DTM: The debut of the Ford Mustang and the return of Timo Glock

      A new season in the German DTM bodywork series will begin this weekend, with 24 drivers from 14 teams competing in cars from nine different manufacturers at the Motorsport Arena in Oschersleben.

      One of the main news is that Ford Mustang sports cars with powerful 5.4-liter V8 engines will make their debut in this championship. These two cars were announced by the German HRT team, but with the support of Ford Performance, the racing division of the American auto giant.

      They will be piloted by Indian Arjun Maini, whom someone may remember from his performances in Formula 3, and Swiss representative Fabio Scherer.

      In addition, Timo Glock, a former Formula 1 racer, returns to the DTM for the first time since 2022: he once competed in this series for BMW for many years, but this season the 43-year-old German will pilot the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo. The German Dörr Motorsport team will launch two such cars.

      However, these riders are unlikely to be among the contenders for victory, although, of course, anything can happen in the DTM. Others are considered favorites of the season, such as Mirko Bortolotti, the reigning series champion, who has remained loyal to the Lamborghini brand, but will be driving the Huracán GT3 Evo 2 of the Abt Sportsline team this season. He is considered one of the masters of qualification, and this always increases the chances of success.

      Also worth mentioning is Rene Rasta, a three-time DTM champion who is determined to fight for his fourth title behind the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3 Evo from the private Schubert Motorsport team.

      In an effort to attract the public to all eight planned stages of the series, which will take place on the tracks of Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, the organizers have made tickets quite affordable – prices start at 49 euros.

      This year, the DTM rules have been adjusted, and now the number of mandatory pit stops during Sunday's race has been increased to two. In Saturday's race, it will still be enough to visit the pits once.

      A total of 16 races will be held during the season, which will last until October, and unlike other series they are not divided into a sprint and the main race of the weekend. The duration of each one is 55 minutes plus one lap.