ATS Wheels has been confirmed as the official wheel supplier for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) for the 2017 season. ATS hardware will be found under the arches of the cars of all 3 OEMs competing in the series; Mercedes, Audi and BMW.
ATS will be supplying to all 3 manufacturers; 12x18in for the front, gargantuan 13x18in for the back, all aluminium forged and produced using a special alloy, one selected for its extreme strength and lightweight.
The aforementioned alloy blend, and the manufacturing process which birthed it, are both incredibly complex but yield extreme strength and rigidity. ATS utilised computer-aided simulations to aid optimisation, which in turn led to a battery of quality controls and fail safes. These ensure that all wheels are produced within a very close weight tolerance just above the FIA mandated minimum (9.5kg for the front, 10kg for the rear), guaranteeing that all cars are equally competitive.
The development process lasted well over a year and involved 20 dedicated employees from various divisions within the group. During the process, the wheels were subjected to complex short and long-term tests in the ATS development centre in Lüdenscheid, before being further tested by the manufacturer. One especially grueling test involved simulating over a million load changes, a requirement stipulated by Audi, BMW and Mercedes.
“We are extremely proud of the fact that we are able to be exclusive suppliers for both DTM and Formula 3 as of the 2017 season,” explained Dr. Thomas Buchholz, chairman of UNIWHEELS AG (the owners of ATS). “Getting involved in motorsport gives us an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the technical expertise of ATS and the entire UNIWHEELS group, as well as showcase our brand in an optimal environment.”
