2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
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 since the series' resumption in 2000. New regulations applied for the 2012 season. 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 triumphant return for BMW after returning from 18 years absence, and a dismal year for Mercedes-Benz AMG only rescued by early three official victories courtesy of Gary Paffett in Hockenheimring and Brands Hatch twice and Jamie Green in Norisring only.
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 season 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 was permanently retired after the 2011 season. 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 on fronts and 280/660-R18 on rears to 300/680-R18 on fronts and 320/700-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 |  col-startcol-3location map+ |float=none |Germany |width=200 |caption= |places=col-3location map+ |float=none |England |width=150 |caption= |places= location map+ |float=none |Austria |width=150 |caption= |places= col-3location map+ |float=none |Netherlands |width=150 |caption= |places= location map+ |float=none |Spain |width=150 |caption= |places= col-endlocation map~ |Germany |lat=49.32 |long=8.56 |label=Hockenheim |position=top location map~ |Germany |lat=51.53 |long=13.91 |label=Lausitz |position=top location map~ |Germany |lat=49.43 |long=11.12 |label=Nuremberg |position=bottom location map~ |Germany |lat=48.17 |long=11.54 |label=Munich |position=top location map~ |Germany |lat=50.33 |long=6.94 |label=Nürburg |position=top location map~ |Germany |lat=52.02 |long=11.27 |label=Oschersleben |position=top location map~ |England |lat=51.35 |long=0.26 |label=Brands Hatch |position=left location map~ |Austria |lat=47.21 |long=14.76 |label=Spielberg |position=top location map~ |Netherlands |lat=52.38 |long=4.54 |label=Zandvoort |position=right location map~ |Spain |lat=39.48 |long=-0.62 |label=Valencia |position=left Teams and driversThe following manufacturers, teams and drivers competed in the 2012 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. All teams competed with tyres supplied by Hankook.
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