Starting in 2020, DTM umbrella organisation ITR will run its own racing series for GT4-spec cars. The new series replaces the Audi one-make Seyffarth Trophy on the DTM bill.
The ‘DTM Trophy’ will feature two free-practice sessions per race weekend on Fridays, and a 20-minute qualifying session and 30-minute race each on Saturdays and Sundays.
“With the DTM Trophy, we’re creating an attractive package for both the ambitious young driver and the seasoned professional,” said ITR Managing Director Achim Kostron.
“The opportunity to race near-series-spec GT vehicles, a category supported by a diverse and attractive range of international automotive manufacturers, will make for a fantastic series that will be enjoyed by fans and competitors alike.”
There will be three championship categories within the DTM Trophy: one for drivers, one for teams, and a junior category for drivers age 22 and under (born in 1998 or later).
Driver ratings, common in many other GT series, will not exist in the DTM Trophy. It seems that the ITR-run series will neither licence the GT4 moniker from SRO nor run with their Balance of Performance process for the competing cars.
Minimal entry standard is set at International D-licence. Points will be awarded in the same manner as in the DTM: the winner receives 25 points down to one point for 10th position. And, as in DTM, points will be awarded for the top three qualifiers: 3-2-1.
In its debut season, the DTM Trophy will be held across seven DTM race weekends: Zolder (24/26 April), Lausitzring (15/17 May), Anderstorp (12/14 June), Norisring (10/12 July), Assen (4/6 September), Nürburgring (11/13 September) and Hockenheimring (2/4 October).
In early October, the ITR announced that, in addition to W Series, the DMV GT & Touring Car Cup (DMV GTC) will run on the DTM’s support bill next season. The DMV GTC is a racing series established in Germany for customer sport teams.
In the future, it is planned that this will develop as a category to accommodate cars from categories such as GT3, Porsche Carrera Cup and Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo, which race in a single field but are classified separately.
