What’s better than a new Audi RS5? A new RS5 DTM, of course

This is the new Audi RS5 race car, created for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (Or German Touring Car Masters, if you’ve not already cobbled that together yourself). And isn’t it a belter? 

Audi may have made its modern motorsport arrival thanks to the power of Quattro all-wheel-drive, but now that Audi’s pulled out of WRC, Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship, its wildest racer is now the RS5 DTM. Argue this point as you see fit. 

As befits a factory-backed race car, there is quite a bit of raceworthy technology in the RS5 DTM – a six-speed sequential gearbox with a four-plate carbon clutch, dry-sumped V8, pushrod suspension, adjustable brake balance, forged aluminium wheels, racing fuel cell and a complete carbon-fibre monocoque. It is our sad duty to report that none of the above will be available in your road-going Audi RS5. 

Back to reality, and we find that the regulations for DTM have been heavily revised for 2017. They seem to be about making the sport a more interesting spectacle – much like the recent changes to F1. 

So, for this year’s DTM, there’s less downforce, more power and softer tyres that degrade much faster. Make of that what you will, but, if you see more overtaking and banzai manoeuvres in DTM this year, the rule changes will have done their job. 

Unlike F1, DTM engines have to last an entire race season. And as per 2017 regs, the suspension on all DTM cars is now identical. So, the complex multilink rear end that Audi trumpeted on the road-going RS5 is now back to dual wishbones, just like the previous-gen RS5. Slightly melancholic trombone. 

In happier news, especially if you like to see Swedish powersliding enthusiasts behind the wheel of touring cars, Mattias Ekstrom is back for another year with Audi. For those not familiar with Mr Ekstrom, he is a) Swedish, b) a powersliding enthusiast, and c) last year’s winner of the World Rallycross Championship. 

So, you’ll be tuning in, then?