With no restrictions on testing within the DTM, high groups normally maintain non-public checks in any respect rounds on the calendar, except for Norisring, incurring important expenditure so as to take action.
It contributes to a 3rd of their annual budgets, and means competing within the DTM prices considerably greater than different GT3 championships of comparable scale.
Resulting from excessive prices, many individuals within the paddock have known as for a ban on testing within the DTM, together with former motorsport chief Norbert Haug.
Thus far, the ADAC has remained sceptical in regards to the prospect of imposing restrictions on non-public testing as GT3 vehicles are utilized in a wide range of collection around the globe, making it laborious to watch any unlawful working.
However SRO has proven that it’s doable to place limitations on in-season testing in GT3 championships, and DTM may do properly to observe in its footsteps and impose a ban of its personal.
“There’s undoubtedly much less testing [in GT World Challenge],” Plentz, who moved from the ADAC GT Masters to GTWCE in 2023, informed Motorsport.com’s sister title Motorsport-Whole.com. “We did not have a single day of testing through the 12 months at tracks the place we raced.”
In GTWCE, groups are free to conduct as a lot testing as they need till eight days earlier than the beginning of the season. Nonetheless, after that time, groups can solely maintain checks on tracks that aren’t on the calendar (or, because the season goes on, on circuits they’ve already raced on). The one exception to this rule are official SRO checks, such because the one earlier than the Spa 24 Hours.
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz
Jusuf Owega, Mercedes-AMG Workforce Landgraf Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3
Whereas policing such a stringent ban on testing shouldn’t be simple, SRO depends on agreements with circuit house owners to make sure no workforce is disobeying the foundations.
“No one on the earth can management a check ban 100 per cent, until we have been to work with producer management items [ECU] which might be taken away from us [after every race],” mentioned Plentz, referring to how groups in buyer racing get to maintain the ECU as they personal the vehicles.
“If [the circuit owners] see a suspicious automotive there, they could report it after which it is going to be investigated.
“[Or] somebody would see it in at present’s digital world, take a photograph and report it. In order that’s one thing. And if everybody sticks to it to a sure extent, as a result of it is of their intrinsic motivation, then it may be regulated.”
Nonetheless, Plentz believes restrictions on on-track testing gained’t clear up all the issues, as groups may use dynos to achieve an edge on their rivals.
“There is a large however: Cash is not simply spent by bodily driving the automotive. I may put my automotive on a seven-post rig,” mentioned Plentz, who withdrew from the submit of workforce principal to take up a behind-the-scenes position at Rutronik.
“A day can simply value me 7,000 to 10,000 euros. And if I do it for 3 or 4 days, then I even have knowledge and outcomes that I can use for my improvement and my efficiency.
“In different phrases, you will nonetheless have the funds versus low funds element [battle between top teams and smaller teams], even when it shifts in direction of off-track.”
For a cap on testing to work, Plentz believes it is vital for the ADAC to work with groups and provide you with a set of rules that’s appropriate for all events concerned.
“What Stephane [Ratel, SRO chief] does very well is there are workforce committees, and there have been discussions with every workforce to get suggestions from every particular person,” he defined.
“You sit collectively and focus on the problems critically and attempt to outline a path for the long run collectively. That is the one manner it could work, as a result of if just one particular person makes a dedication, then you’ll be able to neglect about it. That has to come back from everybody.
“If the ADAC says tomorrow that we’re going to do it now, then that will be troublesome.
“The groups should agree on a regulation with the ADAC. If everybody indicators, then you’ll be able to undoubtedly discover a rule that goes towards value improvement.”
