMW M4 DTM

#16 – Timo Glock – BMW Team RMR – BMW M4 DTM

#22 – Lucas Auer – Team HWA – Mercedes AMG C63 DTM

#23 – Daniel Juncadella – Team HWA – Mercedes AMG C63 DTM

#25 – Philipp Eng – BMW team RMR – BMW M4 DTM

#28 – Loïc Duval – Audi Sport Team Phoenix – Audi RS 5 DTM

#33 – René Rast – Audi Sport Team Rosberg – Audi RS 5 DTM

#47 – Joel Eriksson – BMW Team RBM – BMW M4 DTM

#48 – Edoardo Mortara – Team HWA – Mercedes AMG C63 DTM

#51 – Nico Müller – Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline – Audi RS 5 DTM

#53 – Jamie Green – Audi Sport Team Rosberg – Audi RS 5 DTM

#94 – Pascal Wehrlein – Team HWA – Mercedes AMG C63 DTM

#99 – Mike Rockenfeller – Audi Sport Team Rosberg – Audi RS 5 DTM

Timetable:

Friday 4th of May

15:45: Free Practice 1

Saturday 5th of May

9:00 – Free Practice 2

11:25 – Qualifying for Race 1

13:30 – Race 1 (55 minutes plus one lap)

Sunday 6th of May

9:00 – Free Practice 3

11:25 – Qualifying for Race 2

13:30 – Race 2 (55 minutes plus one lap)