The DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), which will start with FIA GT3 cars in 2021, has called on Michelin to provide not only the tires for the series but also a range of associated services following discussions that led to the signing of a one-year agreement between Michelin Motorsport and DTM management.
“Michelin stands for top quality and absolute premium products that have not only been used on the road for decades, but also come first in racing. Every race driver will confirm: the consistently high performance of Michelin tires over the entire duration of the race is unbeatable. From the driver’s and team’s perspective the best conditions that one could wish for”, says Gerhard Berger, DTM.
Thanks to its extensive experience of GT racing and its unrivalled record in the class both in endurance racing and in other championships around the world (GTLM, GTE, GT3, etc.), Michelin has acquired unique expertise in the category. “Michelin is delighted at the prospect of working with DTM management”, says Michelin’s Customer Racing Director, Julien Vial. “DTM is a truly international series that boasts an entry of world-class drivers and prestigious sports cars brands, and we are going to provide this fine field with the MICHELIN Pilot Sport GT S9M which is engineered to deliver high performance and exceptional consistency”.
These features will allow the drivers to push to the limit from the start to the finish of race weekends to combine an exciting show with real enjoyment behind the wheel, while the MICHELIN Pilot Sport GT S9M’s consistency will facilitate the teams’ set-up work.
Its longevity is also poised to play a fundamental role given that the DTM will restrict tire numbers to three sets per race per car at the opening fixture at Monza, Italy, before reducing the allocation to two sets for the remainder of the season.
The MICHELIN Pilot Sport GT S9M packs technology developed for FIA-sanctioned world championships. “Michelin believes that its Customer Racing activity is every bit as important as its involvement in world-class racing,” adds Julien Vial. “On the one hand, we provide the drivers, teams and manufacturers with high-performance tires and a portfolio of services tailored to meet their needs. On the other, Michelin benefits from invaluable feedback from the field, the value of which is heightened by the similarities that exist between GT3 cars and production supercars.”
The 2021 DTM calendar runs from June until October with a menu of eight double-header meetings in five European countries:
- June 18-20: Monza (Italy)
- July 2-4: Norisring (Germany)
- July 23-25: Lausitzring (Germany)
- August 6-8: Zolder (Belgium)
- August 20-22: Nürburgring (Germany)
- September 3-5: Red Bull Ring (Austria)
- September 17-19: Assen (Netherlands)
- October 1-3: Hockenheimring (Germany)