The 500th DTM race starts today (a look back 35 years)
08/25/2019
In fact, since the start of the DTM in 1984, 499 races have been held on 343 event weekends, and today, August 25, 2019, marks the 500th race.
In 35 years, the DTM abbreviation has become an internationally recognized trademark. What began in 1984 under the name "German Production Car Championship" is now a globally renowned racing series, with attractive and varied motorsport events in Germany, Europe - and soon again in Asia
"Loud. Close. Close." is the motto of the DTM. But the DTM is more than "just" motorsport. That was the case right from the start.
The DTM success story began long before the digital age on March 11, 1984 at the Circuit Zolder with the victory of Harald Grohs (GER) in a BMW 635 CSi. Some interesting facts and figures from (almost) 500 DTM races:
The first season ended with a curiosity: BMW driver Volker Strycek won the drivers' championship without having won a single race.
Bernd Schneider collected the most drivers' titles, namely five. The second most titles went to Klaus Ludwig, who became DTM champion three times.
Schneider and Ludwig also lead three other DTM statistics: the most race wins (Schneider 43, Ludwig 37), the most points (Ludwig 1,823.5, Schneider 1,808.5) and the most starts (Schneider 236, Ludwig 219).
Both drivers contested large parts of their careers for Mercedes-Benz, which is also the most successful brand in DTM history with 195 victories. Audi has 108 wins, while BMW has celebrated 87 victories to date.
Speaking of drivers: a look at the DTM entry lists reveals the "who's who" of motorsport. In addition to Schneider and Ludwig, Hans-Joachim Stuck is another German motorsport legend who has won championship honors in the DTM.
With Ellen Lohr, Annette Meeuvissen, Susie Wolff, Vanina Ickx, Katherine Legge, Rahel Frey, Beate Nodes, Mercedes Stermitz, Lella Lombardi, Henny Hemmes and Traudl Klink, eleven women competed in the DTM. Lohr was the most successful with 144 starts and one race win (Hockenheim 1992).
For Giancarlo Fisichella, Alexander Wurz, Jan Magnussen, Paul Di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein, Christijan Albers and Esteban Ocon, the DTM also served as a springboard into Formula 1. Dario Franchitti matured into an absolute superstar after his DTM time in North America as a four-time IndyCar champion and three-time winner of the 500 miles of Indianapolis.
Former Formula 1 world champions Mika Häkkinen and Keke Rosberg celebrated success in the DTM after their time in the "premier class of motorsport" - as did Grand Prix winners David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Alessandro Nannini and Jean Alesi. And "Mr. Le Mans", the nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Tom Kristensen, was among the absolute top class of the DTM between 2004 and 2009. And of course, Johnny Cecotto, who was good for many a surprising maneuver in the BMW M3, should not be forgotten.
Incidentally, Gerhard Berger, Chairman of the DTM umbrella organization ITR since 2017, also once made a guest appearance in the DTM. In 1985, Berger finished eighth in a BMW 635 CSi of the Schnitzer team at the race in Zolder.
The DTM has made stops at 38 different race tracks since 1984. The leader here is the Hockenheimring (93), ahead of the Nürburgring (80) and the Norisring (46). With the 500th race at the Lausitzring, the circuit in Brandenburg has moved up to fourth place in the eternal statistics with 25 races.
The 499 races to date also include all 36 races of the ITC, when races with DTM cars were held in 1995 and 1996 under the umbrella of the FIA as the "International Touring Car Series" and "International Touring Car Championship", the ten races of the ITR Gold Cup (1991, 1993, 1994), the DTM invitation race in Shanghai in 2004, as well as the three races at the Salzburgring (1988) and the Berlin Avus (1995) that were started but not scored after being abandoned. However, the 2000 races at the Lausitzring, which were ultimately canceled due to heavy rain, are not included, nor are the DTM events at the Olympic Stadium in Munich (2011, 2012).
Incidentally, the 499th race yesterday (August 24, 2019) was won by Swiss driver Nico Müller in an Audi; we will know in a few hours when the 500th race is won.
