New DTM engines now delayed until 2019

The new four-cylinder, two-litre, engines, initially planned to be introduced in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters next year, have been now postponed until 2019, as it was already hinted back in September.

The main reason behind the new delay is the development costs of the new units, highlighted by all three manufacturers (Audi, Mercedes and BMW) involved in the series. It is hoped that the financial impact of the new engines will be covered by setting back their introduction two seasons.

The current V8s were due to be substituted by the new engines, also 200 BHP more powerful, in 2017, being key to the ‘Class One’ regulations, the joint series planned by DTM, the Japanese Super GT and the American IMSA.

IMSA had already delayed their involvement, citing the technical overhaul of the new United Sports Car Championship, merger of the American Le Mans Series and the Grand Am, as a reason.

DTM and Super GT had announced plans to hold a first joint event at the end of 2017, before planning a multi-event international series in 2019. These plans are now likely to be further postponed.

In the meantime, there have been reports that the Super GT manufacturers are looking at the GT3 regulations, ditching the idea of the ‘Class One’. This rumours were dismissed by the Japanese to the DTM organisation.