Changes might be introduced in the DTM regulations before the beginning of the 2014 season. Particularly, the promoters of the series consider a possibility of turning in the system of handicap where the leading drivers receive weight ballast for achieving good results.
This rule was in use in the DTM up to 2010. According to it, the vehicle brand which had more points in the overall race standings received additional kilograms of ballast applied to all its cars, while the less successful competitors had the right to “lose” extra weight.
The return of this rule has not been officially confirmed yet but some of the teams’ representatives gave a positive comment on this offer.
“I really do favour this rule”, Hans-Jürgen Abt, chief executive of ABT Sportsline, said in his interview to Motorsport-Total. “In my opinion, the direction is right. I don’t think that in this case the regulations serve as some kind of punishment for demonstrating good results. On the contrary, it’s sports. We all have the same rules in the end and we are all interested in making the race even more fascinating”.
Right now the minimum weight of a DTM vehicle is limited to 1,100 kg. Most probably, the base weight is going to be increased if the regulations specify both the adding and taking away of additional kilograms. According to Abt, the maximum difference between the heaviest and lightest cars will not exceed 10–15 kg.
Another change which might be introduced to the DTM regulations this year concerns the rule of mandatory pit stops. Formerly, each pilot had to make two mandatory pit stops; however, starting from this season the mandatory amount of stops for tyre changing might be reduced to one. This measure is intended to lower down the value of tactics and bring forward the actual track competition between the racing drivers.
Source: AUTOSPORT.com.ru