In the run-up to the 2017 DTM season that will be kicked off from 05th to 07th May at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-AMG will contest three official tests.
The first five days of testing (20th to 24th February) will be held at Portimão, located at Portugal’s Algarve coast, followed by four days (14th to 17th March) at Vallelunga, located to the North of Italy’s capital, Rome, and four days (03rd to 06th April) at the Hockenheimring. And during the tests at the German circuit, the gates will be open for the public.
The technical regulations for the coming season will feature several alterations that will be announced before long – as soon as the final decisions have been made.
That’s why the off-season tests are of major importance: to enhance those developments on the track that were developed in winter. So, mainly the first two tests also will be contested by special development vehicles to put the new components to the acid test.
At the same time, the drivers want to adapt to their new racing cars. Other than in Formula One where the drivers fully focus on this series, the drivers contesting DTM for Audi, BMW and Mercedes-AMG are true jacks of all trades and often race in another series or in selected sports-car events.
For instance, quite a number of them recently competed in the Daytona 24h Race and Mercedes-AMG’s DTM repat Maro Engel contested Formula E races, in the off-season. So, they haven’t to ‘relearn’ to drive a racing car. And don’t forget that all the 17 drivers apart from Loic Duval already have got DTM experience under their belts.
For the fans, the official DTM testes represent the perfect opportunity to get in the right mood for the forthcoming season. It’s true, the test results usually don’t provide a clear hint to the balance of power but witnessing the impressive touring cars of the three German premium-car manufacturers back on the track makes you wish for more.