2019 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Explained

The 2019 DTM was the thirty-third season of premier German touring car championship, first season under "Class 1" regulations era and also twentieth season under the moniker of DTM since the series' resumption in 2000. Mercedes-AMG withdrew from the championship after the 2018 season to focus on their Formula E entry. British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin replaced Mercedes-Benz, which marked the first non-German entry in 23 years when Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo last entered the series under the International Touring Car Series name in 1996.^{[1] [2]} Defending champion Gary Paffett did not return to defend his title, as he moved to Formula E.

The 2019 season oversaw the championship introduce revolutionary regulations known as "Class 1", the biggest change to the sport in recent history. These regulations will be shared between the DTM and the Japanese Super GT series' GT500 class from 2020, allowing entries to compete in both championships.^[3] The 2019 championship saw the running of the 500th DTM race, which was held as the second race at Lausitzring.^[4]

Audi clinched the manufacturers' championship title for the seventh time, with four races to spare.^[4] René Rast clinched his second DTM driver's title in the Nürburgring round.

Rule changes

Technical regulations

Engine formula

• The 2019 season saw the introduction of a brand-new prototype road car-based fuel-efficient engine configuration, with turbocharged engines returned to the sport for the first time since 1989. The new engines were 2L inline-4 cylinder format single-turbocharged engines, tuned to produce approximately 610lk=onNaNlk=on and limited to 9,500 rpm as it was announced on 20 January 2016 and thus the new engine formula will be known as "Class 1" that based on Nippon Race Engine (NRE) as it used by Japanese Super GT and Super Formula;^[5] Garrett Advancing Motion would provide the turbochargers for all DTM cars from 2019 onwards. Individual engine units under the 2019 specifications had to last for at least 6000km (4,000miles) before being replaced, in comparison to the pre-2019 engines, which were required to last for 10000km (10,000miles). Engine unit changes during a race weekend result in a 10-place grid penalty for the requisite driver. All engines would remain to run on Aral Ultimate 102 RON unleaded fuel. The traditional 4L naturally-aspirated V8 engines that were used since 2000 were permanently retired. The all-new engine configuration also incorporates the IndyCar-style push-to-pass overtake assist system in a bid to improve the racing spectacle; the push-to-pass system will produce around 30hp and will be used by the driver up to 12 times in a race.^[6]

Aerodynamics and other components

• The single-plane element rear wing returns for the first time since 2016 but would be wider. As a result, the Drag Reduction Systems (DRS) used for assisting overtaking maneuvers will be revised, with use now within three seconds of a driver in front.
• The minimum weight of the cars was decreased from 1115to (including driver and fuel respectively) to account for the decreased weight of the engine and other components.
• Launch control was outlawed, while the traditional interior rear view mirror was replaced by a rear-view camera. Meanwhile all electronic devices were upgraded due to new Class 1 regulations including all-new Bosch DDU 10 color display dash, Bosch MS 7.4 engine management system, Bosch PBX 190 power management systems and also Tyre Pressure Management Systems (TPMS).

Sporting regulations

• The two races per round format was retained, but the fixed lap distance format (last used in 2014) was initially brought back, replacing the timed race format (55 minutes plus 1 lap most recently) that had been used for the previous 4 years; there was a caveat in the case of a safety car period, the race could be extended by up to 3 laps.^[7] However after the opening round of the season, the previous timed race format was reinstated with the addition of the race-extending safety car rule.

Teams and drivers

The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2019 DTM. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Hankook.

+Key
DTM entry	Super GT GT500 entry
Eligible for all championship points	Ineligible to score championship points

Manufacturer	Car	Engine	Team	No.		Rounds
	2019		R-Motorsport I	3	Paul di Resta	All
				76	Jake Dennis	All
			R-Motorsport II	23	Daniel Juncadella	All
				62	Ferdinand von Habsburg	All
Audi	Audi RS5 Turbo DTM 2019			4	Robin Frijns	All
				51	Nico Müller	All
			Audi Sport Team WRT	27	Jonathan Aberdein	All
				34	Andrea Dovizioso	3
				21	Pietro Fittipaldi	1–2, 4–9
			Audi Sport Team Rosberg			3
				33	René Rast	All
				53	Jamie Green	1–2, 4–9
			Audi Sport Team Phoenix	28	Loïc Duval	All
				99	Mike Rockenfeller	All
BMW	BMW M4 Turbo DTM 2019		BMW Team RMG	7	Bruno Spengler	All
				11		All
			BMW Team RMR	16	Timo Glock	All
				25	Philipp Eng	All
			BMW Team RBM	31		All
				47	Joel Eriksson	All
Honda	Honda NSX-GT		Team Kunimitsu	1	Jenson Button	9
Lexus	Lexus LC500 GT500		Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S	37	Nick Cassidy	9B
					Ryō Hirakawa	9A
Nissan	Nissan GT-R Nismo GT500		Nismo	35	Tsugio Matsuda	9A
					Ronnie Quintarelli	9B
Source:^[8] ^[9] ^[10] ^[11] ^[12] ^[13]

Team changes

• Aston Martin entered the championship, replacing Mercedes-Benz, with cars based on the Vantage. The entry is run by AF Racing AG and built by HWA.^{[14] [15]}
• W Racing Team entered the championship as a customer team, fielding two Audi RS5 Turbo DTM machines.^[16] They were the first Audi Sport DTM independent customer team since Futurecom TME, that competed between 2006 and 2009.
• Super GT manufacturers Honda, Lexus and Nissan fielded one car each as wildcard entries at the Hockenheimring season finale, to mark the beginning of the shared "Class 1" regulations for DTM and Super GT GT500.^[12]

Driver changes

• Augusto Farfus left the series after seven years to join BRC Hyundai N Lukoil Racing Team in the World Touring Car Cup. He continued his association with BMW in the FIA World Endurance Championship.^{[17] [18]} He was replaced by 2018 ADAC GT Masters runner-up Sheldon van der Linde.^[10]
• Reigning champion Gary Paffett left the series after sixteen years to compete with HWA Racelab in Formula E. Pascal Wehrlein (Mahindra Racing) and Edoardo Mortara (Venturi) also compete in Formula E.
• Following Mercedes' exit from the series, Lucas Auer joined Super Formula with the B-MAX Racing with Motopark team.
• Ferdinand Habsburg and Jake Dennis made their DTM débuts with the R-Motorsport Aston Martin team.
• 2016–17 Formula 4 UAE Championship winner Jonathan Aberdein and 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 champion Pietro Fittipaldi made their DTM débuts with the W Racing Team.

Mid-season changes

• Ducati MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso was announced to be replacing Pietro Fittipaldi at Misano due to Fittipaldi having a Friday practice commitment for the Haas F1 Team at the concurrent Canadian Grand Prix.^[19] However, Fittipaldi was announced to be competing in the meeting after all – albeit for Audi Sport Team Rosberg – replacing Jamie Green, who was recovering from appendicitis.

Calendar

A nine-round calendar was announced in October 2018.

Round	Circuit	Race 1	Race 2
1	Hockenheimring, Germany	4 May	5 May
2	Circuit Zolder, Belgium	18 May	19 May
3		8 June	9 June
4	Norisring, Germany	6 July	7 July
5	TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands	20 July	21 July
6	Brands Hatch, Great Britain	10 August	11 August
7	Lausitzring, Germany	24 August	25 August
8	Nürburgring, Germany
9	Hockenheimring, Germany	5 October	6 October
NC	Fuji Speedway, Japan	23 November	24 November

Calendar changes

• With the adoption of Class 1 regulations, the series will share two rounds with the Super GT championship. One is planned to be held in Europe and the other in Asia. A balance of performance formula will be applied to ensure parity between DTM cars and Super GT as Super GT will not adopt Class 1 regulations until 2020.^[20]
• The rounds at the Hungaroring, Red Bull Ring and Zandvoort were removed from the schedule. The series will instead make its debut at the TT Circuit Assen and return to Circuit Zolder for the first time since 2002. Meanwhile the Misano round will revert to a daytime start time instead of nighttime.^[21]
• A non-championship race will be held at Fuji as a supporting event of the Super GT x DTM Dream Race.

Results and standings

Season summary

Round		Circuit	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team	Winning manufacturer	Report
1	R1	Hockenheimring	Marco Wittmann	Timo Glock	Marco Wittmann	BMW Team RMG	BMW	Report
	R2		Philipp Eng	Pietro Fittipaldi	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
2	R1	Circuit Zolder	Marco Wittmann	Robin Frijns	Philipp Eng	BMW Team RMR	BMW	Report
	R2		Sheldon van der Linde	Philipp Eng	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
3	R1	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli	René Rast	Philipp Eng	Marco Wittmann	BMW Team RMG		Report
	R2		René Rast	Robin Frijns	Nico Müller	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi
4	R1	Norisring	Nico Müller	Nico Müller	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg		Report
	R2		René Rast	Nico Müller	Bruno Spengler	BMW Team RMG	BMW
5	R1	TT Circuit Assen	Marco Wittmann	Nico Müller	Marco Wittmann	BMW Team RMG		Report
	R2		René Rast	Philipp Eng	Mike Rockenfeller	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi
6	R1	Brands Hatch	Marco Wittmann	Philipp Eng	Marco Wittmann	BMW Team RMG		Report
	R2		René Rast	Pietro Fittipaldi	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
7	R1	Lausitzring	René Rast	Robin Frijns	Nico Müller	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline		Report
	R2		Jamie Green	Philipp Eng	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
8	R1	Nürburgring	René Rast	René Rast	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg		Report
	R2		Jamie Green	René Rast	Jamie Green	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi
9	R1	Hockenheimring		Nico Müller	René Rast	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi	Report
	R2		Nico Müller	Mike Rockenfeller	Nico Müller	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi
NC	R1	Fuji Speedway	Nick Cassidy	Tadasuke Makino	Nick Cassidy	Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S	Lexus	Report
	R2		Loïc Duval	Narain Karthikeyan	Narain Karthikeyan	Modulo Nakajima Racing	Honda

Scoring system

Points 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 ZOL MIS NOR ASS BRH LAU NÜR HOC Points 1 René Rast 16† 1 NC^2 1^2 2^1 3^1 1^3 7^1 3^2 5^1 2^2 1^1 Ret^1 1 1^1 3^2 1^1 3 322 2 Nico Müller 8 2 3 8 5 1 2^1 8^2 2 3 3 2 1^3 2^3 15^3 6 17 1^2 250 3 Marco Wittmann 1^1 8^2 7^1 13 1 Ret 8 16† 1^1 2 1^1 10 4 6 3 Ret 2^2 12 202 4 Mike Rockenfeller 2^2 Ret 5 4 6 10 Ret 3 9 1^3 7 6 3 3 Ret 7^3 3^3 2^1 182 5 Robin Frijns 3 3^3 12 Ret Ret 4^2 Ret 4 Ret 6 4 3^3 2 5 DSQ 2 4 7 157 6 Philipp Eng 14 4^1 1 2^3 7 2 7 5 4 13 6 5 5 10 13 8 Ret 14 144 7 Loïc Duval 5 Ret 4 11 3^3 11 4 6^3 8^3 11 5^3 4^2 6 8 5 4 5 10 134 8 Jamie Green 12 9 6 3 11 2 7 9 11 15 10^2 4^1 6 1^1 12 5 115 9 Bruno Spengler 7 5 10^3 7 4 8 5^2 1 15 Ret 12 Ret 9 14 2^2 10 8 9 106 10 Jonathan Aberdein 15 14 NC 12 8^2 7^3 13 14 6 4^2 9 13 14 7^2 4 5 14 Ret 67 11 Joel Eriksson 13 10 2 10 Ret 6 3 13 16 16† DNS Ret 8 13 8 11 10 6 61 12 Timo Glock 4 6 13 14 10 Ret Ret 9 5 14 13 12 Ret 15† 9 9 6 4^3 58 13 Sheldon van der Linde 6 13 11 5^1 9 9 Ret Ret 10 15 8 7 16 11 7 16 16 13 42 14 Daniel Juncadella 9 16 Ret Ret 13 14 6 10 Ret 7 10 8 12 12 10 12 Ret Ret 23 15 Pietro Fittipaldi 10 15 14 9 11 5 Ret 15 11 10 DNS 16 7 9 14 13 15 15 22 16 Paul di Resta Ret^3 7 8 DNS 16 Ret 12 Ret 14 8 14† 14 13 Ret 12 DNS 7 DNS 21 17 Jake Dennis 11 11 Ret 6 15 13 9 12 12 Ret Ret 9 11 Ret Ret 14 11 8 17 18 Ret 12 9 Ret 14 12 10 11 13 12 15† 11 15 Ret 11 15 DNS 11 3 19 Andrea Dovizioso 12 15 0 Guest drivers ineligible to score points — Jenson Button 9 16 — — Ryō Hirakawa 13 — — Ronnie Quintarelli 17 — — Tsugio Matsuda NC — — Nick Cassidy Ret — Driver HOC ZOL MIS NOR ASS BRH LAU NÜR 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 they completed 75% of the winner's race distance.

Teams' championship

	Team	Car	HOC		ZOL		MIS		NOR		ASS		BRH		LAU		NÜR		HOC		Points
1	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	21					11	5													447
	33	16†	1	Ret^2	1^2	2^1	3^1	1^3	7^1	3^2	5^1	2^2	1^1	Ret^1	1	1^1	3^2	1^1	3
	53	12	9	6	3			11	2	7	9	11	15	10^2	4^1	6	1^1	12	5
2	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	4	3	3^3	12	Ret	Ret	4^2	Ret	4	Ret	6	4	3^3	2	5	DSQ	2	4	7	407
	51	8	2	3	8	5	1	2^1	8^2	2	3	3	2	1^3	2^3	15^3	6	17	1^2
3	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	28	5	Ret	4	11	3^3	11	4	6^3	8^3	11	5^3	4^2	6	8	5	4	5	10	316
	99	2^2	Ret	5	4	6	10	Ret	3	9	1^3	7	6	3	3	Ret	7^3	3^3	2^1
4	BMW Team RMG	7	7	5	10^3	7	4	8	5^2	1	15	Ret	12	Ret	9	14	2^2	10	8	9	308
	11	1^1	8^2	7^1	13	1	Ret	8	16†	1^1	2	1^1	10	4	6	3	Ret	2^2	12
5	BMW Team RMR	16	4	6	13	14	10	Ret	Ret	9	5	14	13	12	Ret	15†	9	9	6	4^3	202
	25	14	4^1	1	2^3	7	2	7	5	4	13	6	5	5	10	13	8	Ret	14
6	BMW Team RBM	31	6	13	11	5^1	9	9	Ret	Ret	10	15	8	7	16	11	7	16	16	13	103
	47	13	10	2	10	Ret	6	3	13	16	16†	DNS	Ret	8	13	8	11	10	6
7	Audi Sport Team WRT	21	10	15	14	9			Ret	15	11	10	DNS	16	7	9	14	13	15	15	79
	27	15	14	Ret	12	8^2	7^3	13	14	6	4^2	9	13	14	7^2	4	5	14	Ret
	34					12	15
8	R-Motorsport I	3	Ret^3	7	8	DNS	16	Ret	12	Ret	14	8	14†	14	13	Ret	12	DNS	7	DNS	38
	76	11	11	Ret	6	15	13	9	12	12	Ret	Ret	9	11	Ret	Ret	14	11	8
9	R-Motorsport II	23	9	16†	Ret	Ret	13	14	6	10	Ret	7	10	8	12	12	10	12	Ret	Ret	26
	62	Ret	12	9	Ret	14	12	10	11	13	12	15†	11	15	Ret	11	15	DNS	11
Ineligible to score points
—	Team Kunimitsu	1																	9	16	—
—	Lexus Team KeePer TOM'S	37																	13	Ret	—
—	Nismo	35																	NC	17	—
	Team	Car	HOC		ZOL		MIS		NOR		ASS		BRH		LAU		NÜR		HOC		Points

Manufacturers' championship

	Manufacturer	HOC		ZOL		MIS		NOR		ASS		BRH		LAU		NÜR		HOC		Points
1	Audi	49	61	47	58	57	68	58	59	50	68	58	76	72	90	59	76	66	73	1132
2	BMW	54	39	54	39	45	32	38	37	51	18	3	17	28	9	45	7	34	1	550
3	Aston Martin	3	6	6	0	0	0	11	1	0	10	1	6	0	0	1	0	0	4	49
Ineligible to score points
—	Honda																	2	0	—
—	Lexus																	0	0	—
—	Nissan																	0	0	—
	Manufacturer	HOC		ZOL		MIS		NOR		ASS		BRH		LAU		NÜR		HOC		Points

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mercedes to quit DTM after 2018, confirms Formula E entry. Klein. Jamie . Motorsport Network. 25 July 2017. 25 July 2017.
2. News: Aston Martin DTM entry announced for 2019. 2018-10-11. en.
3. Web site: DTM and Super GT sign off Class One regs. Errington. Tom . Motorsport Network. 23 June 2018. 23 June 2018.
4. News: Rast wins at Lausitzring, as Audi takes title in DTM's 500th race. Tom. Errington. 25 August 2019. 26 August 2019. Autosport. Motorsport Network.
5. Web site: DTM delays new engines and Class One rules to 2019. Adam. Mitchell. Autosport. 20 January 2016. 20 January 2016.
6. Web site: DTM adopts IndyCar-style push-to-pass for 2019. Errington. Tom. motorsport.com. motorsport.com. 16 January 2019. 16 January 2019.
7. Web site: DTM reverts to fixed lap distances for 2019. Klein. Jamie. motorsport.com. motorsport.com. 27 April 2019. 27 April 2019.
8. News: Everything stays different. Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. 19 December 2018. 19 December 2018.
9. News: Aller. Tamara. BMW confirm Wittmann, Eng, Eriksson, Spengler and Glock for the 2019 DTM. 8 December 2018 . touringcartimes.com. 8 December 2018.
10. News: Khorounzhiy. Valentin. Rookie van der Linde completes BMW's DTM roster. 17 January 2019. motorsport.com. 17 January 2019.
11. Web site: Ferdinand Habsburg sur Aston Martin en DTM (Ferdinand Habsburg on Aston Martin in DTM). Villemant. Thibaut. AUTOhebdo.fr. February 19, 2019. February 19, 2019.
12. News: Two joint DTM and Super GT races confirmed for 2019. 29 March 2019 . touringcartimes.com. 29 March 2019.
13. News: SUPER GT: Who's who at Hockenheim?. Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. 25 September 2019. 2 October 2019.
14. Web site: R-Motorsport Aston Martin to replace Mercedes in the DTM.
15. Web site: Aston Martin joining DTM in 2019. 2018-10-11.
16. News: WRT becomes Audi customer team in the DTM. Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. 12 October 2018. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214531/https://www.dtm.com/en/news/wrt-becomes-audi-customer-team-dtm-2018-10-12.html. 12 October 2018. dead.
17. Web site: Hyundai confirm Tarquini, Michelisz, Catsburg and Farfus for 2019. 3 December 2018. TouringCarTimes. 3 December 2018.
18. Web site: Farfus Quits DTM; Shifts Focus to GT Racing. Dagys. John. sportscar365.com. 2019-01-06.
19. Web site: MotoGP star Dovizioso to make DTM debut with Audi. Simmons. Marcus. Motorsport Network. 8 May 2019. 8 May 2019.
20. News: DTM, Super GT seal move to Class 1 regulations. Dan. Herrero. Speedcafe. 24 June 2018. 24 June 2018.
21. News: DTM abandons night-race format at Misano round for 2019. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. autosport.com. Autosport. 12 January 2019. 12 January 2019.