R-Motorsport Quits DTM After Single Season

Photo: R-Motorsport

R-Motorsport has called time on its DTM program after one year in the German series, leaving just two manufacturers on the grid for the upcoming season.

The Swiss squad fielded four Aston Martin Vantage DTMs last year but split from its engine builder HWA at the end of the season.

Having failed to secure another engine strategy for 2020, the team announced on Friday it will leave the series.

This is likely to bring the DTM grid down to 14 cars, with six manufacturer entries each from Audi and BMW, along with a pair of customer Audis for WRT, unless additional customer teams are confirmed.

R-Motorsport is yet to communicate most of its race programs for the coming season, but will kick off its campaign at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour next weekend.

“The reassessment of our motorsport program showed that we want to set new priorities for the future and that the DTM engagement would not be appropriate for us anymore,” said team principal Dr. Florian Kamelger.

“What we have decided regarding our 2020 motorsport program we will announce at a later stage.

“However, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you particularly to Gerhard Berger and the ITR, to Dieter Gass and to Jens Marquardt for the common engagement in DTM during our debut season.

“Especially BMW has been an extraordinary helpful partner for us.”

R-Motorsport is also understood to be involved to a degree in Aston Martin’s upcoming Le Mans Hypercar project, and Kamelger has expressed interest in running cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jake Kilshaw

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