Drivers in the popular DTM (German Touring Car Masters) have thrown their support behind Tony Cochrane’s call for the series to replace the Indy Racing League on the Gold Coast.

While most Australian media feel that Cochrane’s call was a bit of publicity seeking mischief making, current DTM stars competing in this weekend’s Hockenheim final are enthusiastically backing the idea.

Speaking to the German website motorsport-total.com, drivers said they would love the chance to take to the streets of Surfers Paradise.

“That would be fantastic ! It would be great to go overseas, said Mercedes driver Paul di Resta. “It (The DTM) is perhaps the greatest Touring Car Championship in the World. I believe we have the best cars. It would be great to show the Australians what great cars we have.” he said.

di Resta’s team-mate Bruno Spengler agreed “ I would be very happy to go there, because I think that the DTM is quite simply a great series. It’s lot of fun to drive here, but it lacks an exotic race far away. “
Audi driver & Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen agreed “Australia is obviously a wonderful stage (for the Championship), also for the manufacturers. Perhaps it could also in the long term help the Australian Touring Car Championship.“

 2005  Champion Gary Paffett only see advantages in the race “That would be fantastic.” he said. “A few years ago we were in Shanghai and that was a great event. Istanbul was also a great event. It should be our goal, to take the DTM to places outside of Europe. Surfers Paradise would be fantastic for the teams and drivers. “
 “I never been to Australia, so it would be already be off the track a great experience,“ said Mercedes, driver Jamie Green. “If the DTM wants to take us to foreign countries or to the other end of the world, it is okay for me.“

Mathias Lauda, on the other hand knows what the DTM in Surfers Paradise could expect — and was even more enthused. “I was there three years ago in the A1GP race in Sydney and then stayed on a week at Surfers Paradise. It is a cool area and I would be eager. I would do it now!”

Mercedes team boss Norbert Haug was also suportive of the idea providing funding could be found. “There are still no concrete negotiations. But the idea, (to combine) the very successful Australian V8 Supercar Series for a weekend together with the DTM  is good for the spectators and would be a  guaranteed huge spectacle, he said.

But Haug was also firm on the need for the race to be a full pointscore round of the series.

Despite all the enthusiasm which extends to manufacturers Audi and Mercedes Benz, there would still be several issues to be resolved. The current October date for the Gold Coast Race is also the date of the DTM Finale in Hockenheim. However, if Hockenheim 2009 could be moved forward by at least two weeks  and the race at Le Mans dropped then the series could be wrapped up before the DTM cars came down for a non-championship race.

But even with two weeks break between Hockenheim and Surfers Paradise that would leave little time to ship the entire series to Australia, not to mention costs, which DTM bosses have already said would need to be 100% met by the Australian race.