The BoP for the DTM finale in Hockenheim has been decided: How the title contenders’ cars were classified and how the Lamborghini classification could be explained
The DTM showdown with nine drivers still in contention for the championship is just around the corner: three Mercedes-AMG drivers, two BMW and two Porsche drivers, and one driver each from Lamborghini and Ferrari. But what does the eagerly awaited Balance of Performance (BoP) look like for the season finale in Hockenheim?
At first glance, most of the cars are classified similarly to last year – with the exception of the Lamborghini, which, as was the case recently in Spielberg, has to make do with a restrictor that is two millimeters smaller than in 2024. The weight only partially compensates for the change, as the car is only five kilograms lighter than last year. Back then, there was a Lamborghini one-two victory on Sunday.
“That means we’ve done twice as good a job as in previous years,” smiles team boss Gottfried Grasser, whose Lamborghini driver Jordan Pepper is the closest challenger in the title race, as he considers the BoP. “On paper, that makes you five tenths slower at Hockenheim.”
Pepper remains undeterred: “BoP has been worse all year”
How will you approach the race weekend? “Let’s see how we can compensate for it,” he says. “I don’t want to point fingers because of the BoP, but rather focus on ourselves and get the most out of this package. “ Apart from that, it could rain on Saturday, the Austrian notes – and as we know, engine power plays a lesser role then.
Pepper, who is seven points behind DTM leader Auer, doesn’t want to get too worked up either. ”Of course, it would be better if we had a little more power,“ says the South African. ”Then I would be more confident. But I can’t influence that anyway.“
Pepper expects changes anyway, as in Spielberg, if the classification is not right: ”We already had the 49er restrictor at the Red Bull Ring, but we became more competitive over the course of the weekend because we lost weight. And the BMW became heavier.” In addition, Hockenheim is a track where the Huracan performs better—especially in the last sector with the Motodrom. He doesn’t want to be deterred now: “I love Hockenheim—and I hope that the pressure of the title fight will push us to perform even better. On paper, we’ve had a worse BoP than last year all year. But I say we have a good chance because we are a good team and we have prepared really well.”
Apart from that, we hear that the Huracan—at least for the Grasser team—performs better with the Pirelli slick introduced this year than it did in 2024, which could explain the less favorable classification.
Slightly less power for Mercedes-AMG and BMW
What about the other cars? The Mercedes-AMG driven by DTM leader Auer is five kilograms heavier than in the final 2024 classification and has been given a restrictor that is 0.5 millimeters smaller, but a lambda value that is 0.02 lower, i.e., more favorable. The classification is therefore relatively similar.
Especially since the Audi – with the same restrictor – and the BMW are also five kilograms heavier than in 2024. As the only title contender after finishing third in Spielberg, Auer will also have five kilograms of success ballast in his car for Saturday’s race in Hockenheim.
What about the boost pressure in Rene Rast’s M4 GT3 Evo, who is the more promising Schubert driver in third place with eleven points ahead of the final? The turbocharged car has less boost pressure than 2024 across almost the entire rev range, but only slightly.
The restriction is greatest in the mid-range at 0.03 bar. As a reminder, Rast finished third on Sunday last year.
Porsche significantly better classified than in 2024
The Porsche is clearly better classified than in 2024: In addition to a restrictor that is two millimeters larger, the Manthey team’s 911 GT3 R will also have the same total weight as in 2024, which means Manthey should definitely be reckoned with. Especially since Ayhancan Güven, who is fifth in the title race and 17 points behind, scored his only podium finish last year at Hockenheim.
And what about Emil Frey Ferrari driver Jack Aitken, who is sixth, 21 points behind, and has an outside chance? His car is 20 kilograms heavier than in 2024. The boost pressure is up to 0.3 bar higher in the low range of 4,500 rpm, but this is only to ensure that the Ferrari can get out of the corners.
Over the remaining rev range, the Ferrari was rated slightly weaker than in 2024 – mostly between 0.01 and 0.05 bar. Last year, it wasn’t enough for top places for the Emil Frey team, even though the track should actually suit the car and technical director Jürg Flach is satisfied with the team’s setup.
Ford Mustang GT3 gets more ballast
No miracles are expected this time around in the Ford camp: the HRT team’s Mustang GT3 is 15 kilograms heavier than it was last time in Spielberg with the same restrictor – and at 1,320 kilograms, it is heavier than in any other race this season except for the Nürburgring. The McLaren is a whopping 25 kilograms heavier than in last year’s final BoP, but with more boost pressure, especially in the lower range.
And the Aston Martin should also be taken into account: The Vantage is now rated similarly strong in terms of boost pressure as it was at the Sachsenring, which is difficult for the vehicle, but it is 30 kilograms heavier. However, the turbocharged car should also perform better at the Hockenheimring.
