13 October 1996 – A painful farewell to the ITC at Hockenheim

As Kalli Hufstadt plays Cat Stevens’ song ‘Morning Has Broken’ on his harmonica one last time to mark the start of the racing Sunday, an oppressive silence descends upon the vast Motodrom circuit. Many a mechanic in the pits is weeping uncontrollably, whilst others discreetly put on their sunglasses or look away.

And then the Alfa, Mercedes and Opel cars are pushed into the Motodrom one last time, accompanied by the drivers and their teams of mechanics. At that moment, everyone knows that this will be a farewell parade for what had, until then, been the most popular racing series in German motorsport history.

Das letzte Interview mit Alaf-Pilot Christian Danner

Foto: Lange

I have the honour of conducting one last interview with Alfa driver Christian Danner for the track radio before the start of the first race. Christian is a realist; he explains once again “that the ITC, along with the DTM, failed primarily because of the far too high costs.” But he also emphasises just how much he enjoyed his time with Alfa Romeo in this racing series.

Then things get serious: the countdown to the first race begins, and the fantastic crowd really gets into the spirit, creating a sea of noise and cheers from start to finish, over two stints of 15 laps each. At the end of the day, Opel has double cause for celebration: a one-two-three finish in the first race courtesy of Ludwig (Team Zakspeed), Reuter (Team Joest) and Alzen (Zakspeed), as well as a one-two in the second race courtesy of Reuter and Ludwig.

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Teurer Reuter-Jubel: 10.000 Dollar Strafe für Parken auf der Rennstrecke

Foto: Kräling

This was followed by a grand tribute to the soon-to-be champion Manuel Reuter in his Calibra. Reuter parked his black Calibra (which, with its Cliff logo, would go on to become a cult car in the years to come) on the track behind the finish line and accepted the ovation from the crowd in the main grandstand. However, the parking manoeuvre proved to be a very costly affair for Reuter – the strict Belgian ITC race director, Roland Brynserade, casually imposed a $10,000 fine “for breaching track safety regulations”. It is not known who actually paid the fine in the end.

And then there’s another story, though only insiders know about it, having happened to overhear parts of a row that was as boisterous as it was heated in the team area of the Opel lounge: During the break between Races 1 and 2, there was a proper row because, both within the brand and the team, they hadn’t managed to organise things properly to help title contender Reuter secure victory in Race 1.

Technical Director Jürgen Stockmar therefore took his star driver Klaus Ludwig to task and explained to him in no uncertain terms what was expected of him in Race 2 in terms of brand loyalty, with a view to securing the title. As already described, it all worked out perfectly …

Just two weeks later, in São Paulo, Reuter and Opel secured the title with two fourth-place finishes, even before the final round at Suzuka.

At Hockenheim, after the prize-giving ceremony, silence once again descends upon the vast expanse of the Motodrom. Saddened, with heads bowed, the spectators head home. They all know what they have lost on this 13th October. And once again, many a visitor has tears in their eyes on the way home.

Adding to the general sense of grief over the loss of what was, until then, probably the best touring car racing series in German motorsport history, a final farewell party is held in early December 1996 at the Hotel Maritim in Stuttgart. The host is the former DTM operating company iTR, led by its president Hans Werner Aufrecht. The organisation is dissolved shortly afterwards.

Start zum ersten Lauf: Ludwig auf Pole

Foto: Hoch Zwei

The sporting directors of the three manufacturers most recently involved in the DTM and its successor series, the ITC, delivered speeches, some of which were emotional. Norbert Haug for Mercedes, Wolfgang Peter Flohr for Opel and Giorgio Pianta for Alfa Romeo. The Italian even became quite sentimental in his speech. Finally, the Alfa boss adds that “it was an honour for him and Alfa Romeo to have been part of this wonderful racing series for four years with their drivers and cars.”

Hans Werner Aufrecht speaks on behalf of the ITR. He emphasises the enthusiasm with which he and his team have worked in and for the championship for around ten years. The long night, filled with the sharing of many memories, lasts well past midnight. The few small groups still scattered around the vast hall at around three o’clock put their heads together, exchanging stories one last time – more in tears than in discussion.

Although the DTM chapter is closed for now, spurred on by the dedicated efforts of four undaunted individuals, including Christian Danner and ZDF director Bernd Krämer, the popular racing series is celebrating its resurrection three and a half years after that memorable night in Stuttgart.

And it is happening right where it was laid to rest on 13 October 1996. On 28 May 2000, the ‘new DTM’ kicked off its first season with three manufacturers and 19 cars. Back then, at the time of the second relaunch, no one seriously believed that this would turn into 27 consecutive years.

The DTM continues undeterred, entering its 28th year in its new format in 2027, making it the longest-running circuit-based motor racing championship in this country. If you add the 13 years of the original series to that, the total even reaches 40 years.

Admittedly, recent years have seen the introduction of a different vehicle category – the GT3 cars – and a new organising body in the form of the ADAC. But it is only through these radical changes – which, of course, do not please every die-hard fan of the old DTM format – that the ADAC has been able to save the racing series and secure its long-term future.

As at the end of every season, the 2026 finale is currently taking place at the very venue where, 30 years ago, the inaugural DTM season was bid a tearful farewell. A few of the drivers from back then are still involved today – but only as brand ambassadors. And with Nicki Thiim (37, Aston Martin) and Luca Engstler (26, Lamborghini), the current starting grid even features two fast sons of formerly successful fathers from the original DTM.