The DTM has confirmed that it’s official pre-season test will take place over four days from 8 – 11 June at the Nürburgring, ahead of the planned season start.
The DTM’s pre-season test was originally due to take place at Monza in Italy in mid-March, before the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to that and numerous other touring car events.
With Germany now starting to emerge from lockdown, the tests have been reinstated in June, with a number of restrictions in place, including no access to members of the public or media.
DTM promoter ITR has prepared a new schedule for the series that it says will ‘embrace the new normal post-coronavirus environment’. Managing Director Marcel Mohaupt
“With a lot of patience and hard work, preparations for the new DTM season are up and running at full speed, kicking off with the official test at the Nürburgring next month,” said Mohaupt.
“We’re extremely grateful to everybody at the circuit – they have put the infrastructure in place to allow us to test safely with all the relevant distancing rules.”
The DTM has already had to revise its calendar once this year, with the season start put back to the Norisring in early July. However, Mohaupt has now indicated that another revised calendar is set to follow, likely dropping the Norisring city race.
Overseas races, including the UK round at Brands Hatch in August, could also be at risk due to governments imposing quarantine requirements on incoming travellers.
“The test naturally leads us to the next step. And we are extremely confident that we will be able to hold thrilling races in 2020.
“We will soon publish a new calendar that takes into account the requirements for a ‘new normal’ in motorsport as well.”
New health and safety measures will be in place in the DTM paddock, including strict distancing procedures, limits on attendees, and hygiene rules.
All participating team personnel will be checked for COVID-19 symptoms on a daily basis.