Earlier this week, DTM announced its full 2025 calendar, but interestingly, neither Vila Real nor the Salzburgring were on the eight-round schedule.
Portuguese street circuit Vila Real, best known for hosting World Touring Car Cup races, has signed a take care of DTM's previous owner ITR for 2023, but a change in promoter meant it might never make its series debut.
Since then, Vila Real has entered into negotiations with ADAC regarding the third season of organizing the DTM, and Salzburring bosses were also confident that after modernizing some facilities it might be possible to prepare a race next yr.
Ultimately, neither venue was chosen for 2025 as DTM opted to retain its proven eight-round schedule, with six weekends held in Germany and one each in Austria and the Netherlands.
In an official statement, ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss said: “Over the previous few months, we have now fastidiously analyzed the exciting DTM venues.
“However, since all events in Germany are enjoying a significant increase in popularity among visitors, we will stick to proven facilities in the 2025 season.”
Motorsport.com understands that ADAC desires to expand the calendar beyond eight events in the long run.
There was also discussion about organizing the ninth round in 2025, however the teams – already struggling to maintain expenses inside their budgets – didn’t support this concept.
Therefore, a visit to Vila Real or Salzburgring could be on the expense of the prevailing German facility, which the teams were again not in favor of.
Moreover, ADAC desires to deal with consistency in the event of events, with a rise within the variety of trackside spectators in any respect tracks, excluding Spielberg confirming its approach.
Additionally, if it is feasible to expand the calendar beyond the eight events in the longer term, any German track that might be omitted from the 2025 schedule would should be added again.
Problems with Vila Real and Salzburgring
TCR racing on the Salzburgring in 2017
Photo: TCR media
Teams also disliked the town race in Vila Real as a result of the high risk of accident damage and the travel costs related to transporting cars and equipment to Portugal.
As such, ADAC has reportedly been in a position to provide insurance to the teams as half of the sector is competing with uninsured GT3 cars. Moreover, it might also reduce the teams' travel costs, reducing their financial burden. Ultimately, nevertheless, the choice was made to not take unnecessary risks for now.
As for the Salzburgring, DTM still desires to test the track's suitability for GT3 racing on the 2025 GT Masters.
Although the track has been invested in a state-of-the-art race control system on the request of the DTM, Voss still believes that “there is still work to be done on the track.”
He added: “I feel the chicane firstly and finish is simply too narrow for the GT cars. Nocksteinkehre [region] all the time has problems with water.
“If it rains heavily, you won't go there like on the Lausitzring, but in principle I don't rule out a test competition.
He added: “We wouldn't want to race a DTM race at the Salzburgring without trying it.”
