The DTM teams had travelled to Italy this week for some pre-season testing.
This time it is the actual cars that will be competing this season, since the date for homologation – i.e. last chance to change any technical stuff on the cars – were March the 1st.
Both Mercedes and Audi did more than 2100 kilometres of testing, while BMW is as usual a bit slow at releasing news from their tests.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG
Audi had Mathias Ekström in the car on the first day, and he crossed 760 km on that single day alone. Jamie Green did 682 km during Wednesday test, before Ekström was back in the car on Thursday.
Mercedes had send Robert Wickens on the track Tuesday, and Gary Paffett on Wednesday, before Edoardo Mortara finished off on Thursday. Altogether they did 518 laps at the Vallelunga track.
Photo: Audi Communications Motorsport
So plenty of kilometres were covered in the new cars, where several things have been changed. The power output of the 4 liter V8 are now over 500 bhp.
The ride height on the car has been raised and the aerodynamics has been reduced.
DTM has had a DRS system on the cars for several years, but as something new it’s no longer the whole rear wing that tilts, but only the elements on it that moves, when it gets activated. That should give a more efficient DRS wing and more overtakings.
The tire compound is new, which makes the tires softer and will make them drop off faster. That should bring in a new tactical element – when are you going to change wheels during the mandatory pit stop? Furthermore all the cars will run on the same ATS 18″ rims from this year onwards, the opposite to previous years.
ITR will in the near future release the sporting regulations changes for the 2017 season.
