The DTM imagines a regulation without a thermal engine

The German Touring Championship (DTM) lent itself to the game of fiction. But the result could well be translated into reality in the relatively near future. 

The ITR company, responsible for promoting the discipline, has imagined an innovative concept, where gasoline engines would no longer have their place. The all-electric trend is present with an electric engine, but the introduction of a hydrogen powertrain has also been evaluated.

DTM promoter ITR presents its futuristic conceptual vision for a 1000bhp all-electric touring car series – with hydrogen fuel cell tech and automated wheel changes! pic.twitter.com/n3sBUOntdh

- DTM (@DTM) November 7, 2019

The power delivered would exceed 1 horsepower for a brief moment during the acceleration phase and the maximum speed would be 300 km/h! With such demand, the batteries or hydrogen tanks would have to be changed during a pit stop. 

This is where another original idea comes in: the usual mechanics would be replaced by robotic arms, like production chains. As in Formula e, the batteries (or the hydrogen system) would be supplied by a single partner. 

This regulation would have its place in the support race of the current DTM according to ITR. “You have to look very far ahead if you want to shape the future of our sport, estimates Gerhard Berger, the boss of ITR. 

Even though hybrid and electric vehicles have made a place for themselves on the market, I sincerely think that a new and motivating concept is missing. We are speaking with many automotive-related companies who would like to get involved in racing.

With this project, we want to demonstrate that we are open to what the future can offer and that we have something new for manufacturers. »

The former pilot of Formula 1 concludes by drawing up three conditions necessary for the realization of this regulation : “technical feasibility, financial viability and interest from the public, sponsors and brands. »