Crossing the divide

DTM and Super GT agree to share rules in bold step

One of the longest-running sagas in world motorsport has finally come to a conclusion. The drive for common rules across the German-based DTM touring car championship and the Super GT Series in Japan, something which goes back to the start of the decade, has reached fruition. From 2020, the cars racing in the two series will run to the same rulebook.

The implementation of the new rules starts next year, when the DTM ditches normally-aspirated V8s in favour of small-capacity turbos, and Super GT raises the prospect of Audi and BMW racing in Japan, with Honda, Nissan and Toyota – through the Lexus brand – lining up in the DTM. The question remains, is it a genuine prospect or just a hope on the part of the respective organisers of the two series?

What is clear is that they are trying to cultivate some cross-fertilisation that goes beyond the regulations. Next year, there will be two non-championship races, one in Europe and one in Japan, at which the two series go head-to-head. That will required some kind of performance balancing given that the rules will not be fully aligned, but it is a statement of intent. 

The DTM, which loses Mercedes this year, needs a third manufacturer to guarantee its long-term survival. The question is whether one of the Japanese marques is ready to make the jump.