Hans-Joachim Stuck, Klaus Ludwig, Rolf Stommelen, Hans Heyer, Harald Ertl and Dieter Glemser – famous names of skillful drivers who caught the attention in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM) in the 1970s. But not only the drivers impressed, so did the powerful race cars, especially the Group 5 machinery from Ford, BMW and Porsche. DTM Classic, an important pillar of the high-class DTM platform, is bringing 20 of these legendary cars back on the race track in a unique DRM Revival during the fifth DTM race weekend at the Red Bull Ring (3-5 September). Outstanding: ex-Formula 1 driver Marc Surer will be driving a BMW 320 Group 5 of the legendary BMW Junior Team, accompanied by BMW’s former head of motorsport Jochen Neerpash and the current BMW Junior Team drivers Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen. Moreover, Harald Grohs will be driving a Porsche 935 during the formation laps.
The Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft is the illustrious series that preceded the current DTM. From 1972 till 1981, touring cars and sports cars raced together in what was the premier league of German motor racing at the time. In 1972, Hans-Joachim Stuck became the inaugural DRM champion with a works Capri. After that, the Zakspeed Escort dominated proceedings in the DRM as Dieter Glemser and Hans Heyer each secured a pair of titles. Then, the brawny Porsce 935 became the benchmark with title-winning campaigns for Rolf Stommelen in 1976 and Klaus Ludwig in 1979. In 1978, Formula 1 driver Harald Ertl was crowned with the Schnitzer BMW 320 Turbo while Hans Heyer was victorious with the light blue Lancia Beta Montecarlo. Klaus Ludwig, once again, concluded this spectacular era by winning the 1981 title with the Zakspeed Capri.
Three Group 5 Capris in one race for the first time
The DRM Revival under the DTM classic banner at the Formula 1 circuit in Styria will be an extraordinary gathering of 20 automotive treasures from that era. For the first time since the DRM days, no less than three of the impressive Group 5 Capris can be admired in one race, developed by the legendary Erich Zakowski and his Zakspeed team. In one of the three Capris, DTM team principal Peter Mücke will be alternating with his son, ex-DTM driver Stefan Mücke.
The variety of cars from those days ranges from the Ford Escort RS1600 via BMW 2002 and Porsche with the 915/6 and 911 Carrera RSR up to the DeTomaso Pantera and the beautiful BMW M1. Spectators can not only enjoy this unique sight and sound at the Red Bull Ring during practice sessions and races on Saturday and Sunday, the cars can also be closely admired in the paddock. After all, for the DTM’s visit to Styria, the paddock is open for spectators again for the first time since 2019, provided they have a ticket and have either been fully vaccinated, convalesced or with a negative test for Covid-19.
Highlight of the DRM Revival: ex-BMW Junior returning into the cockpit of the Group 5 BMW
The fact that Marc Surer, one of the three in the wild bunch that was the BMW Junior Team back in the day, next to Manfred Winkelhock and Eddie Cheever, will be driving one of these impressive BMW 320 Group 5 cars during the DRM Revival is an undisputed highlight. And Harald Grohs, still happy to get behind the wheel and push hard, even at the age of 77, will be driving an original works Porsche 935, not only the fastest leading car ever, but also exactly the type of race car with which the driver from Essen, a seven-time DTM race winner himself, became runner-up in the world sports car championship.
“We are very happy to be able to welcome such an outstanding field of historic cars at the Red Bull Ring for the début of our DRM Revival under the DTM Classic banner. Every single car is a piece of motorsport history. And it is great that we have been allowed to open the paddock for spectators again exactly for this occasion. It couldn’t have been any better,” a delighted Peter Oberndorfer says. The former DTM driver, in partnership with the Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD), is coordinating the historic aspects of DTM Classic to display the DTM’s DNA in its diversity.
Tickets for the fifth round of the 2021 DTM can exclusively be ordered from the DTM Ticket Shop (tickets.dtm.com) or the DTM Ticket Hotline (+49 1806 99 66 11). One-day tickets from 40 Euros and discounted tickets (Saturday and Sunday) from 55 Euros can be ordered online and by telephone until the actual race day. There will be no on-site ticket sales at the track.