While the DTM is firmly focussed on its future, series boss Gerhard Berger has confirmed that they are aiming to keep the championship grounded in tradition by adding the Salzburgring to their calendar sooner than later.
"I'm a huge fan of the Salzburgring", said Berger speaking to Motorsport-Total. "Those are the kinds of tracks that we simply need. They have charm, character, history… Those are the tracks that we want."
Inaugurated in 1969, the track has a long tradition in Touring Car racing and hosted the motorcycle Austrian Grand Prix on various occasions. Despite the obvious willingness to include it in the calendar, pending upgrades to the circuit are still an obstacle for the move, which was already strongly-rumoured to happen for 2018.
"Naturally, the Salzburgring needs a few modifications", admitted Berger. "We will try to reduce them to a minimum, but there are certain areas that are not up to standard regarding safety. I hope they take these issues seriously in time so we can discuss it over the season".
Hans-Joachim Stuck, president of the German Motorsport Federation, is also keen on the move. "The track has character and is located near Salzburg, where we can bring the sport closer to the people. It would be perfect, we're working hard to make it work."
Currently, the DTM races on 10 different circuits, five of them in Germany, five of them abroad. The addition of the Salzburgring would tip the scales of this 50/50 balance, but the city of Salzburg (and its circuit) is located close to the German border, about 2 hours by car from Munich.
As opposed to the Red Bull Ring, which is deeply inside Austria and surrounded by the Alps, the Salzburgring is an attractive option for the South-East German region, namely the state of Bavaria.
