The 2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the eighteenth season of premier German touring car championship and also fifth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. There were 10 championship race weekend with one round each, plus a non-championship round at the streets of Shanghai. Originally each track hosted one race each with the exception of Hockenheimring (two races, premier and finale). Each track hosted one race, with the exception of Hockenheim, which hosted two. As in 2003 each weekend compromised one race of circa one hour and with two compulsory pit stops for each contender.

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 despite continued with Mugen Honda-derived engine. 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. CarTeamDriversRounds Mercedes-Benz AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2004 HWA Team 1 Bernd Schneider All 2 Christijan Albers All 7 Gary Paffett All 8 Jean Alesi All AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM 2003 Persson Motorsport 17 Markus Winkelhock All 18 Stefan Mücke All Team Rosberg 20 Jarek Janiš All 21 Bernd Mayländer All Audi Audi A4 DTM 2004 Abt Sportsline 5 Mattias Ekström All 6 Martin Tomczyk All 11 Christian Abt All 12 Tom Kristensen AllAbt-Audi TT-R 200323 Peter TertingNCAudi A4 DTM 2004Team Joest22 Rinaldo CapelloNC 44 Emanuele Pirro All 45 Frank Biela All Opel Opel Vectra GTS V8 2004 Team Phoenix 3 Marcel Fässler All 4 Laurent Aïello 1-10 14 Peter Dumbreck 1-10 Team Holzer 9 Heinz-Harald Frentzen All 10 Manuel Reuter 1-10 15 Timo Scheider All Euroteam 16 Jeroen Bleekemolen 8 Opel Astra V8 Coupé 2003 1-7, NC, 9-10 Sources:

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 Round Circuit Date Pole position Fastest Lap Winning driver Winning team Winning manufacturer TV Report 1 Hockenheimring 18 April Jean Alesi Bernd Schneider Gary Paffett C-Klasse AMG Mercedes Mercedes ARD Report 2 Estoril 2 May Mattias Ekström Gary Paffett Christijan Albers DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG-Mercedes Mercedes ZDF Report 3 Adria 16 May Mattias Ekström Bernd Schneider Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Audi ARD Report 4 EuroSpeedway 6 June Christijan Albers Bernd Schneider Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Audi ARD Report 5 Norisring 27 June Jean Alesi Bernd Schneider Gary Paffett C-Klasse AMG Mercedes Mercedes ZDF Report Shanghai 18 July Gary Paffett Race abandoned due to Mayländer's accident after hitting a loose manhole cover sucked up by other cars Report Bernd Schneider Gary Paffett C-Klasse AMG Mercedes Mercedes 6 Nürburgring 1 August Gary Paffett Gary Paffett Gary Paffett C-Klasse AMG Mercedes Mercedes ARD Report 7 Oschersleben 8 August Martin Tomczyk Tom Kristensen Tom Kristensen Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi ZDF Report 8 Zandvoort 5 September Mattias Ekström Christijan Albers Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Audi ZDF Report 9 Brno 19 September Mattias Ekström Manuel Reuter Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Audi ARD Report 10 Hockenheimring 3 October Martin Tomczyk Mattias Ekström Bernd Schneider Vodafone AMG-Mercedes Mercedes ZDF ReportSource:

Championship standings

Scoring system Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th  Points 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

Drivers' championship Pos Driver HOC EST ADR LAU NORSHASHA NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC Pts. 1 Mattias Ekström 3 2 1 1 4C 3 2 5 1 1 6 74 2 Gary Paffett 1 13 4 DSQ 1C 1 1 4 4 3 3 57 3 Christijan Albers 2 1 2 2 2C 6 16† 12 3 Ret 7 50 4 Tom Kristensen 4 4 10 10 6C Ret 5 1 6 2 4 43 5 Martin Tomczyk 5 3 8 14 5C Ret Ret 2 2 Ret 2 39 6 Bernd Schneider 17† 5 11 3 3C 2 3 Ret 5 10 1 36 7 Jean Alesi Ret 7 3 5 10C 4 7 10 11 8 5 19 8 Timo Scheider 8 6 5 16 RetC Ret 6 7 12 7 9 15 9 Marcel Fässler Ret 20† Ret 7 RetC Ret 4 8 10 4 Ret 13 10 Laurent Aïello 9 8 6 4 Ret 9 6 Ret 15 Ret 12 11 Emanuele Pirro 7 11 9 6 9C Ret 11 15 7 5 Ret 11 12 Manuel Reuter 10 16 13 8 8 12 3 8 12 Ret 9 13 Peter Dumbreck 6 9 Ret 11 7 8 11 Ret 9 Ret 6 14 Heinz-Harald Frentzen 11 12 12 Ret RetC 7 Ret 14 Ret 6 12 3 15 Stefan Mücke 18† 14 7 Ret 15†C 10 10 17 17 11 10 2 16 Christian Abt Ret 10 Ret 9 14†C Ret 13 9 Ret 12 8 1 17 Frank Biela 16 15 Ret 12 11C 13 Ret 13 9 14 11 0 18 Jeroen Bleekemolen 12 19 14 17 12C 12 14 18 13 17 Ret 0 19 Markus Winkelhock 15 17 Ret 13 RetC 9 Ret 16 14 18 13 0 20 Bernd Mayländer 14 18 Ret Ret 13CDNS 15 19 15 16 14 0 21 Jarek Janiš 13 Ret Ret 15 16†C 8 Ret 20† 16 Ret Ret 0- Rinaldo CapelloC 50- Peter TertingC 110 Pos Driver HOC EST ADR LAU NORSHASHA NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC Pts. Sources: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 Team HOC EST ADR LAU NORSHASHA NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC Pts. 1 Audi Sport Team Abt 5 3 2 1 1 4C 3 2 5 1 1 6 113 6 5 3 8 14 5C Ret Ret 2 2 Ret 2 2 Vodafone / DaimlerChrysler Bank AMG-Mercedes 1 17† 5 11 3 3C 2 3 Ret 5 10 1 86 2 2 1 2 2 2C 6 16† 12 3 Ret 7 3 C-Klasse AMG Mercedes 7 1 13 4 DSQ 1C 1 1 4 4 3 3 76 8 Ret 7 3 5 10C 4 7 10 11 8 5 4 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 11 Ret 10 Ret 9 14†C Ret 13 9 Ret 12 8 44 12 4 4 10 10 6C Ret 5 1 6 2 4 5 OPC Team 2 4 9 8 6 4 Ret 9 6 Ret 15 Ret 27 15 8 6 5 16 RetC Ret 6 7 12 7 9 6 OPC Team 4 3 Ret 20† Ret 7 RetC Ret 4 8 10 4 Ret 19 14 6 9 Ret 11 7 8 11 Ret 9 Ret 7 OPC Team 3 9 11 12 12 Ret RetC 7 Ret 14 Ret 6 12 12 10 10 16 13 8 8 12 3 8 12 Ret 8 Audi Sport Infinion Team Joest 44 7 11 9 6 9C Ret 11 15 7 5 Ret 11 45 16 15 Ret 12 11C 13 Ret 13 9 14 11 9 Original-Teile / CLK AMG-Mercedes 17 15 17 Ret 13 RetC 9 Ret 16 14 18 13 2 18 18† 14 7 Ret 15†C 10 10 17 17 11 10 10 OPC Euroteam 16 12 19 14 17 12C 12 14 18 13 17 Ret 0 11 Sonax Dark Dog / CLK AMG-Mercedes 20 13 Ret Ret 15 16†C 8 Ret 20† 16 Ret Ret 0 21 14 18 Ret Ret 13CDNS 15 19 15 16 14-Audi Sport Infinion Team Joest22C 50-Audi Sport Team Abt23C 110 Team HOC EST ADR LAU NORSHASHA NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC Pts. Sources:

Manufacturers' championship Manufacturer HOC EST ADR LAU NOR NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC Points 1 Audi 17 19 11 13 12 12 22 23 22 17 168 2 Mercedes 18 16 21 18 24 18 5 15 7 22 164 3 Opel 4 4 7 8 3 9 12 1 10 0 58 Manufacturer HOC EST ADR LAU NOR NÜR OSC ZAN BRN HOC Points Source:

References

Bibliography

External links

Official DTM website