Season opener in Italy: #DTM opts for pure racing action

For the start of its new season from 18-20 June in Italy, DTM is opting for pure racing action. The season opener has two premieres taking centre stage: it will be the first race weekend with the altered regulations for GT race cars and it is the series’ first-ever visit to the high-speed track in Monza’s Royal Park. For the curtain-raiser, DTM organisation ITR has set the duration of the two races – both on Saturday and Sunday from 1.30 pm (live on SAT.1 and in over 60 countries) at 50 minutes each. The background of this proactive measure is an increased calculated fuel consumption at the high-speed track. The usual duration of a DTM race is 55 minutes plus one lap.

“The 2021 DTM stands for powerful GT race cars, an open competition of the world-class drivers and spectacular races. That has priority,” says Frederic Elsner, Director Event & Operations, ITR GmbH. “Therefore, we are playing it safe and, in view of the altered regulations and the premiere at this unique high-speed track, have adapted the race duration.”

Steeped in tradition, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, located on the outskirts of Milan, is the 40th race track in the series’ long-standing history to host a DTM race. The 5.792 kilometres long Grand Prix circuit stands out in particular for its high-speed sections. At Monza, GT race cars as they are running in DTM from Audi, BMW and Mercedes as well as Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren are reaching an average speed of nearly 200 km/h and a top speed of over 280 km/h.