Opel Vectra GTS V8

Opel
Vectra GTS V8
Production period:	2004-2005
Class :	race car
Racing series	DTM
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 4.0 liters (348 kW)
Length:	4683 mm
Width:	1850 mm
Height:	1250 mm
Wheelbase :	2800 mm
Empty weight :	1050 kg
Previous model	Opel Astra V8 Coupe

The Opel Vectra GTS V8 is a prototype racing car from Adam Opel AG , which was designed for exclusive use in the DTM and competed there in 2004 and 2005 against the Audi A4 DTM and the Mercedes C-Class . The Vectra GTS V8 replaced the Astra V8 Coupé .

history

For the 2004 DTM season , the manufacturers involved agreed to use sedans as the base vehicle from this season. The ITR wanted to set an example for new manufacturers who were deterred by the ban on sedans in 2000. With the Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class and Opel Vectra, all manufacturers now had a comparable series body in use. For the Vectra C, Opel decided on the hatchback variant known as the GTS and not the notchback variant that was chosen for the 1997 Vectra B in the Super Touring Car Cup . Comparative measurements in the wind tunnel revealed better aerodynamics of the GTS variant.

With the Vectra, however, Opel only played an outsider role in the DTM. The best place was a third place for Manuel Reuter in Oschersleben .

At the end of the 2004 season, General Motors announced that Opel would be leaving the DTM. The decision was made by the parent company on the basis of a radical restructuring program. Although the exit took place only a year later after the end of the 2005 season, this was denied only with a limited budget. Last year's vehicle was only further developed in detail and was therefore no more successful than in previous years. At least two third places for Heinz-Harald Frentzen in Brno and Zandvoort were the best results.

The premium brand Lexus , which belongs to the Toyota Group , bought a Vectra GTS V8 from the 2004 season from Opel and designed its own silhouette based on the Lexus IS . Lexus test drives this vehicle and it was exhibited at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show . However, a speculated DTM entry from Lexus did not materialize.

Teams and drivers

With the introduction of the Vectra in the DTM in 2004 , a total of six vehicles were used in the first season, three of which were looked after by Phoenix Motorsport and Holzer Motorsport . Phoenix secured the services of Laurent Aïello , Marcel Fässler and Peter Dumbreck , Holzer hired Heinz-Harald Frentzen , Timo Scheider and Manuel Reuter . Only the OPC Euroteam still fielded an Astra V8 from the previous year with Jeroen Bleekemolen , but at his home race in Zandvoort he was allowed to start in an Opel Vectra GTS V8.

In 2005 Holzer with Aïello and Reuter and Phoenix with Frentzen and Fässler only used two cars each.

Single results

team	driver	No.	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11
2004 DTM season			HO1	EST	ADR	LAU	NOR	SHA 1	ONLY	OSC	ZAN	BRN	HO2
Phoenix	Marcel Fässler	3	DNF	20th	DNF	7th	DNF	14th	4th	8th	10	4th	DNF
	Laurent Aïello	4th	9	8th	6th	4th	DNF		9	6th	DNS	15th	DNF
	Peter Dumbreck	14th	6th	9	DNF	11	7th		8th	11	DNS	9	DNF
Holzer	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	9	11	12	12	DNF	DNF	7th	DNF	14th	DNS	6th	12
	Manuel Reuter	10	10	16	13	8th	8th		12	3	8th	12	DNF
	Timo Scheider	15th	8th	6th	5	16	DNF	DNF	6th	7th	12	7th	9
Euroteam	Jeroen Bleekemolen	16									13
2005 DTM season			HO1	LA1	SPA	BRN	OSC	NOR	ONLY	ZAN	LA2	IS	HO2
Phoenix	Marcel Fässler	9	9	13	5	15th	8th	DNF	13	5	DNF	10	6th
	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	10	DNF	14th	15th	3	14th	6th	12	3	7th	DNF	18th
Holzer	Laurent Aïello	11	DNF	10	7th	16	7th	12	9	14th	4th	6th	9
	Manuel Reuter	12	DNF	16	16	DNF	15th	9	20th	DNF	5	14th	12

¹ The race in Shanghai was not part of the championship.

Legend
colour	abbreviation	meaning
gold	-	victory
silver	-	2nd place
bronze	-	3rd place
green	-	Placement in the points
blue	-	Classified outside the point ranks
violet	DNF	Race not finished (did not finish)
	NC	not classified
red	DNQ	did not qualify
	DNPQ	failed in pre-qualification (did not pre-qualify)
black	DSQ	disqualified
White	DNS	not at the start (did not start)
	WD	withdrawn
Light Blue	PO	only participated in the training (practiced only)
	TD	Friday test driver
without	DNP	did not participate in the training (did not practice)
	INJ	injured or sick
	EX	excluded
	DNA	did not arrive
	C.	Race canceled
		no participation in the World Cup
other	P / bold	Pole position
	SR / italic	Fastest race lap
	*	not at the finish, but counted due to the distance covered
	()	Streak results
	underlined	Leader in the overall standings

Web links

• Technical data at valvoline.ee ( Memento from June 25, 2007 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ autobild.de: Trojan Lexus. January 17, 2008, accessed January 1, 2012 . 
2. ^ Motorsport-total.com: All reports from Opel