Safety as key to success
Technical acceptance in the DTM
As an official DTM series partner, DEKRA will ensure the safety of the racing vehicles - so that all participants can enjoy what the DTM has stood for decades: racing hearts.
One of DEKRA’s main tasks in the DTM is the technical approval of all the vehicles. Here, the DEKRA experts licensed by the German Motorsport Federation (DMSB), check whether the cars meet the strict specifications of the technical regulations in all respects. In this way, equality of opportunity is guaranteed and it is ensured that only flawlessly functioning vehicles are allowed to race, since protecting drivers, pit-lane crews, track marshals, officials, and spectators has the highest priority.
DEKRA has been at the DTM’s side as a partner since 1989 and has followed the development of the most important German racing series up close and helped shape it in the interests of safety. The DEKRA experts were also always involved in the formulation and further development of the regulations. This was particularly true of the rules and regulations in force from 2012 to 2020, which marked a special era for the DTM.
With the start of a new decade, the DTM is now marking the beginning of a new phase in what is probably Germany's best-known racing series: the era of GT3 cars. With the entry of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini, spectators are now offered a new brand diversity. And with the different concepts such as front- and mid-engines with eight and ten cylinders, naturally aspirated and turbo, every fan will find their favorite race car.
In order to guarantee the best possible equality of opportunity between the vehicles fielded by different manufacturers, the DTM relies on a so-called Balance-of-Performance (BoP), with which the individual vehicles are brought to the same performance level.
As usual, compliance with the regulations is ensured by DEKRA's technical inspectors. And the list of tasks is extensive: DEKRA carries out the basic inspection of the race cars at every DTM race event. All safety-relevant components such as the seat belts, the fire extinguisher or the rollover device are checked. In order to perfect its own processes during the basic vehicle inspection, DEKRA relies on augmented reality and thus once again on forward-looking technologies. In addition to the safety of the vehicles, the technical inspectors also check the protective equipment of the racing drivers. This includes the helmet and FHR-system as well as the fireproof clothing. In addition to the overall, this also includes the underwear and socks as well as the balaclava and gloves.
But it's not just the race cars that are new; there have also been some changes to the driver lineup. And with an international driver mix of Formula 1 drivers, DTM champions, GT3 aces and rookies, there will be plenty of racing action during the two 60-minute sprint races per weekend.
Furthermore, the striking logo of the expert organization has always adorned the starting number on each DTM vehicle. It cannot be documented more clearly or visibly: DEKRA and the DTM – they simply belong together. Because for DEKRA, this partnership is not just sponsoring, but core expertise with passion – for more than 30 years.