The current DTM is a fascinating championship with Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Opel the main contenders. All the cars use the same basic 455-bhp 4.0-liter V8 engine, which in a rather bizarre twist is based on a BMW block. While these 1,080kg race cars may outwardly resemble the road-going Audi TT, Opel Astra Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLK (old and new), they are really silhouette racers. When I examined the Abt-Audi TT-R on the workshop floor, I determined that only the roof panel is common to the production TT!
Abt Sportsline has done remarkably well in the DTM. In 2001, its star driver and former Le Mans winner, Laurent Aiello, won two races and had several podium finishes, and the Team was in contention for the runners-up spot in the Championship until the last few races.
So far, this season has been even better for Abt, and the current driver lineup is Laurent Aiello, Christian Abt, Mattias Ekstrom, Martin Tomczyk, with new addition ex-F1 driver Karl Wendlinger working out very well indeed.
As this is written, Aiello has won three out of four rounds, losing only to Mercedes-Benz at the Donington round in England. But with six rounds still to go, it's still anyone's championship.-IK