How Maro Engel and Scot Elkins ensured the return of the DTM drivers’ union, what is expected from it and who are the six manufacturer representatives
Since this season, there is again a kind of drivers’ union in the DTM, comparable to the GPDA active in Formula 1 – and on WhatsApp! In this way, the new race director Scot Elkins wants to involve the drivers in order to make solution-oriented decisions and prevent discussions – such as about the track limits – in advance.
“We have a WhatsApp group with one driver from each manufacturer” “We started this at the Hockenheim test because I wanted to have a direct line to the drivers so we can talk about things before we decide anything.”
The US-based successor to Niels Wittich, who is now active in Formula 1, says it is “crucial that there is respect between the drivers and the race director. And the formation of this group really makes a difference. “
Who the six manufacturer representatives are
The idea of a drivers’ union in the DTM is by no means new: the DTM Drivers’ Association (DTMDA), organised by chairman Manuel Reuter, was founded back in 2014 – and even then, the drivers provided valuable input for the rulebook. However, the project came to an end in 2018. which the drivers had to bear.
Which drivers are now active in the new, free WhatsApp group? For Mercedes-AMG, veteran Maro Engel, who had the idea for the project, is taking part. They are joined by Nico Müller for Audi, Marco Wittmann for BMW, Mirko Bortolotti for Lamborghini, Laurens Vanthoor for Porsche and Nick Cassidy for Ferrari.
Original idea of DTM returnee Maro Engel
“Maro and I spoke to each other – I know him, of course, because he also drove Formula E,” Elkins, who continues to act as race director in the electric series, explains how the project was born. “He then said, ‘What do you think of this?’ I thought it was a great idea to create a group like that.”
Elkins then proposed the idea to Layla Wagener, who is responsible for sport and technology at the DTM umbrella organisation ITR, and DTM manager Frederic Elsner. The feedback was positive and nothing stood in the way of the foundation.
In addition to the drivers, Elkins and Wagener, DTM Trophy Manager and former champion Martin Tomczyk is also part of the group. “Martin is a very good advisor. It’s great to have a former champion and driver by my side to help me with these things,” says a delighted Elkins, who wants to get the drivers on board, which incidentally was actively called for by Rosberg Audi driver Nico Müller after the track limits chaos at Assen last year.
What Elkins expects from the WhatsApp group
“We’re not putting any pressure on the riders in this group, but I already have a certain expectation,” Elkins gives some insight. Because if all six drivers agree that we’re going to implement something in a certain way, then they’re kind of my PR agents for the remaining drivers,” he says. “Nico then talks to the other Audi drivers. I want everyone to work together on that.”
How does communication work in the group? Elkins gives an example from the DTM tests at the Hockenheimring, when he first communicated in the group how he wanted to handle the issue of track limits. But then he got feedback from the drivers that they didn’t feel the white line in the car.
“They asked if we couldn’t put a kerb there as well so they would know when they were on it. So we did that. So we adapted that based on the feedback from the drivers. That’s why this transparent cooperation is so important to me, instead of just saying, ‘This is how it has to be!'”
As well as being more open, Elkins is secretly hoping for fewer rule breaches. “Because if we involve them in the process, then we also encourage them to follow the rules. “
