Why You Should Be Watching DTM This Weekend

This weekend Brands Hatch circuit plays host to the British round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) - Germany's top touring car series.

It's set to be an important race with the championship finely poised between the Canadian driver Bruno Spengler of Mercedes and German Martin Tomczyk of Audi. There's plenty of British interest too, with five Britons set to be on the eighteen car grid including former Formula One driver David Coulthard and McLaren's veteran test driver Gary Paffett, himself a former DTM champion.

The cars themselves are impressive machines, loosely based on the Mercedes C-class and the Audi A4, and powered by 470 horsepower 4-litre V8 engines, they are considered more thoroughbred race cars than traditional touring cars. However, despite a two-year development freeze, the aerodynamics of these brilliant machines remains highly advanced.

DTM is a relatively new series, having been re-established in 2000, but this hasn't stopped it gaining a massive cult following. Greats such as Bernd Schneider and more recently Formula One's Paul di Resta, have helped establish the sport, and year on year it continues to grow in popularity.

Many ex-Formula One drivers have competed in DTM but a few drivers have managed to go the other way. Formula One heroes such as Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard have graced the series, the latter competing this weekend. Many drivers use the series as a springboard into Formula One, so don't be surprised if some of these guys find themselves in single seater racing sooner or later.

The rules are similar to Formula One with a knockout qualifying format and one race a weekend. There are mandatory pit stops which are some of the fastest in motor racing. This weekend's race is scheduled to be 98 laps on the short 42-second Brands Hatch Indy circuit, which is longer than a British Touring Car Championship race but shorter than a Formula One race.

Races are on alternate weekends to the Formula One Grand Prix, with many of the DTM drivers acting as reserve drivers to the F1 teams, so you know the standard of racing is going to be high. As with every racing event there are support series which feature. This weekend DTM has the privilege of hosting action from Formula Ford and the Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup, the latter featuring a legends category with drivers such as Tiff Needell, Johnny Herbert and Martin Brundle competing.

Despite Silverstone being Formula One's choice of British circuit, for many red-blooded racing fans (myself included) Brands Hatch is the spiritual home of British motor-racing. It is truly a fantastic circuit. As a spectator you have a great choice of viewing points like the Paddock Hill Bend and Druids, but I prefer to sit by the Brabham straight, from where you can see a great deal of the Indy circuit and also into the pits for those amazing two second fuel and tyre stops.

For the last few years the sport has been limited to Audi and Mercedes vehicles, however BMW are set to join DTM next year with a stunning new M3 based car which will do battle with a new Audi A5 and a new Mercedes. With most motor-racing, the regulations are set for development for next year, with DTM co-operating with the Japanese Super GT series and the American Grand-Am series, in the hope of attracting more manufacturers in the future.

DTM is a fantastic series, and as a fan of unpredictable, exciting motorsport, I can think of very few series which are better. With the unpredictable British weather adding to the already great challenge of navigating the twisty Brands Hatch circuit, Sunday's race is set to be another fascinating round and one which you should all give your time to.

By Simon Boyce. Simon Boyce is a motorsport enthusiast and freelance writer. You can follow Simon on Twitter: @BoyceF1.

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