The 2005 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters was the nineteenth season of premier German touring car championship and also sixth season under the moniker of
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since the series' resumption in 2000. The number of race weekends were increased from 10 events in 2004 to eleven in 2005 (although 2004 had eleven events including the non-championship race at Shanghai).
Originally each track hosted one race each with the exception of
Hockenheimring (two races, premier and finale), but when Avignon lost their race,
EuroSpeedway also hosted two events.
Changes for 2005
The cars built to 00-03 specs were banned from competition. Instead the whole field would be made up of cars built to the new 04 specs.
Italy and Portugal lost their respective events. They were replaced by Belgium (
Spa-Francorchamps) and Turkey (
Istanbul Park).
Opel scaled down from six to four cars, while Audi and Mercedes fielded eight each instead of the six they had run in 2004.
Opel announced that they would leave the series shortly after the 2005 season ended.
BP's German brand
Aral AG would become the official fuel retailer and convenience store partner of the series starting from round 7 at
Nürburgring in mid-2005, taking over
Shell's fuel partner contract. The
Aral Ultimate brand would provide 100 RON unleaded gasolines and displayed in the pit gantries, trackside sponsorships and all driver's race overalls on the sleeves.
Teams and drivers
The following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2005 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by
Dunlop.