Super GT and DTM agreed a deal to adopt a common ruleset earlier this year, as the latter championship ditches it normally-aspirated V8s in favour of turbocharged inline-fours.

As well as creating the chance for a Japanese manufacturer to join the DTM in future, it also opens up the possibility of one of the German series' remaining established marques, Audi and BMW, sending cars to race in Super GT.

Asked about that prospect by Motorsport.com, Marquardt said: "It is for sure an option. But it would mean we would basically reduce the amount of cars we run in Europe.

"If we need to run six or eight cars in Europe, the chance to then put additional cars in the Japanese series is quite limited. Whereas in the future, if with private teams and manufacturers we could cut down to four factory cars, why not?

"Also [it becomes easier] if Super GT is expanding more to an Asian rather than purely focused on Japan, because a national sort of championship is always less attractive than a regional one.

"This is also the reason why with the ITR we worked so hard on making the DTM a more European championship rather than a German championship, and being 50/50 [with venues] is one of the first steps in that direction."

Marquardt's Audi counterpart Dieter Gass was also asked about the chances of Audis racing in Super GT's top GT500 class in future earlier this year.

"It's possible, obviously," he said. "Currently we are not planning that for the near future. First of all, never say never.

"I was at Sugo two years ago and there is a Japanese team running [Audis] in GT300, Hitotsuyama [pictured below], and they came to see me and they would be definitely interested to run cars.

"Currently one step after the other, we get the thing up and running and then we see if and how we can possibly expand."

#21 Audi Team Hitotsuyama Audi R8 LMS: Richard Lyon, Ryuichiro Tomita Photo by: Masahide Kamio

Marquardt added he remains hopeful the move to Class One rules will entice one of Honda, Lexus and Nissan to consider a move to DTM in future.

"That was always the idea behind the Class One regulations, that we give the opportunities to all manufacturers in DTM and Super GT to have cars come across, if they feel the market and the platform is right for them," he said.

"Obviously there have been discussions, and the joint events [the two DTM/Super GT crossover races planned for 2019] are sort of a way to tease that and test it a little bit."