A planned collaboration between Formula E and the DTM racing series for an event at the renowned Norisring street circuit in 2027 has been abandoned. Initial discussions had explored the possibility of the electric championship racing at the historic German venue, but these talks have now concluded without an agreement, primarily due to unmet demands from Formula E regarding track modifications.
Reports indicate that representatives from Formula E and ADAC, the promoter for DTM, convened in Nuremberg recently to explore avenues for collaboration. This initiative originated from Formula E, which had been considering alternative German venues after a prolonged presence in Berlin. The ADAC showed an initial openness to the concept, provided that such a partnership would yield mutual benefits and contribute to cost reduction for the event organizers.
Initially, the city of Nuremberg showed enthusiasm for hosting both racing series concurrently during the same weekend. However, this idea was quickly deemed impractical due to the conflicting sponsorship requirements of the two championships. The organizing body, Motorsport-Club Nurnberg (MCN), highlighted the impossibility of rapidly reconfiguring the visual branding of the street circuit between sessions, especially given the existing limitations in digital advertising infrastructure. This logistical challenge ultimately led to a revised proposal: separate race weekends. Under this new plan, Formula E would occupy June 25-26, 2027, leveraging its shorter operational requirements—a Friday evening practice, followed by a second practice, qualifying, and the main race on Saturday. DTM, in contrast, would retain its traditional slot of July 2-4.
However, following subsequent meetings in Nuremberg, ADAC representatives decided to withdraw from further discussions. The primary reason for this impasse appeared to be unforeseen demands made by Formula E. During a comprehensive circuit evaluation, officials from the electric racing series concluded that the existing 2.162-kilometer Norisring layout, particularly the segment between the Grundig hairpin and Dutzendteich, would be too short for the more powerful Gen4 cars slated for introduction from late 2026. This assessment indicated that lap times would likely fall just above the 40-second mark, potentially creating logistical and competitive challenges with a full grid of 24 vehicles.
Sources reveal that Formula E even advanced a proposal to alter the circuit configuration. This modification envisioned cars turning right after the pit lane, at the site of the former Scholler-S (now known as the Thomas Sommer corner), to head towards the Frankenstadion. A newly constructed hairpin turn would then guide the vehicles onto the stadium parking lot before they reconnected with the original circuit. Another alternative under consideration involved extending the track straight past the current Grundig hairpin—a configuration last seen in 1971—and establishing a re-positioned hairpin further along the route.
These proposed alterations carried significant implications beyond just higher costs. Such changes would also detrimentally affect DTM, potentially leading to the loss of key grandstands and, consequently, a reduction in spectator capacity. Given these factors, the anticipated synergies between the two series would have been substantially diminished, especially considering that the restoration of the Steintribune grandstand already limits standing-room capacity until 2028.
The rapid, multi-year extension of Formula E's contract in Berlin, though perhaps surprising, could present new opportunities for the DTM series. The ADAC-managed championship might reconsider its prior intentions to utilize the Tempelhof circuit, potentially adding another German venue to its calendar. These plans had previously seemed unlikely amidst Formula E's aspirations for Nuremberg.
Nonetheless, any potential move for DTM to Tempelhof would realistically not materialize before 2028 at the earliest. Such a project would necessitate considerable political endorsement, particularly due to local conditions and regulatory frameworks. With state elections in Berlin not scheduled until September 20, 2026, the future political landscape and its subsequent impact on these plans remain uncertain.
