In times of testing restrictions, there is resentment among the teams about the official DTM test: What the criticism is about and how the ADAC is reacting
The official DTM test in Hockenheim caused displeasure in the paddock: Although the newly introduced test restriction is actually intended to save costs, some team representatives saw the two mandatory days in Hockenheim as pointless, as hardly anyone uncovered the cards due to the Balance of Performance and the Hockenheim finale does not take place until October.
“It’s a complete shitshow,” a team executive, who does not want to be named, “We’re burning fuel and tires for nothing, learning nothing at all. Nobody shows what they can do here. Why should they?”
In his opinion, the ADAC should create an incentive for the teams to let the cat out of the bag. “At Daytona, for example, the starting grid is determined during the official test. And when something is at stake, you suddenly no longer drive with the handbrake on. ”
“The test is super important for us “
But is it really the case that the official test is a pointless waste of money? That also depends on which team you talk to. “For the experienced teams that have already completed hundreds of laps here, it’s not much use, but for us it’s super important – every kilometer helps us,” says team owner Rainer Dörr, whose McLaren team is entering the DTM this year.
The second McLaren 720S GT3 Evo was only delivered last week, and the team tried out every possible setting in just over six hours of testing to gain experience with the new cars. In addition, rookie Ben Dörr, who has hardly any GT3 experience, needs every lap
Abt Managing Director: “Test important for the press “
In contrast, the Abt team, who know the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II inside out, didn’t use the last hour of testing on Wednesday evening at all and packed up early. “We had a program, we’re going through it,” says Abt Managing Director Thomas Biermaier, who was not on site. “There’s no point in wasting kilometers.”
Does he think the test is relevant? “Basically, I think it’s positive that all the teams come together shortly before the season. All the teams and riders are there, everyone shows off their overalls and liveries,” he explains. “This is important for the press so that everyone can take the necessary pictures. ”
Biermaier on points: “Then I can race straight away “
That’s why Hockenheim as a venue is “okay, because if you do something like this in Misano, nobody cares,” says Biermaier, who is currently in Italy with Formula E. “But when it comes to performance, we have the same discussion every year before and after the test: it doesn’t really help.”
What would he think of upgrading the test in sporting terms? “You could maybe award a few points, but I don’t know,” Biermaier doubts. “Then I might as well do a racing event. It’s a warm-up, a kind of shakedown – and you can’t put the lap times on the gold scale. ”
Why ADAC wants to stick to the format of the official test
The ADAC, meanwhile, is critical of artificial measures to force the teams to set fast times despite the mature GT3 cars and the classification. “I am an opponent of over-regulation”
“They should test here in peace. We have two new teams with us who don’t even know the whole environment yet. It would be the wrong approach to demand maximum performance from them right now.”
Instead, we should “leave it as it is”, clarifies Voss, who sees the official pre-season test as the first “public appearance”.
Apart from that, other sports don’t always show top performance in training either, he emphasizes. “When FC Bayern train at Säbenerstrasse, they don’t scythe themselves like they do in the game,” grins Voss – and draws a comparison with soccer.
