WRT “In Discussions” for 2019 DTM Entry

Photo: Audi

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT could add DTM to its program for next year, according to team principal Vincent Vosse. 

Paddock rumors have linked the Belgian squad to the German championship for a number of weeks although Vosse has now finally admitted the team is considering the series.

“We are in discussions for 2019 but there is nothing done,” he told Sportscar365. “We are in discussions and I think there are many teams in discussions. 

“We like the idea, and I think the DTM today is in a situation where it needs to move, it needs to grow. That’s maybe the right time to get in.”

Vosse clarified that a possible future DTM entry wouldn’t come as a detriment to the team’s existing GT3 and WTCR programs.

“That will have nothing to do together, it will be different teams,” he said. “WTCR is a completely different team to GT. I will do the same for DTM, if I do it.”

ROWE Has “50 Percent” Chance of DTM Program

ROWE Racing is also evaluating a possible DTM entry, with team principal Hans-Peter Naundorf saying the German outfit has a “50 percent” chance of running BMWs in the series next year.

“The rumors heard in the paddock to see us in DTM are true,” Naundorf told Endurance-Info.

“Everything is not finalized and I currently estimate at 50 percent the chances to see us in DTM next season.”

He says that, like WRT, ROWE would also continue its GT3 program alongside a DTM entry with the team again set for entries in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and Nürburgring 24.

“ROWE Racing are above all an endurance team,” he explained. “It’s a bit more complicated for us to find the budget for the Sprint championship.”

The possible additions to the DTM grid come amid Mercedes-Benz’s exit at the end of the year, prompting both Audi and BMW, which currently field six cars each, to fill the grid.

Laurent Mercier contributed to this report.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.