The 2012 season was to be one for the books, as it introduced a new set of regulations that gave way to a new generation of cars, bigger and meaner than ever.
The new rules also levelled the playing field between long time protagonists Audi and Mercedes, giving BMW the perfect opportunity for a comeback. The duel would now be a three-way fight.
BMW put its pre-season to good use, hiring big guns such as reigning champion Martin Tomczyk (Audi) and Canadian Bruno Spengler (Mercedes), who led the championship for a long while in 2011, before eventually loosing out to Tomczyk.
Everybody expected BMW's learning curve to be steep. Indeed it was, but little did it show: in no time the manufacturer's three teams were up to speed. Things were already promising at Hockenheim's season-opener, but took a turn for the better at the Lausitzring, where Bruno Spengler scored his first victory with BMW, in only the second round of the season.
Right away, the Canadian established himself as a leader, and soon added three more victories to his name. He totalled seven podiums in ten races, plus a further three pole positions: an astonishing tally that earned him the first crown of his DTM career, that started eighth years ago.
Let's also not forget Spengler DNF'd twice (Hockenheim and Spielberg) – never because of a mistake on his part –, making his title stand out even more.
For BMW, the season ended on a high note with the manufacturers' title, a feat in itself since the brand only had six BMW M3 DTM cars entered to Mercedes' and Audi's eighth machines. Furthermore, BMW Schnitzer, the team for which Spengler and the young Dirk Werner race, took away the teams' title.
The Bavarians never spared any effort to make their cars go faster, and the team progressed in more than one way over the course of the season. In race strategy and pit stops for instance, the BMW men gained several seconds between the opening and closing rounds.
Unfortunately for Mercedes, the season was in revealing contrast to BMW's: it started with a bang – a 1-2 win thanks to Gary Paffett and Jamie Green –, but ended in bitter deception. Only Paffett really ever featured in the the title race. His teammate Green appeared briefly to stand a chance, but could not stage a proper fight.
It must be said that Paffett's title bid was hindered by bad luck – twice. At Zandvoort, he was used as a safety barrier by BMW's Martin Tomczyk, caught napping by the rain. Paffett ended only seventh in result of his clash with the 2011 champion. Then, in Valencia, the Brit, because of an uncooperative car, started the race last and crashed while navigating through traffic.
With his lead down to only three points, Paffett showed up at Hockenheim confident, but eventually lost the title to Spengler for a shaky start and a bad pit stop. Mere seconds separated the two men at the finish line, and only four points in the standings.
The pill was therefore very hard to swallow for Mercedes, which had to suffer, on top of losing the drivers' title, losing second place in the manufacturers' standings to Audi, even though Paffett and Green totalled three race wins. Mercedes' competition boss poor Norbert Haug could not even turn to his Formula 1 team for comforting, as the Silver Arrows also endured a difficult year.
Things are not much brighter at Audi, which did not feature much after Mattias Ekström picked up the pole at the season opener.
Mike Rockenfeller was the brand's best drivers in terms of points, but competition boss Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich will look up to Edoardo Mortara when the time comes to remember the season. The French-Italian earned Audi's sole victories of 2012. Many insiders expect him to take over from the old guard – Rockenfeller, Ekström and Scheider – over the next few years.
As it happens, Audi is putting its trust in a many young drivers recently: Filipe Albuquerque for example, and Adrien Tambay, who finished on the podium at Valencia. Maybe the brand is grooming them for a shot in world endurance.
To the public eye, the 2012 season certainly was a success. 2011 attendance rates had already been surpassed at round 8, in Oschersleben, and the Hockenheim finale united upwards of 130,00 fans. The new generation of cars and the arrival of BMW certainly helped keeping fans interested throughout the year.
The aforementioned breathtaking conclusion of the championship didn't hurt either…
The new rules also levelled the playing field between long time protagonists Audi and Mercedes, giving BMW the perfect opportunity for a comeback. The duel would now be a three-way fight.
BMW put its pre-season to good use, hiring big guns such as reigning champion Martin Tomczyk (Audi) and Canadian Bruno Spengler (Mercedes), who led the championship for a long while in 2011, before eventually loosing out to Tomczyk.
Everybody expected BMW's learning curve to be steep. Indeed it was, but little did it show: in no time the manufacturer's three teams were up to speed. Things were already promising at Hockenheim's season-opener, but took a turn for the better at the Lausitzring, where Bruno Spengler scored his first victory with BMW, in only the second round of the season.
 |
| Bruno Spengler, BMW M3 DTM (Photo: René Fagnan) |
Right away, the Canadian established himself as a leader, and soon added three more victories to his name. He totalled seven podiums in ten races, plus a further three pole positions: an astonishing tally that earned him the first crown of his DTM career, that started eighth years ago.
Let's also not forget Spengler DNF'd twice (Hockenheim and Spielberg) – never because of a mistake on his part –, making his title stand out even more.
For BMW, the season ended on a high note with the manufacturers' title, a feat in itself since the brand only had six BMW M3 DTM cars entered to Mercedes' and Audi's eighth machines. Furthermore, BMW Schnitzer, the team for which Spengler and the young Dirk Werner race, took away the teams' title.
 |
| Crowds at the season Finale, in Hockenheim (Photo: René Fagnan) |
The Bavarians never spared any effort to make their cars go faster, and the team progressed in more than one way over the course of the season. In race strategy and pit stops for instance, the BMW men gained several seconds between the opening and closing rounds.
Unfortunately for Mercedes, the season was in revealing contrast to BMW's: it started with a bang – a 1-2 win thanks to Gary Paffett and Jamie Green –, but ended in bitter deception. Only Paffett really ever featured in the the title race. His teammate Green appeared briefly to stand a chance, but could not stage a proper fight.
 |
| Gary Paffett, Mercedes C Class (Photo: René Fagnan) |
It must be said that Paffett's title bid was hindered by bad luck – twice. At Zandvoort, he was used as a safety barrier by BMW's Martin Tomczyk, caught napping by the rain. Paffett ended only seventh in result of his clash with the 2011 champion. Then, in Valencia, the Brit, because of an uncooperative car, started the race last and crashed while navigating through traffic.
With his lead down to only three points, Paffett showed up at Hockenheim confident, but eventually lost the title to Spengler for a shaky start and a bad pit stop. Mere seconds separated the two men at the finish line, and only four points in the standings.
The pill was therefore very hard to swallow for Mercedes, which had to suffer, on top of losing the drivers' title, losing second place in the manufacturers' standings to Audi, even though Paffett and Green totalled three race wins. Mercedes' competition boss poor Norbert Haug could not even turn to his Formula 1 team for comforting, as the Silver Arrows also endured a difficult year.
Things are not much brighter at Audi, which did not feature much after Mattias Ekström picked up the pole at the season opener.
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| Edoardo Mortara, Audi A5 (Photo: DTM) |
Mike Rockenfeller was the brand's best drivers in terms of points, but competition boss Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich will look up to Edoardo Mortara when the time comes to remember the season. The French-Italian earned Audi's sole victories of 2012. Many insiders expect him to take over from the old guard – Rockenfeller, Ekström and Scheider – over the next few years.
As it happens, Audi is putting its trust in a many young drivers recently: Filipe Albuquerque for example, and Adrien Tambay, who finished on the podium at Valencia. Maybe the brand is grooming them for a shot in world endurance.
To the public eye, the 2012 season certainly was a success. 2011 attendance rates had already been surpassed at round 8, in Oschersleben, and the Hockenheim finale united upwards of 130,00 fans. The new generation of cars and the arrival of BMW certainly helped keeping fans interested throughout the year.
The aforementioned breathtaking conclusion of the championship didn't hurt either…