With the rise of GT3 cars across the global motorsport scene, one former DTM champion is urging more manufacturers to join the recently revamped championship.
This year is the first DTM is running under GT3 specifications.
GT3 cars have become the mainstay of the sports car world.
Even New Zealand has witnessed an influx of GT3 cars competing in our domestic endurance championships.
Next month’s South Island Endurance Series boasts several GT3 cars, including three NISMO GT-Rs (main image), a McLaren 720s and a Lamborghini Reiter RE-X.
DTM’s shift from their Class One programme to GT3 cars generated mixed reception.
Some saw it as a necessary step for the survival of the category following Audi Sport’s and BMW’s withdrawal from Class One.
GT3 cars are significantly more affordable than Class One.
On the other hand, others viewed the change as ruining the once-popular touring car category by turning it into simply another generic GT3 race class.
Still, DTM muscled on and, after four rounds under GT3 regulations, has proven to continue being a popular category with manufacturers.
Ferrari, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, McLaren and Lamborghini have already taken to this season’s grid.
Last weekend’s meeting at the Nürburgring had the largest grid in five years of DTM with 23 cars.
It could be that DTM morphs itself into becoming the world’s premier GT3 championship.
The World Endurance Championship is also looking to GT3 for their future, with plans announced last week that a GT3 class will replace GTE from 2024.
Doing so will open more manufacturers to racing at Le Mans as several begin to wind down their GTE programmes.
Former DTM champion and Le Mans 24 Hour winner Klaus Ludwig wants more manufacturers to jump on the DTM GT3 bandwagon.
“Aston Martin, Corvette, Ford, Bentley and all these cars should all come. Because then we have a platform that is unbeatable in the world,” Ludwig told Autosport.
“GT3s are ruling the world. They should rule at Le Mans and everything. All the rest is just too expensive, too crazy, too much technology.
“Just GT3 and a good Balance of Performance. And then you have fantastic races.”
Kiwi driver Liam Lawson became the first-ever DTM race winner under GT3 regulations earlier this year.
Main Image: Neville Bailey