Following the publication of a first, provisional DTM calendar for the 2009 season, the calendar of the most popular international touring-car series now has been adjusted to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Formula 1 World Championship rounds. These adjustments had become necessary as the World Motorsport Council of the World Automobile Association, FIA, had altered the original Formula 1 calendar. “We always had the intention to avoid scheduling conflicts with Formula 1,” said Hans Werner Aufrecht, Chairman of DTM rights holder and promoter, ITR e.V. “After all, our fans have been accustomed to such a calendar for many years. In cooperation with our organisers, the German Motorsport Association, DMSB, and our TV partner ARD we succeeded in once again avoiding such scheduling conflicts. Consequently, we now are able to present a well-balanced calendar featuring ten races in five European countries.”
To avoid a clash of coverage times with the Bahrain Grand Prix, the season opener traditionally held at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg will now take place on 17th May, three weeks later than originally planned. Consequently, the EuroSpeedway Lausitz round that had been scheduled for this date was postponed to 31st May. At the same time, the date of the British DTM round, held at Brands Hatch, England, also was altered: due to the Belgian GP, DTM now is going to race at the rich in tradition circuit in Kent County on 6th September.
Furthermore, the French DTM round will be staged at a new venue: while this year’s race was held at Le Mans, Dijon’s circuit will make its maiden appearance on the DTM calendar, in the coming season. The motor-racing enthusiasts have fond memories of this circuit with its spectacular uphill and downhill sections: in the closing stages of the 1979 French Grand Prix held at Dijon, René Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve made for one of the most thrilling battles in the history of Formula 1.
Meanwhile, Mugello won’t be a part of the 2009 DTM calendar. “We had two fantastic events, there, but due to the latest postponements finding a reasonable date for the Mugello round proved to be just impossible as the Moto GP is going to race there in late May,” said Aufrecht to explain why the Italian DTM round was cancelled.
The altered 2009 DTM calendar at a glance
- 17th May Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
- 31th May EuroSpeedway Lausitz (D)
- 28th June Norisring (D)
- 19th July Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
- 02nd August Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)
- 16th August Nürburgring (D)
- 06th September Brands Hatch (GB)
- 20th September Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona (E)
- 11th October Dijon (F)
- 25th October Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
