DTM: Müller raves about the turbo engine 🎥
AUDI TEST IN ESTORIL Nico Müller was among the three Audi factory drivers who were allowed to test the experimental vehicle with the new turbo engine in Portugal. The verdict is clear: The power and sound of the new DTM cars are fascinating. Nico Müller, runner-up René Rast and Mike Rockenfeller, who lives in Thurgau near Lake Constance, were allowed to test the new Audi RS 5 [...]
Nico Müller, runner-up René Rast and Mike Rockenfeller, who lives in Thurgau near Lake Constance, were allowed to test the new Audi RS 5 DTM at Estoril and thus herald the turbo era of the DTM. All three climbed out of the cockpit of the test vehicle with shining eyes.
The Swiss was allowed to complete the first of the three test days on Monday. On behalf of his colleagues, he gave his verdict - and it was a convincing one.
Nico Müller: "The new turbo engine gives a tremendous boost. We'll experience speeds the likes of which have never been seen before in the DTM. The extra power is really noticeable. The demands on us drivers will be even higher. The car also looks really fast when you're standing at the track. The sound is also fascinating. I definitely wouldn't want to swap the turbo for the old naturally aspirated V8 again."
We asked our @DTM drivers to do some spy filming for us while testing at @CIRCUITOESTORIL. They did quite well, didn't they? Don't forget to turn the sound on! The turbo era has started in the #DTM. #ranDTM #LeagueofPerformance pic.twitter.com/0w1TMJF9Oj
- Audi Sport (@audisport) November 15, 2018
New regulations from 2019
With the new Class 1 regulations, which will also apply to the Japanese Super GT Championship from 2020, a new era will begin in the DTM in 2019, particularly in technical terms. The previous naturally aspirated V8 engines will be replaced by newly designed racing engines with four cylinders, two liters of displacement plus turbochargers. These offer a good mix of performance and efficiency.
At Audi, the four-cylinder two-liter turbos are important combustion engines worldwide. As desired, this gives the DTM a stronger link to the series. The new race engines produce around 600 hp, i.e. 100 hp more than the naturally aspirated V8s. The TFSI engine for the 2019 model year Audi RS 5 DTM is internally designated RC8.
At the beginning of an exciting era
The aerodynamics are also completely new: the rear wing, underbody, front diffuser and rear diffuser have been redefined by the regulations for the 2019 season. At the same time, the engineers have adapted the front end to the more compact turbo engine and its cooling requirements.
Nico Müller's boss, Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass, is pleased about the first positive results of the tests and the unanimous opinion of his drivers.
Dieter Gass: "The first impressions confirm what we want to achieve with the new DTM cars. They are faster, more demanding to drive, look even more dynamic and sound really good. The improvement in power-to-weight ratio can be seen with the naked eye. The DTM is at the beginning of an exciting era."
