There are changes to all six cars at the DTM finale in Hockenheim: what the title contenders say about the BoP and how it differs from the GTWCE
Ahead of the DTM season finale at Hockenheim, where Porsche, Lamborghini and Audi drivers Thomas Preining, Mirko Bortolotti and Ricardo Feller will be fighting for the title, the SRO Motorsports Group has made some major changes to the Balance of Performance (BoP) compared to Spielberg
None of the title rivals seems to be really happy with the changes, which affect all six cars. “I can confirm that,” grins Bortolotti, who is the challenger in second place. He says his Lamborghini is “far too heavy – as always.”
And while DTM leader Preining says he felt comfortable in the 911 GT3 R during the test, but isn’t sure if he’ll still be “so positive after qualifying”, Abt Audi driver Feller once again points to the weakness in Spielberg.
Feller after test: “We are the weakest link “
“I think you saw pretty well on Sunday at the Red Bull Ring that we didn’t really have a chance to be up front. We were actually hoping to be treated – I don’t want to say advantaged now – but a bit fairer in the BoP for the last race.”
He has not yet analysed the figures in detail, “but we are the weakest link here,” optimism is also limited for the Swiss. He comes to this assessment “also when I hear the comments from the test”. There, they were “brutally slow” on the straights compared to the competition.
Changes to all six cars after Spielberg
But what does the BoP classification for Hockenheim look like in detail – especially with regard to the three title candidates? Compared to Spielberg, the Audi will be loaded with 15 kilograms of ballast, which can probably be explained by the fact that the angular Motodrom in particular is much more suitable for the Audi than the Red Bull Ring.
At the Lamborghini, ten kilograms of weight are unloaded, which means that the Huracan GT3 Evo2 now weighs 1,330 kilograms instead of 1,340 – and is still the heaviest car in the field. And the Porsche adds five kilograms to the car. “Hockenheim is not a bad track for us, especially with the new car”,
There are also big changes in the other cars: The BMW, for which Hockenheim is no longer as optimal as Spielberg due to the angled sections, is allowed to unload 25 kilograms, but the boost pressure is reduced by 0.04 bar. In the Ferrari, five kilograms are added to the car and the boost pressure is reduced by 0.02 bar.
And for the Mercedes-AMG GT3, which was also not optimally designed for Spielberg, ten kilograms will also be added to the car.
Only Mercedes-AMG rated significantly better than GTWCE
But it is interesting to compare the car classification for the DTM finale with the GT World Challenge Europe (GTWCE) weekend at the end of August in Hockenheim, where SRO was also responsible. Because the numbers are clearly different.
The Audi was 20 kilogrammes lighter at the GTWCE, the Lamborghini five kilogrammes lighter and also had a one-millimetre larger restrictor, i.e. more power. The Porsche was five kilogrammes lighter, the Ferrari ten. The Mercedes-AMG GT3, on the other hand, was 15 kilograms heavier in the GTWCE.
What can be concluded from this? That SRO apparently does take the performance of the teams into account in their assessments, because the fact that the Huracan has to make do with a smaller restrictor in the DTM and thus has less favourable conditions is probably due to the strong form of the SSR performance team.
The Mercedes is the only car that is classified more favourably in the DTM than in the GTWCE. There could be an explanation for this as well: Because in the SRO series, electric blankets are allowed, which suits the tyre-friendly car of the brand with the star more than the qualifying format in the DTM, where that is not allowed.
DTM-BoP Hockenheim 2023:
Audi: 1,310 kg/2 x 36 mm (restrictor)
BMW: 1,305 kg/2.00 – 2.66 bar (boost pressure)
Ferrari: 1,305 kg/1.78 – 2.50 bar (boost pressure)
Lamborghini: 1.330 kg/1 x 51 mm (restrictor)
Mercedes: 1,325 kg/2 x 34.5 mm (restrictor)
Porsche: 1,310 kg/2 x 39.5 mm (restrictor)
Audi: +15 kg
BMW: -25 kg and -0.04 bar
Ferrari: +5 kg and -0.02 bar
Lamborghini: -10 kg
Mercedes: +10 kg
Porsche: +5 kg
DTM-BoP Spielberg 2023:
Audi: 1.295 kg/2 x 36 mm (restrictor)
BMW: 1,330 kg/2.00 – 2.7 bar (boost pressure)
Ferrari: 1,300 kg/1.78 – 2.52 bar (boost pressure)
Lamborghini: 1.340 kg/1 x 51 mm (restrictor)
Mercedes: 1,315 kg/2 x 34.5 mm (restrictor)
Porsche: 1,305 kg/2 x 39.5 mm (restrictor)
