Mercedes given additional DTM test

Mercedes will be given the chance to improve its car performance in the DTM with a day of testing during the season.

The German manufacturer has struggled to match the pace of rivals Audi and BMW this year, despite having taken a win in wet conditions at Hockenheim last month. In the dry, Mercedes' best placing has been an 11th position.

The DTM announced on Friday that it will allow the Stuttgart manufacturer to enhance its car performance and contest a day of testing before Sept. 25. The series also announced that, as part of a plan to reduce costs, car homologation will be frozen until the end of the 2015 season. That includes a freeze of individual components, mainly for the suspension area.

"Freezing the homologation of the DTM vehicles up to the end of the 2015 season represents an important step for reducing the costs," said DTM boss Hans Werner Aufrecht. "The fact that the commission also defined exceptions that allow enhancements in certain circumstances demonstrates that the three premium-car manufacturers involved truly live the DTM spirit."

The DTM has also announced changes to this year's practice format, and now Saturday practice will consist of 60-minute sessions instead of one lasting 90 minutes. The new rule will come into plays from the Norisring round.