The DTM is preparing to face the new 2022 season with GT3 cars and a regulation revised in various points by the promoter ITR.
Gerhard Berger’s men have studied several modifications which they have submitted to the German Motorsport Association DMSB so that they can be approved by the FIA at the next World Council.
Among all the new features, the ban on team orders among the teams and brands involved certainly stands out, but we will talk about this in more detail later.
Starting with the rest, this year whoever realizes the Pole Position will have the right to choose the side of the starting grid they prefer; this can be done within one hour from the start, which will take place from the start (Indianapolis style as defined by the DTM experts) and by means of the green light activated by the race director.
Departure
Photo by: DTM
On the other hand, the weight of the Success Ballast for the first three classified drops: 25kg will go to the winner, 15kg to the second and 5kg to the third.
1 point will then be awarded to whoever sets the fastest lap in the race, as long as the drivers are in the Top 10, as happens in F1.
During each race, a situation of danger or accident can be managed with the Full Course Yellow: in this way the cars will have to proceed at 60km / h without overtaking each other, even if the option to enter the Safety Car remains at the discretion of the Director of Competition.
Safety car
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
In situations of FCY it will not be possible to return to the pits to make the obligatory pit stop, which compared to 2020-2021 can take place from the 11th minute onwards, instead of from the 6th lap; all this has been designed to limit team games and delays made on purpose between those who have already stopped and those who have not yet done so.
On the other hand, in the case of a Safety Car period, the return to the pit lane to change tires is allowed, but only for one car per lap.
Each pit lane will have a speed limit established according to the situation, therefore not necessarily at 60km / h as is currently foreseen.
When parked, the rear tires must be changed first, so as not to risk a rider accelerating to restart while an employee is still fitting the tire.
To reduce costs, it was decided that each team will be able to employ only four people authorized to change the tires, plus one who takes care of the guns to unlock the wheel nuts and the classic ‘lollipop’ employee to kick off the competitor. .
Michelin, the official tire supplier of the DTM, will give the teams a new set on Friday for testing, but to be returned at the end of the sessions. There are three trains that can be used on Saturday and Sunday.
The Balance of Performance can instead undergo variations at any time during all the races, and not only from the fourth event onwards as it happened in the last season, always at the hands of AvL.
Sophia Flörsch, Abt Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Finally, here we are at the infamous point of team orders. As is now well known, no one liked the little theater put in place by the Mercedes-AMG teams to allow Maximilian Götz to win the drivers’ title at Norisring.
In the regulation of 2021 there was no rule on this problem, since ITR had thought it was useless since customer-teams of the brands were engaged and not the manufacturers themselves.
As bitterly ascertained (but let’s also say that it was largely predictable for anyone who knows a little about the world of Customer Racing and those who are part of it), there are those who took advantage of it to pull the water at their mill.
Article 14.2 of the Sporting Regulations for the 2022 season reads as follows:
“Any instruction (team order) to any driver, whether verbal or by other means, which could affect the result of qualifying or the race is not allowed.”
“No sponsor, supplier, company or associated company, including any manufacturer or brand, importer or its representative, is authorized to contractually order, impose or attempt to impose a team order on any rider or competitor.”
“Any violation of this will be reported to the race marshals and all people involved may be subject to penalties up to disqualification from the championship.”
Reference is then made to the International Sporting Code of the FIA, which also provides for very high fines in the event that the aforementioned facts are ascertained.
“Any violation of the principles of fairness in competition, unsportsmanlike conduct or attempt to influence the outcome of a competition in a way that is contrary to sporting ethics is against the rules. The highest possible fine for a violation is 250,000 euros.”
Maximilian Götz, Haupt Racing Team Mercedes AMG GT3
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Now all that remains is to understand how it will actually be possible to monitor these aspects, if only because history has taught us that on more than one occasion the houses have found the classic ‘loopholes’, and how.
Circumventing such a rule is at the same time dangerous in terms of image, should one be caught out. But it is also true that in a world like this – as we already said in a study published some time ago – it is difficult to find who can throw the stone without sin.
Also adding that looking for the speck in the eyes of others when you don’t see the beams in your own can be a potential own goal for anyone involved.
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