2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Changes for 2004

• The coupé style cars were replaced by four-door mid-size sedans. Smaller independent teams were allowed to run the year-old coupes for one more season due to cost reasons. While the first-generation 4.0-litre V8 naturally-aspirated engines still remained to continue in the sport until 2018 despite transition to sedans.
• Audi entered as an official works team for the first time since 1992 season.
• A non-championship one-off race was held at the streets of Shanghai, China.
• A1-Ring in Austria was removed from the schedule. The track was to undergo major repairs, but those were not completed (see article on A1-Ring for full story).
• DTM did not return to Donington Park in the United Kingdom for 2004. In 2006 a DTM race in Britain did return to the calendar, but with it being held at Brands Hatch.
• Shell became official control fuel partner from 2004 season until mid-2005 season.
• The new Dunlop SP Sport Maxx DTM tyre sizes were altered for the first time. With 265/660-R18 (10.4/25.9-R18) on the fronts and 280/660-R18 (11.0/25.9-R18) on the rears to improve mechanical grip, lateral acceleration and overtaking.

Teams and drivers

The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the championship rounds of the 2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Dunlop.

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Team changes

Team Joest returned to the DTM for the first time since 1996.

Abt Sportsline Junior Team was discontinued.

Persson Motorsport downscaled to two cars.

Team Holzer and Team Phoenix increased their car count to three cars each.

Euroteam downscaled to a one car team.

Driver changes

Gary Paffett was promoted from Team Rosberg to HWA Team to replace Marcel Fässler who joined Opel Team Phoenix.

Thomas Jäger left DTM to race in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring with Recaro-Raeder-Motorsport.

Katsutomo Kaneishi left the DTM to return to the JGTC with ARTA.

Bernd Mayländer and Stefan Mücke swapped seats between Persson Motorsport and Team Rosberg.

Markus Winkelhock joined the DTM after finishing 4th in the Formula 3 Euro Series.

Formula 3000 driver Jarek Janiš joined the DTM with Team Rosberg.

Laurent Aïello left Audi to join Opel Team Phoenix.

Karl Wendlinger left the DTM to join the FIA GT Championship with JMB Racing.

1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen joined Abt Sportsline alongside his Endurance racing commitments.

Martin Tomczyk was promoted to Abt Sportsline from their junior team.

1991 DTM champion Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro returned to the DTM for the first time since 1992 with Team Joest.

Peter Terting was left without a drive after the withdrawal of the Abt Sportsline Junior Team.

Alain Menu left the DTM to focus on Endurance racing

Three time F1 race winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen joined the DTM with Opel Team Holzer after 10 seasons in F1.

Joachim Winkelhock retired from the DTM after 2003.

Mid season changes

The Opels of Laurent Aïello, Peter Dumbreck and Manuel Reuter were unable to enter the Non Championship race in Shanghai. To compensate, Team Joest entered a third Audi A4 for Rinaldo Capello and Abt Sportsline entered an Audi TT for Peter Terting.

Euroteam ran an Opel Vectra at Zandvoort for Jeroen Bleekemolens home race.

Race calendar and winners

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.

Drivers' championship

Bold – Pole

Italics – Fastest Lap |} † Driver retired, but was classified as they completed 90% of the winner's race distance.

‡ Non Championship Round

Teams' championship

Manufacturers' championship

References

References

1. "Zandvoort: Opel preview".
2. "Google Translate".
3. "DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - 2004: Entrylist". Speedsport Magazine.
4. "Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters 2004 Entry List". Motorsport Stats.
5. "Audi confirms works return".
6. "Paffett secures HWA drive".
7. "Fassler ready for Opel challenge".
8. "Janis, Winkelhock and Mucke sign for Mercedes".
9. "Opel confirms Aiello".
10. "The Audi works drivers in the 2004 DTM".
11. "Frentzen to drive for Opel DTM".
12. "Winkelhock calls it a day".
13. "Le Mans winner Capello debuts in the DTM".
14. "Home run for Bleekemolen".
15. (18 July 2004). "DTM: Misslungene Generalprobe für Shanghai".
16. "Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Results 2003". Motorsport Stats.
17. "DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - 2004: Point standings". Speedsport Magazine.
18. "Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Standings 2004". Motorsport Stats.
19. "2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Drivers' Standings". TouringCars.net.
20. "DTM (German Touringcar Masters) - Season 2004: Results". Speedsport Magazine.