DTM in Talks With ADAC About Potential Series Sale

DTM parent company ITR is engaged in negotiations with ADAC about a potential sale of the series, Sportscar365 has learned.

Industry sources have indicated that the organizing body of ADAC GT Masters could potentially take over the sprint series, which recently completed its second season under GT3 regulations.

While a deal is understood to not yet have been reached between the two parties, a DTM spokesperson confirmed to Sportscar365 that talks are taking place.

“We are currently in discussions with regard to the coming year,” a statement from ITR read.

“We can confirm that we are talking to the ADAC and examining possible synergies that we could realize together in the future – especially for the benefit of the participating teams and partners.”

While the understanding is that talks have been ongoing for some time, it should be noted that Walkenhorst Motorsport’s recent switch from DTM to GT Masters is said to not be related to a potential sale.

Should the deal go through, it’s unclear what that will mean for the future of DTM. The two series have had a significant level of crossover since DTM’s switch to a GT3 ruleset in 2021.

The two championships also share a similar format, differentiated by a two-driver crew in GT Masters as opposed to a single driver in DTM.

DTM also notably remains the last major sports car racing series in Europe to have not yet publicly announced its 2023 calendar.

The series has been under the leadership of ten-time Grand Prix winner Gerhard Berger since 2017, having been appointed ITR chairman in place of longtime series figurehead Hans Werner Aufrecht.

Under Berger’s tenure, the series adopted the Class 1 ruleset amidst a short-lived partnership with the Japanese Super GT series that saw the two series come together for the Fuji Dream Race event in November 2019.

Berger also guided the series through a period of decline in the final years prior to the adaptation of the GT3 regulations, with cornerstone manufacturers Mercedes and Audi closing down factory efforts at the end of 2018 and 2020, respectively.

The introduction of GT3 rules in 2021 provided a turnaround in fortunes for the series, with car counts rebounding and new manufacturers Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and McLaren joining the series. Audi and Mercedes also returned in a privateer capacity.