DTM to cut downforce under its 2017 Class One rules revamp

The next generation of DTM cars will have reduced levels of downforce, when the Class One framework being jointly developed with Super GT is introduced in 2017.

Work between organizers of the two series and their manufacturers continues, with Audi, BMW and Mercedes representatives holding weekly meetings, and then monthly briefings with Honda, Lexus and Nissan.

Both categories already share chassis and aerodynamic DNA, and while the cars will continue to resemble the existing machinery, current work is focused on arriving at reduced levels of downforce to reduce speeds and costs.

"We want to reduce the downforce a little bit because the cars are getting too quick," DTM technical chief Michael Bernard told AUTOSPORT. "Also we are looking to get the running costs down.

"If you see how the DTM cars are cornering, it's very strange. They are just passing any kind of curb like it is not there. The car is strong enough to resist this for 100 kilometers, but at the end of the race many parts are destroyed, so the running costs at the moment are too high.

"We are looking to get the ride height up and to find solutions as to how we can get the running costs down."

Having a first version of the technical regulations written by the end of August is the target. Work on defining the new two-liter, four-cylinder engines has finished and monocoque work is rated at 90 percent complete.

"We adapted a lot of solutions from the Japanese, because they already have the four-cylinder, two-liter, in-line engines," Bernard said. "The German regulations are much more restrictive than the Japanese ones, but the engine engineers decided that this is not a big disadvantage and in terms of cost saving, we will follow the more restrictive regulations.

"The philosophy of the Japanese people is to leave the engineers more freedom, especially in the area of green technology. We are not against green technology, but in motorsport if you keep the door open it's getting more and more expensive."

Originally on AUTOSPORT.com