The DTM regulations have been fundamentally overhauled for 2022: what lies behind the partly surprising new features and why the pit stop dispute should be resolved
(motorsport-total.Com) – the DTM has significantly changed the regulations for the 2022 season. Aspects such as the rule in force since 2013 that no compulsory stop may be made during the safety car phase have been jettisoned. The pit stop window, the stop choreography and the starts have all been changed – and a full-course yellow phase, which the DTM has rejected for years, is now in the regulations for the first time (all changes in our photo track)

The DTM enters its second GT3 season in 2022 with a number of rule changes zoom
"From 2020 to 2021, we were very busy continuing to work on the issue, which would certainly have allowed us to work even better on the regulations in one place or another," says DTM manager frederic, says DTM manager frederic elsner self-critically. But now, at the end of 2021, they took the time to do this and reworked everything at a regulations workshop.
According to information from ‘motorsport-total.Com’, the issue of pit stops in particular – and thus the point of contention for the 2021 season – took up a full seven hours of discussion. How fair conditions are now to be ensured?
Pit stop dispute and accident risk solved in one fell swoop?
"We had to accept one or two points of criticism in this respect last year, but we have remained true to our line year after year", elsner alludes to the fact that the rules were not changed during the season last year, despite the wheel nut-related choreography advantage at ferrari and mercedes.
From 2022, six people will no longer be allowed to help change tires, but only four – i.e. a maximum of two per side. In addition, the tires have to be changed at the rear first before they are changed at the front.
"We now have a choreography, i.e. you work from the back to the front", according to elsner. "Why? There is also a safety aspect here, because the driver now sees: is the man in front ready or not?" this also serves as a precaution against pit accidents like the one at abt in hockenheim, when mike rockenfeller was already stepping on the gas while a mechanic was still working on the rear wheel.
Compulsory stops during SC phase no safety risk?
But how did it come about that in 2022, for the first time in almost ten years, compulsory stops are suddenly allowed again during the safety car phase?? The measure introduced in 2013 during the season was intended to prevent everyone from stopping at the same time, which could lead to dangerous incidents, especially in narrow pit lanes like the one at the norisring.
Elsner argues that the rule is now redundant because current tire regulations and the fear of a safety car phase mean that most drivers come in right after the pit stop window opens anyway, creating a lot of activity in the pits. "By allowing mandatory pit stops in the safety car phase, we hope to create more strategic variations that could make racing even more interesting", so theAustrian.
Photo gallery: the DTM regulations changes in 2022

And martin tomczyk, who helped the ITR with the regulations, adds: "we have anchored this in the regulations in such a way that only one car per team can enter per lap and you are also not allowed to stop in the pit lane. So I think we have solved the security issue very well in that respect."
New pit stop window with minutes instead of laps
The pit stop window has also been changed: Whereas previously you were allowed to stop from lap 6 until the end of the race, from now on you can do so after the tenth minute and until the end of the 40th minute. minute possible. The idea is to "put the brakes on long drives on Saturday to save tires for Sunday" will, elsner explains.
And it brings a voltage aspect. "From our point of view, this can also be a strategic component.", so elsner. "Because if it turns out that the leader passes just before the minute change at the start-finish, it could be a disadvantage for him – and the second-place finisher can stop. We have introduced an uncertainty with it."
"Full-course-yellow was actually an "unding" for us
It’s also exciting that the DTM 2022 will introduce the element full-course-yellow. For years, DTM boss Gerhard Berger, in particular, had opposed slow zones or the virtual safety car because, unlike safety car phases with their spectacular restart, they make for boredom. according to elsner, the new u.s. racing director scott elkins has played a major role in the change of opinion.
"For us, full-course-yellow was actually an unding – or a word we didn’t want to hear and use", elsner explains. "Scott elkins, however, has introduced an interesting aspect: he wants to make a formation-re-start afterwards despite full-course-yellow."
From this point of view, a yellow phase, in which only 60 km/h is permitted and, by the way, you are not allowed to stop, is very useful "because in the event of an incident, if a part is lying on the track, it can help you to get back to racing more quickly.
ÄNderings in starts and success weights
And elkins also had a hand in the new starting procedure. because recently the pole setter within the starting corridor (from starting position 20 to 1) no longer decides when to step on the gas and start the race, which had recently led to rear-end collisions in assen.
"This is now taken over by the race director", elsner explains. "The field reacts to the green light. the second change is that the start corridor is omitted. Say, as soon as green is, you can also break away and set the attack."
And even the weight of the winners was changed: the winner still gets 25 kilograms in the car for the next race, but the second only 15 instead of 18 kilograms and the third only five instead of 15 kilograms. "This might make it a little more difficult for the winner to win the next race, elsner rubs his hands.