2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Explained

The 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the thirty-second season of premier German touring car championship and also nineteenth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. 2018 would be the final season for the traditional 4.0-litre V8 naturally-aspirated engine package that debuted in the inaugural reborn season; as the brand new engine package has been introduced for the following season as part of the "Class 1 Project" prospect with Japanese Super GT GT500 cars.^[1] 2018 also marked the final season for Mercedes-Benz in DTM due to Mercedes-Benz departing to FIA Formula E from the 2019–20 season and thus ended its 19-year participation.^[2]

Gary Paffett won his second title at the final round of the season with a third-place finish, beating previous champion René Rast by four points despite a late charge to six consecutive wins by Rast, a new series record.^[3] Paffett became the second non-German driver to have won more than one DTM driver title, and thus repeating Swedish driver Mattias Ekström's feat in 2004 and 2007 seasons.

Mercedes-Benz won the manufacturer's championship for the first time since 2010.

Rule changes

• Aerodynamic downforce aids, such as side winglets and side fences, has been enforced to all cars, in order to improve competition.^[4] As a result, the minimum weight of all cars has been reduced from 2480lb to 2458lb.^[5]
• The quantity of engine components a driver may use during the season has been increased from seven complete engines during the entire season, to a new system where each of the engine components are combined. Therefore, in 2018, each driver is permitted to use up to eight set engines.^[5]
• The additional wildcard entry is introduced for the first time ever, but ineligible for championship points even if they finish in top 10.

Calendar

The provisional ten event calendar was announced on 24 November 2017,^[6] and later finalized on 18 December 2017.^[7]

Round	Circuit	Race 1	Race 2
1	Hockenheimring, Germany	5 May	6 May
2	Lausitzring, Germany	19 May	20 May
3	Hungaroring, Hungary	2 June	3 June
4	Norisring, Germany	23 June	24 June
5	Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands	14 July	15 July
6	Brands Hatch, Great Britain	11 August	12 August
7	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy	25 August	26 August
8	Nürburgring, Germany	8 September	9 September
9	Red Bull Ring, Austria	22 September	23 September
10	Hockenheimring, Germany	13 October	14 October

Calendar changes

• The races in Great Britain and Italy are scheduled to return to the DTM schedule for the first time since 2013 and 2010 respectively. On 6 December 2017 it was confirmed that the British round would be held at Brands Hatch, on the circuit's GP layout as opposed to the Indy layout of previous DTM races.^[8] Moscow Raceway was dropped from the 2018 schedule.^[9] For the first time, Misano will host the round in Italy, as a night-time event.^[10] The Lausitzring round will revert to full road course layout after last used in 2004.^[11]

Teams and drivers

The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2018 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Hankook.

+Key
Full-season entry	Additional/wildcard entry
Eligible for all championship points	Ineligible to score Drivers' championship points

	Car	Team		Drivers	Rounds
Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	2	Gary Paffett^[12]	All
			94	Pascal Wehrlein^[13]	All
		Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	3	Paul di Resta	All
			17	Sébastien Ogier^[14] ^[15]	9
			23	Daniel Juncadella^[16]	All
		Silberpfeil Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport	22	Lucas Auer	All
			48	Edoardo Mortara	All
Audi	Audi RS5 DTM	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	4	Robin Frijns	All
			5	Mattias Ekström^[17]	1
			51	Nico Müller	All
		Audi Sport Team Phoenix	28	Loïc Duval	All
			99	Mike Rockenfeller	All
		Audi Sport Team Rosberg	33	René Rast	All
			53	Jamie Green	All
BMW	BMW M4 DTM	BMW Team RBM^[18]	7	Bruno Spengler	All
			47	Joel Eriksson	All
		BMW Team RMG	11	Marco Wittmann	All
			15	Augusto Farfus	All
		BMW Team RMR	12	Alex Zanardi^[19]	7
			16	Timo Glock	All
			25	Philipp Eng	All

Driver changes

• Mattias Ekström left the series after eighteen years, but remains with Audi via its FIA World Rallycross Championship programme.^[20] 2017 Blancpain GT Series driver Robin Frijns will make his DTM début with Audi Sport.^[21] In addition, the two-time champion made a one-off appearance in the 2018 season opener in Hockenheim with an additional Audi RS 5 to mark his retirement from the series.^[17]
• Philipp Eng and Joel Eriksson – both members of BMW's junior team – joined BMW Team RBM, to partner Canadian Bruno Spengler.^[22] After five years with BMW Motorsport, Maxime Martin left the marque, and its DTM programme after four years to join Aston Martin Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2018–19 season.^[23] Tom Blomqvist will also leave the series after three years, but remains with BMW Motorsport via its Formula E and GT programmes.
• After spending two years in Formula One with Manor and Sauber, Pascal Wehrlein returned to the DTM with Mercedes-AMG's HWA Team. After a one-year sabbatical, Daniel Juncadella also returned to the DTM with HWA.^[16] Robert Wickens left the series after six years to join Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in the IndyCar Series for the 2018 season.^[24] Maro Engel left the series after one season to focus solely on Formula E.^[25]
• Former Williams Formula One driver, two-time CART champion and four-time Paralympic gold medallist Alex Zanardi made his DTM début with BMW Motorsport at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli as a guest driver.
• Five-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier made his DTM début with HWA Team as a guest driver at the Red Bull Ring.

Results

Round		Circuit	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team	Winning manufacturer	Report
1	R1	Hockenheimring	Gary Paffett		Gary Paffett	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Timo Glock	Gary Paffett	Timo Glock	BMW Team RMR	BMW
2	R1	Lausitzring	Lucas Auer	Daniel Juncadella			Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Philipp Eng	Marco Wittmann	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	Mercedes-Benz
3	R1	Hungaroring		Lucas Auer	Paul di Resta	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Lucas Auer	Daniel Juncadella		BMW Team RMG	BMW
4	R1	Norisring	Edoardo Mortara	Daniel Juncadella			Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Daniel Juncadella	Jamie Green		BMW Team RMG	BMW
5	R1	Circuit Zandvoort	Gary Paffett	Gary Paffett	Gary Paffett	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Gary Paffett	Mike Rockenfeller	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
6	R1	Brands Hatch	Daniel Juncadella		Daniel Juncadella	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Gary Paffett	Paul di Resta	Paul di Resta	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz
7	R1	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli	Paul di Resta	Augusto Farfus	Paul di Resta	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	Mercedes-Benz	Report
	R2		Loïc Duval	Edoardo Mortara	Joel Eriksson	BMW Team RBM	BMW
8	R1	Nürburgring	René Rast	René Rast	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		René Rast	Gary Paffett	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
9	R1	Red Bull Ring	Daniel Juncadella	Lucas Auer	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		Gary Paffett	Gary Paffett	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
10	R1	Hockenheimring	Lucas Auer	Timo Glock	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		Marco Wittmann	Robin Frijns	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi

Championship standings

Scoring systemPoints were awarded to the top ten classified finishers as follows:

Race Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
Points	25	18	15	12	10	8	6	4	2	1

Additionally, the top three placed drivers in qualifying also received points:

Qualifying Position	1st	2nd	3rd
Points	3	2	1

Drivers' championship

Driver HOC LAU HUN NOR ZAN BRH MIS NÜR RBR HOC Points 1 Gary Paffett 1^1 3 9 1^3 6 15 2 13^2 1^1 2^1 6 2^1 Ret 14 3^2 5^2 10 3^1 4^2 3^3 255 2 René Rast 9 7^2 Ret DNS 4 10 16 14 17 1^3 4^3 3 Ret^3 3 1^1 1^1 1 1 1 1^2 251 3 Paul di Resta 7 9 6 4 1^1 5^3 4 6 2^3 3 16 1^2 1^1 6 18 2 4 4^3 8 14 233 4 Marco Wittmann 11^2 11 7 2 16 1 3^3 1 7 17 9 5 9 13 5 3 7 13 Ret 2^1 164 5 Timo Glock 3^3 1^1 2 5 14 2 10 10 6 10 13 11 7 15 4 16 Ret^2 7 3^3 10 144 6 Edoardo Mortara 4 Ret 1 11 5 DSQ 1^1 2 13 8 8 17 3^2 2^2 13 11 16 10 10 13 140 7 Lucas Auer 2 15 4^1 14 2^3 DSQ^1 7 5^3 3 9 3^2 8 Ret Ret 11 18† 6 Ret Ret^1 DSQ 121 8 Pascal Wehrlein 5 6 8 3^2 13 12^2 13 9 4^2 6 7 4^3 6 12 7 9 13 6 11 DSQ 108 9 Philipp Eng 16 14 3^2 7^1 18 3 5^2 11 14 4^2 5 7 8 16 16 8^3 8 9 12 8 102 10 Nico Müller 13 13 Ret 17 3^2 14 18 7 Ret 7 15 10 5 10 10 14 3 2^2 7 4 96 11 14 2 11 8 11 4 15 16 15 16 10 6 10 9 6 13 2^3 8 6 11 87 12 Bruno Spengler 6 8 5^3 15 12 DSQ 6 4 12 13 17 14 Ret 11 2^3 4 Ret 14 9 6 85 13 Robin Frijns 18 12 13 10 7 8 12 8 5 Ret 12 12 2 4 17 10 11 DSQ 2 5 84 14 Joel Eriksson 12 4^3 12 9 17 6 9 12 9 11 14 13 12 1 12 6 15 5 15 9 72 15 Daniel Juncadella 8 18 14 12 10 11 8 3^1 16 12 1^1 9 14† 17^3 15 17† 14^1 11 14 15 61 16 Augusto Farfus 15 10 10 16 15 7 14 17 8 5 2 Ret 11 Ret 9 7 9 Ret Ret 7 56 17 Loïc Duval 10 5 Ret 13 8 9 17 18 11 15 Ret 16 4 7^1 8 12 Ret 15 5 12 54 18 Jamie Green 19 17 Ret 6 9 13 11 15 10 14 11 15 Ret 8 14 15 5 12 13 16 27 align=center colspan=23 Guest drivers ineligible for points align=left Alex Zanardi 13 5 align=left Sébastien Ogier 12 16 align=left Mattias Ekström 17 16 Driver HOC LAU HUN NOR ZAN BRH MIS NÜR RBR HOC Points

Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap 1 – 3 Points for Pole 2 – 2 Points for P2 3 – 1 Point for P3

• † — Driver retired, but was classified as he completed 75% of the winner's race distance.

Teams' championship

	Team	Car	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points
1	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Petronas	2	1^1	3	9	1^3	6	15	2	13^2	1^1	2^1	6	2^1	Ret	14	3^2	5^2	10	3^1	4^2	3^3	363
		94	5	6	8	3^2	13	12^2	13	9	4^2	6	7	4^3	6	12	7	9	13	6	11	DSQ
2	Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Remus	3	7	9	6	4	1^1	5^3	4	6	2^3	3	16	1^2	1^1	6	18	2	4	4^3	8	14	294
		23	8	18	14	12	10	11	8	3^1	16	12	1^1	9	14†	17^3	15	17†	14^1	11	14	15
3	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	33	9	7^2	Ret	DNS	4	10	16	14	17	1^3	4^3	3	Ret^3	3	1^1	1^1	1	1	1	1^2	278
		53	19	17	Ret	6	9	13	11	15	10	14	11	15	Ret	8	14	15	5	12	13	16
4	Silberpfeil Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport	22	2	15	4^1	14	2^3	DSQ^1	7	5^3	3	9	3^2	8	Ret	Ret	11	18†	6	Ret	Ret^1	DSQ	261
		48	4	Ret	1	11	5	DSQ	1^1	2	13	8	8	17	3^2	2^2	13	11	16	10	10	13
5	BMW Team RMR	16	3^3	1^1	2	5	14	2	10	10	6	10	13	11	7	15	4	16	Ret^2	7	3^3	10	246
		25	16	14	3^2	7^1	18	3	5^2	11	14	4^2	5	7	8	16	16	8^3	8	9	12	8
6	BMW Team RMG	11	11^2	11	7	2	16	1	3^3	1	7	17	9	5	9	13	5	3	7	13	Ret	2^1	220
		15	15	10	10	16	15	7	14	17	8	5	2	Ret	11	Ret	9	7	9	Ret	Ret	7
7	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	4	18	12	13	10	7	8	12	8	5	Ret	12	12	2	4	17	10	11	DSQ	2	5	180
		51	13	13	Ret	17	3^2	14	18	7	Ret	7	15	10	5	10	10	14	3	2^2	7	4
8	BMW Team RBM	7	6	8	5^3	15	12	DSQ	6	4	12	13	17	14	Ret	11	2^3	4	Ret	14	9	6	157
		47	12	4^3	12	9	17	6	9	12	9	11	14	13	12	1	12	6	15	5	15	9
9	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	28	10	5	Ret	13	8	9	17	18	11	15	Ret	16	4	7^1	8	12	Ret	15	5	12	141
		99	14	2	11	8	11	4	15	16	15	16	10	6	10	9	6	13	2^3	8	6	11
	Team	Car	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points

Manufacturers' championship

	Manufacturer	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points
1	Mercedes-Benz	78	25	54	55	66	16	68	59	76	50	63	67	53	31	8	32	24	40	23	16	903
2	BMW	26	46	53	39	0	72	39	38	20	25	30	16	12	26	43	46	14	18	18	42	623
3	Audi	3	36	0	13	41	19	0	10	11	32	14	24	42	50	41	29	69	49	67	49	599
	Manufacturer	HOC		LAU		HUN		NOR		ZAN		BRH		MIS		NÜR		RBR		HOC		Points

Notes and References

1. Web site: DTM delays new engines and Class One rules to 2019. Adam. Mitchell. Autosport.com. Autosport. 20 January 2016. 20 January 2016.
2. Web site: Mercedes to quit DTM after 2018, confirms Formula E entry. Klein. Jamie. Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com. 25 July 2017. 25 July 2017.
3. News: Hockenheim DTM: Paffett crowned champion as Rast wins finale. motorsport.com. motorsport.com. 14 October 2018. 14 October 2018.
4. Web site: DTM reveals rule tweaks to cut downforce "by a third". Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Motorsport.com . 1 March 2018. 1 March 2018.
5. Web site: DTM 2018: The Changes For the Season. DTM.com . 28 February 2018. 28 February 2018.
6. Web site: DTM announces expanded 2018 calendar. Cozens. Jack. Motorsport.com . 6 December 2017. 6 December 2017.
7. News: Brands Hatch returns on 2018 DTM schedule. 18 December 2017. TouringCarTimes.com. 18 December 2017.
8. Web site: DTM poised for Brands Hatch return in 2018. Klein. Jamie. Motorsport.com . 6 December 2017. 6 December 2017.
9. Web site: DTM set to return to the UK in 2018. Klein. Jamie. Motorsport.com . 24 November 2017. 24 November 2017.
10. Web site: DTM planning to hold night races at Misano. Klein. Jamie. Motorsport.com . 21 February 2018. 21 February 2018.
11. Web site: DTM planning to hold night races at Misano. Klein. Jamie. Motorsport.com . 14 March 2018. 14 March 2018.
12. News: Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Mercedes retains four drivers for farewell DTM season. 7 February 2018. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 7 February 2018.
13. News: Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Wehrlein to make DTM return in 2018. 7 February 2018. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 7 February 2018.
14. News: Sébastien Ogier secures Mercedes wild card drive at the Red Bull Ring. TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 7 August 2018. 7 August 2018.
15. News: Mercedes-AMG reveal Sébastien Ogier’s livery for his DTM debut. TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 13 September 2018. 13 September 2018.
16. News: Rachit. Thukral. Mercedes confirms Juncadella's DTM return. Motorsport.com. 8 February 2018. 8 February 2018.
17. News: Mattias Ekström back in DTM season opener for farewell race. TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 18 April 2018. 18 April 2018.
18. News: BMW promotes Eng, Eriksson to 2018 DTM seats. motorsport.com. motorsport.com. 16 December 2017. 16 December 2017.
19. News: Alex Zanardi to make DTM debut at Misano. TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. 29 May 2018. 29 May 2018.
20. News: Aller. Tamara. Mattias Ekström calls time on DTM career. TouringCarTimes.com. 29 January 2018.
21. News: Robin Frijns to join Audi DTM roster as Ekström replacement. TouringCarTimes.com. TouringCarTimes.com. 29 January 2018. 29 January 2018.
22. News: Joel Eriksson and Philipp Eng join BMW for 2018. Goldschmidt. Alex. touringcars.net. touringcars.net. 16 December 2017. 16 December 2017.
23. News: Khorounzhiy. Valentin. DTM race winner Martin splits with BMW. Motorsport.com. 14 December 2017.
24. News: Robert Wickens leaves DTM to race for Schmidt in IndyCar in 2018. Malsher. David. Autosport.com. 2017-10-18.
25. News: Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Engel vacates DTM seat for Mercedes' final season. Motorsport.com. 5 February 2018.