With less than four weeks to go before the start of the 2009
DTM season at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, the most popular international touring car series presented itself to its fans in the sports city of Düsseldorf.The driver line-up includes eleven Audi drivers and eight Mercedes-Benz drivers. With seven competitors, Germany has the largest contingent, followed by Great Britain with six drivers. DTM rookies for this year are Dane Christian Bakkerud and German Johannes Seidlitz, both with Audi. With Susie Stoddart (Mercedes-Benz) and Katherine Legge (Audi), two lady racers are competing for points as well. Canadian
Bruno Spengler is part of the HWA team for Mercedes-Benz, alongside Gary Paffett, Ralf Schumacher and Paul di Resta.
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| The Mercedes-Benz squadron, with Canadian Bruno Spengler in the middle |
DTM regulations were improved a little bit further. Compared to previous years, the DTM time schedule on race weekends has been comprised. The 30 minutes' rollout session will now take place late on Friday afternoon. Qualifying will follow on Saturday afternoon from 13.35 h after two and a half hours of free practice in the morning.As of this season, the shoot-out qualifying to determine the starting grid positions for the DTM will include four heats instead of previously two. After the first 14 minutes, the fastest 14 drivers will move up into the second heat. In the second session, the remaining drivers have ten minutes to qualify for the third heat with a duration of nine minutes. After this heat, the four fastest drivers will decide on the positions on the first two grid rows. In the fourth heat, every driver can only complete one timed lap. Parc Fermé regulations are in force between the third and the fourth heat: refuelling and tyre changes are forbidden.For the 2009 season, the DTM commission has decided the following minimum weights: cars of the 2009 generation must weigh at least 1,050 kilograms, 2008-spec cars 1,030 kilograms and 2007-spec cars 1,010 kilograms.
photo: René Fagnan - Auto123.com & DTM