KW Studios, the creators of RaceRoom have announced that more iconic DTM content is coming to the aging, but still very well supported sim. Soon you’ll be able to recreate the championship’s memorable 2002 season with the release of three iconic cars: the Abt-Audi TT-R, Opel Astra V8 Coupé, and AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM.
The 2002 DTM Season
The 2002 DTM season marked the introduction of standing starts to the modern, but still pre class one return and GT3 era of the championship. The season saw Aiello and his Abt Sportsline team take on and defeat the factory efforts from AMG-Mercedes and Opel, with Schneider and Ekström proving to be his closest challengers. All three cars ran naturally-aspirated V8 engines.
Abt-Audi TT-R: The Giant Killer
Despite receiving no official support from Audi, ABT built, developed, and ran the Audi TT-R to Aiello’s 2002 Drivers’ championship, with teammate Ekström finishing third. The TT-R claimed 11 wins throughout the season but couldn’t overcome the numbers game to capture the Teams’ championship, with Abt’s TT-Rs outnumbered 10-to-5 by Mercedes’ CLKs.
AMG-Mercedes CLK-DTM
While RaceRoom already features the 2003 AMG-Mercedes CLK (released back in 2018), the 2002 car should benefit from the sim’s recent graphics updates and improved modeling. The 2002 version features different aerodynamic components, distinct liveries, and a larger fuel tank due to the absence of mid-race refueling.
Opel Astra V8 Coupé
The Astra was based on the Opel Astra Coupé road car, though it appeared somewhat out of place compared to the sportier TT and CLK. Unfortunately, the Opel struggled in 2002, failing to secure a single victory despite having talented drivers like double BTCC champion Alain Menu and former STW champion Joachim Winkelhock behind the wheel.
Expanding RaceRoom’s DTM Legacy
These 2002 cars will complement RaceRoom’s existing 1992 and 1995 DTM grids, further expanding the sim’s historic touring car content. As we noted in our coverage of RaceRoom’s Summer Campaign, the platform’s strength has always been its exceptional touring car library. With everything from Super Touring, WTCC, WTCR, and DTM cars, touring car fans are sure to find something they’ll want to drive.
No release date or pricing information has been announced yet for the 2002 DTM pack. The addition gives players another complete DTM grid to race, spanning a pivotal era when the championship was establishing its modern identity.