The 2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the twenty-sixth season of premier German touring car championship and also thirteenth season under the moniker of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) since the series' resumption in 2000. New regulations applied for the 2012 season (see below). BMW returned to the championship for the first time since 1994. It was also the last time non-European driver to won the DTM title until South African Sheldon van der Linde in 2022 season.

It was a return to form for BMW after returning from 18 years absence, and a weak year for Mercedes-Benz AMG, only attaining three official victories courtesy of Gary Paffett in Hockenheimring and Brands Hatch twice and Jamie Green in Norisring only, with an exception of Ralf Schumacher and Jamie Green in Showevent Olympiastadion München relay races respectively because of exhibition event.

Rule changes Sporting The points system for the 2012 season was changed to reflect the system used by the FIA for world championships. The top ten drivers in each race are awarded points on a scale of 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1. Refuelling during the race was banned after 12 years due to safety concerns and also avoid cut costs.

Technical For the first time since 2003 and 2004 seasons the DTM reintroduced the smaller two-door coupé-style cars respectively but the two-door coupé-style cars shape were much different than 2000-2003 coupés as the new generational of Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters cars were based on 2-door coupé D-segment compact executive cars. The four-door D-segment mid-size sedan-style cars (introduced since 2004 but later as a mandatory requirement since 2005) was permanently retired after the 2011 season. However, the engine configuration format remained unchanged until 2018 despite the coupé-style cars' reintroduction. Due to the machinery format switch back to coupé-style machinery, the length of the cars without rear wing were shortened from but the overall length including rear wing were lengthened from . After 12 years, the sequential manual gearbox shifters were replaced by newly-mandatory sequential semi-automatic paddle-shifters respectively for all DTM cars to help drivers making shifting easier and efficient rather than challenging manual stick shifters. The minimum weight of the cars has been increased from to due to the transition to 2-door coupé D-segment compact executive cars format including also the increase of fuel load weight. From 2000-2003, the all DTM cars weight were . From 2004-2006, all DTM cars weight were . From 2007-2011, the all DTM cars weight were . The rear wing of all DTM cars has been changed to the single-element plane wing instead of a dual-element plane wing to create downforce. The fuel tank capacity of all DTM cars were increased to instead of usual due to refuelling ban rules. The seat of all DTM cars was integrated into the carbon fibre monocoque that is connected to a roll cage of high-strength steel due to safety concerns. The year-old aging DTM cars were banned due to previous year cars were 4-door saloon model types. As a result of the transition from the outgoing four-door sedan-style cars to two-door coupé-style cars, the tyre sizes of Hankook Ventus DTM tyres were also altered from 260/660-R18 (10.2/25.9-R18) on fronts and 280/660-R18 (11.0/25.9-R18) on rears to 300/680-R18 (11.8/26.8-R18) on fronts and 320/700-R18 (12.6/27.9-R18) on rears in order to improve more mechanical grip and handling while cornering to suit the driving style.

Calendar An eleven-round calendar was announced on 11 November, including the non-championship event in Munich.

Round Circuit Date Maps 1 Hockenheimring 29 April 2 Lausitzring 6 May 3 Brands Hatch 20 May 4 Red Bull Ring 3 June 5 Norisring 1 July NC Olympiastadion München 14–15 July 6 Nürburgring 19 August 7 Circuit Park Zandvoort 26 August 8 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben 16 September 9 Circuit Ricardo Tormo 30 September 10 Hockenheimring 21 October

Teams and drivers The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Hankook. CarTeamDriversRounds BMW BMW M3 DTM BMW Team RMG 1 Martin Tomczyk All 2 Joey Hand All BMW Team Schnitzer 7 Bruno Spengler All 8 Dirk Werner All BMW Team RBM 15 Andy Priaulx All 16 Augusto Farfus All Audi Audi A5 DTM Abt Sportsline 3 Mattias Ekström All 4 Timo Scheider All Phoenix Racing 9 Mike Rockenfeller All 10 Miguel Molina All Audi Sport Team Abt 17 Rahel Frey All 18 Adrien Tambay All Team Rosberg 21 Edoardo Mortara All 22 Filipe Albuquerque All Mercedes-Benz DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé Mercedes AMG 5 Jamie Green All 6 Ralf Schumacher All HWA Team 11 Gary Paffett All 12 Christian Vietoris All Mücke Motorsport 19 David Coulthard All 20 Robert Wickens All Persson Motorsport 23 Roberto Merhi All 24 Susie Wolff All

Driver changes Changed teams 2011 champion Martin Tomczyk left Team Phoenix and Audi to join Team RMG, one of the three teams running BMW machinery. 2011 runner-up Bruno Spengler left Mercedes' HWA Team and also joined BMW with Team Schnitzer. Rahel Frey left Team Phoenix to join Abt Sportsline, with Mike Rockenfeller and Miguel Molina moving over from Abt to fill the seats at Team Phoenix. Christian Vietoris switched from Persson Motorsport to HWA Team.

Entering DTM Long-time BMW factory drivers Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand, Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner made their début in the series with BMW. Farfus and Priaulx are driving for Team RBM, Hand for Team RMG and Werner with Team Schnitzer. Formula 3 Euro Series champion Roberto Merhi and Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion Robert Wickens joined Mercedes teams Persson Motorsport and Mücke Motorsport respectively. After competing in Auto GP, French driver Adrien Tambay joined Abt Sportsline for his debut in the series.

Leaving DTM Maro Engel left the series. Oliver Jarvis was promoted to the Audi LMP1 sportscar squad and the FIA GT1 World Championship with Team WRT, and was replaced by Adrien Tambay. Renger van der Zande left the DTM series.

Results and standings Results summary Round Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning team Winning manufacturer 1 Hockenheimring 29 April Mattias Ekström Jamie Green Gary Paffett HWA Team Mercedes-Benz 2 Lausitzring 6 May Bruno Spengler Jamie Green Bruno Spengler BMW Team Schnitzer BMW 3 Brands Hatch, Kent 20 May Gary Paffett Martin Tomczyk Gary Paffett HWA Team Mercedes-Benz 4 Red Bull Ring, Spielberg 3 June Edoardo Mortara Timo Scheider Edoardo Mortara Team Rosberg Audi 5 Norisring, Nuremberg 1 July Gary Paffett Jamie Green Jamie Green Mercedes AMG Mercedes-Benz NC Showevent Olympiastadion München 14 July Relay races Jamie Green Ralf Schumacher Mercedes AMG Mercedes-Benz 15 July Knockout races Mattias Ekström Abt Sportsline Audi 6 Nürburgring 19 August Bruno Spengler Bruno Spengler Bruno Spengler BMW Team Schnitzer BMW 7 Circuit Park Zandvoort 26 August Timo Scheider Gary Paffett Edoardo Mortara Team Rosberg Audi 8 Motorsport Arena Oschersleben 16 September Bruno Spengler Roberto Merhi Bruno Spengler BMW Team Schnitzer BMW 9 Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia 30 September Augusto Farfus Bruno Spengler Augusto Farfus BMW Team RBM BMW 10 Hockenheimring 21 October Augusto Farfus Gary Paffett Bruno Spengler BMW Team Schnitzer BMW

Championship standings Scoring system Points are awarded to the top ten classified finishers as follows: Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th  Points 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

Drivers' championship Driver HOC LAU BRH RBR NOR OLY‡ NÜR ZAN OSC VAL HOC Points 1 Bruno Spengler Ret 1 2 Ret 3 5 3 1 6 1 6 1 149 2 Gary Paffett 1 2 1 3 4 3 3 6 7 2 Ret 2 145 3 Jamie Green 2 4 8 5 1 1 2 4 4 3 10 4 121 4 Mike Rockenfeller 5 13 3 7 6 DNQ 5 5 2 6 5 Ret 85 5 Edoardo Mortara 11 8 9 1 Ret DNQ 9 2 1 Ret 16† 6 82 6 Mattias Ekström 3 5 5 4 Ret 5 1 11 3 8 3 Ret 81 7 Augusto Farfus 15 3 11 10 Ret 5 5 10 9 5 1 3 69 8 Martin Tomczyk Ret 7 4 2 2 DNQ 5 3 Ret Ret Ret 14 69 9 Dirk Werner 17 19 16 Ret 10 4 17 12 8 4 9 5 29 10 Adrien Tambay Ret 18 12 Ret 15 2 9 Ret 5 16 2 Ret 28 11 Filipe Albuquerque 10 9 10 8 11 DNQ 9 8 15† 9 4 11 26 12 Christian Vietoris 4 11 6 Ret 8 3 9 16 Ret 12 12 10 25 13 Andy Priaulx 6 17 Ret Ret 7 DNQ 17 19 13 Ret 8 7 24 14 Timo Scheider Ret 6 Ret 6 16 2 17 9 Ret 10 Ret 12 19 15 David Coulthard 8 12 15 Ret 5 DNQ 5 20 Ret Ret 11 Ret 14 16 Robert Wickens 14 22† 14 13 9 DNQ 9 7 Ret 7 Ret Ret 14 17 Ralf Schumacher 7 10 19 11 Ret 1 17 13 10 13 14 9 10 18 Miguel Molina 9 15 7 Ret 12 5 9 15 Ret 15 Ret Ret 8 19 Rahel Frey 16 20 18 15 17 DNQ 9 14 Ret Ret 7 16 6 20 Joey Hand 13 14 13 9 14 4 9 18 14 11 15† 8 6 21 Roberto Merhi 18 16 17 12 13 DNQ 17 Ret 11 14 Ret 15 0 22 Susie Wolff 12 21 20† 14 Ret DNQ 17 17 12 Ret 13 13 0 Driver HOC LAU BRH RBR NOR OLY‡ NÜR ZAN OSC VAL HOC PointsBold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap Notes: † — Driver retired, but was classified as they completed 90% of the winner's race distance. ‡ — No points are awarded for the non-championship Munich Olympiastadion event.

Teams' championship Team HOC LAU BRH RBR NOR OLY‡ NÜR ZAN OSC VAL HOC Points 1 BMW Team Schnitzer 7 Ret 1 2 Ret 3 5 3 1 6 1 6 1 178 8 17 19 16 Ret 10 4 17 12 8 4 9 5 2 HWA Team 11 1 2 1 3 4 3 3 6 7 2 Ret 2 170 12 4 11 6 Ret 8 3 9 16 Ret 12 12 10 3 Mercedes AMG 5 2 4 8 5 1 1 2 4 4 3 10 4 131 6 7 10 19 11 Ret 1 17 13 10 13 14 9 4 Team Rosberg 21 11 8 9 1 Ret DNQ 9 2 1 Ret 16† 6 108 22 10 9 10 8 11 DNQ 9 8 15† 9 4 11 5 Abt Sportsline 3 3 5 5 4 Ret 5 1 11 3 8 3 Ret 100 4 Ret 6 Ret 6 16 2 17 9 Ret 10 Ret Ret 6 BMW Team RBM 15 6 17 Ret Ret 7 DNQ 17 19 13 Ret 8 7 93 16 15 3 11 10 Ret 5 5 10 9 5 1 3 7 Phoenix Racing 9 5 13 3 7 6 DNQ 5 5 2 6 5 Ret 93 10 9 15 7 Ret 12 5 9 15 Ret 15 Ret Ret 8 BMW Team RMG 1 Ret 7 4 2 2 DNQ 5 3 Ret Ret Ret 14 75 2 13 14 13 9 14 4 9 18 14 11 15† 8 9 Audi Sport Team Abt 17 16 20 18 15 17 DNQ 9 14 Ret Ret 7 16 34 18 Ret 18 12 Ret 15 2 9 Ret 5 16 2 Ret 10 Mücke Motorsport 19 8 12 15 Ret 5 DNQ 5 20 Ret Ret 11 Ret 28 20 14 22† 14 13 9 DNQ 9 7 Ret 7 Ret Ret 11 Persson Motorsport 23 18 16 17 12 13 DNQ 17 Ret 11 14 Ret 15 0 24 12 21 20† 14 Ret DNQ 17 17 12 Ret 13 13 Team HOC LAU BRH RBR NOR OLY‡ NÜR ZAN OSC VAL HOC PointsBold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap Notes: † — Driver retired, but was classified as they completed 90% of the winner's race distance. ‡ — No points are awarded for the non-championship Munich Olympiastadion event.

Manufacturers' championship Manufacturer HOC LAU BRH RBR NOR OLY‡ NÜR ZAN OSC VAL HOC Points 1 BMW 8 46 30 21 40 0 0 41 14 47 39 60 346 2 Audi 28 24 34 55 8 0 0 34 68 15 61 8 335 3 Mercedes-Benz 65 31 37 25 53 0 0 26 19 39 1 33 329 Manufacturer HOC LAU BRH RBR NOR OLY‡ NÜR ZAN OSC VAL HOC Points Notes: ‡ — No points are awarded for the non-championship Munich Olympiastadion event.

References

Bibliography

External links The official website of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (English)