2012 DTM Season

I think it's time for the season the line-up rumours in the German press.

BMW (6 cars): Joey Hand (USA), Bruno Spengler (Canada), Dirk Werner, Martin Tomczyk (both Germany), Augusto Farfus (Brazil) and Andy Priaulx (Great Britain) + Test driver Marco Wittmann (Germany) [all fix]

Audi (7 cars +1): Mattias Ekström (Sweden) and Timo Scheider (Germany) [inofficial fix]; rumours: Mike Rockenfeller (Germany), Eduardo Mortara (Italy), Felipe Albuquerque (Portugal), Miguel Molina (Spain), René Rast (Germany) and Rahel Frey (Swiss) [if women are starting one more car]

Mercedes (8 cars +1): Gary Paffett (Great Britain) and Ralf Schumacher (Germany) [fix]; rumours: David Coulthard, Jamie Green, Sam Bird (all Great Britain), Roberto Merhi (Spain), Robert Wickens (Canada), Christian Vietoris, Maro Engel (both Germany), Renger van der Zande (Netherlands) and Susie Wolff (Great Britain) [if women are starting one more car]

rare chances: Adrian Sutil (Germany), Oliver Turvey (Great Britain), Jarno Trulli (Italy) and Jaime Alguersuari (Spain)

Hampus Andersson · Feb 22, 2012

Apart from Mattias, Felipe & Timo there's no question BMW has the strongest drivers.

I just hope the car is up to the task.. Judging by ALMS we can expect them to really be in the hunt for the title in 2013,2014.

Simon Melhuish · Feb 22, 2012

BMW will be in the hunt this season now i joined

James Chant · Feb 24, 2012

I would have an E30 over the new one any day

Simon Melhuish · Feb 24, 2012

Audi has today revealed the driver line-up for the 2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. Seven drivers divided upon three teams in the form of ABT Sportsline, Phoenix Racing and Team Rosberg.
"We wanted all of our teams and drivers to start into the new DTM era with the same prerequisites," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider continues to represent the ABT team, with Rahel Frey as new addition and third driver in the team this year.

Phoenix Racing is going to feature Miguel Molina and Mike Rockenfeller while Team Rosberg fields Filipe Albuquerque and Edoardo Mortara.

All seven drivers will be behind the wheel of the all-new Audi A5 DTM, a car that has been tested throughout the winter and faces the homologation deadline on the 1st of March.

"I'm convinced that with our three long-standing partner teams and the proven drivers we're extremely well set for the new DTM season which promises to become particularly thrilling due to the battle between the three German premium manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and will be a tough competition. Not least due to the tightened regulations even the minutest details will count. That's why continuity with the teams and drivers was important to us. Mattias (Ekström) and Timo (Scheider) know how to win the DTM and each of them is drawing on experience from more than 100 DTM races. Mike (Rockenfeller) won his first DTM race in 2011, Filipe (Albuquerque), Edoardo (Mortara) and Miguel (Molina) all mounted the podium for the first time last year. And I also believe that Rahel (Frey) is able to cause some surprises in her second DTM season. During the winter tests she showed that she has a lot of potential," said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

ABT Sportsline
Mattias Ekström (Sweden)
Rahel Frey (Switzerland)
Timo Scheider (Austria)

Phoenix Racing
Miguel Molina (Spain)
Mike Rockenfeller (Germany)

Team Rosberg
Filipe Albuquerque (Portugal)
Edoardo Mortara (Italy)

Source: touringcartimes.com