Dumbreck says Super GT merge could work

Peter Dumbreck says that a merge between the DTM rules and Japanese Super GT rules could work if they change tyres.
“If you put a DTM car on Super GT tyres I’m sure the lap times would be very similar,” said Dumbreck in an interview with Autosport.

Dumbreck has driven both DTM, from 2000 to 2004, and Super GT, 2005 to 2008.

“The first time I drove a Super GT Toyota Supra in 2005, I felt it was very similar to the DTM Opel I had been driving the year before,” said Dumbreck.

The cars are supposed to have more or less the same power, especially since the Super GT cars have had their power reduced recently.

“The Super GT felt a little more powerful, though they have gradually been reducing the power of the GT500 cars since then,” said Dumbreck.

The key issue between the rules seems to be the tyres. The DTM runs on narrower tyres while the Super GT rules use wider tyres, plus the fact that there is an ongoing tyre war there compared to the one-make tyre from Dunlop in DTM.

“There didn’t seem to be much difference in the downforce levels, but the big difference was in the tyres,” said Dumbreck.

Representatives from DTM (ITR) and the Japanese Supger GT are going to meet this month to discuss the possibility to run cars from the different set of rules together.

According to Autosport the new rules could be delayed from 2011 to 2012. Stay tuned for more information!