http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7489/01audidtmbs3.jpg
The Audi RS4 is a pretty badass car any way you look at it, but put it next to the A4 DTM and it looks remarkably pedestrian. With torquey turbodiesel versions of the R8 (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-audi-r8-v12-tdi-le-mans-a-mouthful-for-a-mouthwat/) supercar, TT (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-audi-tt-2-0-tdi-quattro/) range and Q7 (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/05/geneva-2008-audi-q7-v12-tdi-coastline-redefines-flagship/) sport-ute all making their debuts at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Ingolstadt chose the most extreme racing version of its A4 to highlight at its press conference.
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/web-09_audidtm.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/09_audidtm_thumbnail.jpg)

Unveiled by Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Audi Sport Technology; Audi Motorsport chief Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich; and reigning champion driver Mattias Ekström; the "project R14" A4 DTM (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/audi-sport-to-unveil-new-a4-dtm-racer-in-geneva/) represents over a year of development. The racing formula governing the DTM German touring car championship precludes Audi from showcasing any of its trademark technologies – like FSI direct-injection, TDI diesels or quattro all-wheel-drive – but that didn't stop Audi's racing engineers from working their magic, focusing on the car's aerodynamics. That much became immediately evident as soon as the veil was lifted off the new racer, decked out in more wings and fins than the San Diego Zoo and Sea World combined. See for yourselves in our high-res gallery, and read more in the press release after the jump.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/09/geneva-2008-audi-unveils-new-a4-dtm-race-car/

I prefer the C class DTM better.

I love the DTM designs. They're all just like "Screw mundane designs for touring cars, I'm going to put in front deflectors in front of the wheels, and various scoops behind the rear, and put inlets and outlets everywhere!"

Yum.

did this recently come out in TDU?

Holy crap, never knew the exhausts were THAT big! They're huge!

I hope to visit the DTM at the 'ring this year. But if that's not happening then I'm off to Zandvoort for sure. (maybe even both =P)

Edit: Just checked some pics I took over the years at DTM events, and the exhausts never were this big, pretty small actually.

Is it true that DTM cars have to use all the same body parts accross the field? For example; the rear wing is the same on a Merc as it is on an Audi?

I'm sure I read that somewhere.

Must make it pretty limiting when designing one of these cars then I suppose? So this is actually quite an acheivement.

Chris.

^I don't know. I do't think those smalls aerowings are the same.
did this recently come out in TDU?That was the 2005 A4. The difference between this and the 05-07 A4 is that this is based on the all new 2008 A4. Or it's probably not 'based' on it - I think DTM cars are 100% purpose built, bt you know what I mean.

Why do they only rarely tell you the specifications for racing cars, like weight, power and torque - just the basics? It'd be interesting to know...

I always figured it was to keep such information from their rivals.

Why do they only rarely tell you the specifications for racing cars, like weight, power and torque - just the basics? It'd be interesting to know...

DTM cars are limited to 470BHP, but I can't find many other facts. I would put money on them weighing very little though, as discussed in a previous thread they are all 'siluouette' cars - they have custom-built chassis and a lightweight shell to resemble a road version is fixed to it.

Further research has mentioned that all the DTM cars are thouroughly tested in wind tunnels so that the aerodynamics are all equal. Quite how they do that I'd like to know, because there must be a degree of difference and never be a perfect balance throughout the field. They use the same gearbox too.

These measures are all taken to keep the sport at low cost (well, as low as possible) especially as Opel dropped out a couple of seasons ago. DTM is trying to attract new manufacturers to prevent it losing followers/fans, because they equate to money for the sport. Still, I'd love to have a go in one, and I'd love to see how they compare to the Super GT series which are limited to 500hp, which is no real margin.

Now all I need is a field of Super GT cars and some DTM cars, and a track. Maybe that will have to be left to the imagination then...

Chris.

This should be interesting when it hit the tracks..