The DTM series has unveiled its calendar for the 2020 season, with some major changes which will see the Hockenheimring host only one round.
News broke a fortnight ago that the Grand Prix circuit at Monza, Italy, would be hosting the DTM for the first time. The move is suggested to have come in response to the dwindling turnout for the races at Misano over the last two years.
The calendar looks to have taken inspiration from historical DTM schedules, with the opening round at Zolder, Belgium. The series returned to the Belgian venue for the first time since 1994 to great success.
DTM will then head to the Lausitzring, Germany for races 3/4, moving back to the round two slot after appearing in the latter half of the 2019 calendar.
The hosting circuit of the third round is yet to be announced by DTM and ITR, and will be disclosed ahead of this season’s finale at Hockenheim.
One of the surprises of the new calendar is that round four will be hosted by the Scandinavian Raceway Anderstorp, Sweden. The former Formula One venue has earned an iconic status amongst motorsport fans, and represents a new audience for the DTM series.
Monza will play host to round five becoming the fourth Italian venue to host the DTM, and is followed by the mesmeric Norisring street circuit that is regarded by many as one of the most important circuits in the series history.
The Brands Hatch circuit in the UK holds on to its late-summer slot hosting round seven in the historical GP circuit, followed by the TT Assen circuit, Netherlands, which impressed many during its debut on the DTM calendar this year.
The calendar returns to a more familiar schedule with the penultimate round at the Nürburgring, before heading to Hockenheim for the finale.
ITR CEO Achim Kostron believes the changes helps satisfy the core areas that are crucial to the DTM, as well as help bring the series to newer audiences.
“The 2020 DTM calendar reflects our ambition to achieve both growth and stability,” Kostron explained, “We want to continue growing awareness of DTM in key European markets.
“Equally our first visit to Sweden next spring will unlock another new and important motorsport market.
“We feel like we’ve got a perfect blend of venues and dates, and we’re already getting excited about the new season.”
The DTM 2020 calendar*
24-26 April Circuit Zolder (BEL)
15-17 May Lausitzring (GER)
29-31 May TBC
12-14 June Scandinavian Raceway Anderstorp (SWE)
26-28 June Autodromo Nazionale Monza (ITA)
10-12 July Norisring (GER)
22-23 August Brands Hatch Circuit (GBR)
4-6 September TT Circuit Assen (NL)
11-13 September Nürburgring (GER)
2-4 October Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (GER)
* Subject to approval of FIA World Council