DTM’s third appearance on Chinese soil will take place in Guangzhou, in September 2014. DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. and the Chinese Brilliant Culture Group agreed upon holding the race weekend from 26th to 28th September at a street circuit in the Southern Chinese metropolis – in the third biggest city in China and capital of Guangdong province, also known as Canton. This means that DTM is going to enter unknown soil, for its third race in China, as the first two races were contested in Shanghai. ITR e.V. and the Brilliant Culture Group agreed upon DTM’s comeback in China as early as in summer and announced the event within the framework of the DTM weekend at Nuremberg’s Norisring.
The circuit that will be extra designed and built for DTM partially takes the drivers of the three premium-car manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz racing right along the river bank. Subject to the final approval of the national and international motor sports associations, the track is expected to feature a length of 4.1 kilometres as well as four right-handers and two left-handers.
“I’m delighted that we succeeded – in cooperation with our Chinese partners – in finding the suiting area for a spectacular street circuit that will host the DTM race in September 2014,” said ITR e.V. Chairman Hans Werner Aufrecht. “To date, we have contested two DTM races, in China, and we have an obligation. In our previous races in China, we didn’t deliver on the top level and therefore, it’s about time for us to provide top motor racing in China, too. I’m convinced that we will be able to do so and thrill the Chinese motor-racing enthusiasts.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing DTM race on the streets of Guangzhou in 2014. We wanted to race in Guangdong province because the people there have a good understanding of, and have developed an unrivalled passion for motorsports. Guangdong is also close to Hong Kong, and motorsports fans there will come to Guangzhou to experience DTM”, said Maggie Ip, Chairman of Brilliant Culture Group Co. Ltd.
“I think it’s great that the DTM will be returning to China next year to a new venue in the South. I had a first look at the planned circuit. It looks impressive with a combination of fast parts and slow corners and should be challenging for the drivers when they race there in 2014. From my experience racing in China has always been very special. I think Guangzhou is the right place for the DTM to return to China”, underlined former DTM ace Bernd Schneider who attended an AMG event in Guangzhou. The record champion has already taken a first look at the planned circuit.
In 2004, DTM made its first appearance in China. At a street circuit in the metropolis Shanghai, the most popular international touring-car series contested an invitation race that was won by Briton Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz). Six years later, DTM was back in Shanghai but this time, the race in China was the official 2010 season finale. Once again the race was won by Gary Paffett, with his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Paul Di Resta securing the title by finishing runner-up.