DTM to make option tyres easier to spot at Brands Hatch

The DTM will use an on-board lighting system to highlight which cars are using the option tyre as of this weekend’s race at Brands Hatch, following confusion at the Hockenheim season opener two weeks ago.

In addition to a Formula 1 style DRS system, softer compound option tyres have been introduced in 2013 to increase overtaking and are marked with a yellow stripe to distinguish them from the standard tyre.

At Hockenheim, however, it became difficult to distinguish between the two compounds for fans, media and even teams, due to a lack of clear marking on the tyre and information provided via the TV and timing screens.

In the break between Hockenheim and Brands Hatch, the DTM’s organizer, the ITR, has – much like in past seasons when two lights were used to signify how many pitstops the driver had made – responded by placing blue lights on the side of each car to show which tyres are being used.

As a result, if the car is on the option tyre, the lights will be switched on. If it is running on the standard compound, they will be switched off.

The ITR chairman, Hans Werner Aufrecht, admitted that the situation had to improve, and commented ahead of the Brands Hatch event: “We have to involve and inform both the fans on-site and watching on TV much better. To them the races must be more clear.

“The race at Hockenheim made clear that identifying the yellow marks on the option tyres was virtually impossible. Consequently even our TV commentators had the problem of identifying what was going on.

“We are working in cooperation with [German motorsport federation] the DMSB and Hankook on ways to improve this, such as using the LED lights. We hope that this will be a significant step forward at Brands Hatch.”