Citroen Moving to DTM?

[Harakimi]

Citroen could join DTM in 2010 if they go through with their threat to quit the WRC at the end of season 2009. Citroen team principal Olivier Quesnel believes the DTM currently offers manufacturers better value for money and a better platform to demonstrate their cars.

"I went to Hockenheim to look at the DTM race and the promotion of that series is on another planet compared to the WRC," said Quesnel.

"If we are quite sure the WRC is a good idea then we can make the investment in the new car," he said. "But we are not here to race for the sake of the race. We are here to sell cars."

If this happens then it's good news for DTM, they need more manufacturers there.

[FAlonso]

That would be very surprising since DTM stands for Deutsche Tourenwagen Meistershaft (German touringcars championships).
Since Citröen is a French brand it would be very unlikely to have them in DTM.

When reading your quotes I believe Citröen's team principal is more like referring to the promotion DTM brings as an example of how it should go when millions are invested, compared to WRC which is also very expensive for teams but doesn't get as much promotional returns as they would like.

So I think he is more threatening to step out of WRC if nothing changes instead of joining DTM.

Correct me if i'm wrong.:wonder:

[FAlonso]

BMW is a manufacturer that is being missed in DTM. Now its only Audi vs Mercedes. Does anyone know why BMW doesn't compete in DTM?

[Driverdb]

That would be very surprising since DTM stands for Deutsche Tourenwagen Meistershaft (German touringcars championships).
Since Citröen is a French brand it would be very unlikely to have them in DTM.

There have been foreign car manufacturers competing in DTM in the 80's and 90's so it would not be unheard of.

Regarding BMW, they dropped out of DTM in the early '90s and they now seem at home in S2000 touring cars. As long as they are competing and winning with those I guess they don't see the need for an extremely expensive DTM campaign. F1 and WTCC probably costs enough, without adding DTM to the budget as well. :D

But perhaps they will start to reconsider things now with the SEAT Diesel situation.

[FAlonso]

There have been foreign car manufacturers competing in DTM in the 80's and 90's so it would not be unheard of.

Regarding BMW, they dropped out of DTM in the early '90s and they now seem at home in S2000 touring cars. As long as they are competing and winning with those I guess they don't see the need for an extremely expensive DTM campaign. F1 and WTCC probably costs enough, without adding DTM to the budget as well. :D

But perhaps they will start to reconsider things now with the SEAT Diesel situation.

Thanks. I found a similar statement from Mario Thiessen saying in various interviews that they have no interest in competing in the DTM Series for the time being.
On one hand it's quite expensive to establish and finance a new racing stall along with the F1 Team, which is already eating up enough money that anything else is cheap compared to that, on the other hand the interest is limited compared to F1 and WTCC.

Another thing is that DTM is not a FIA sanctioned series. It says a lot with the competition between Audi and Mercedes for keeping this series running and being the second most advanced technical autosport after F1.

I added some pics and a video of pitstop rehearsal :thumbsup:

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[EIR Loe.307]

That Audi is MEAN!!! I want I want!!

[FAlonso]

Me saw first ! :lol::finishfirst:

The mat black version of Timo Scheider makes me drewl.

[JoStream]

I can see it happening as soon as 2009. With BMW and Citroen the series would really take off :thumbsup:.