THE DTM German Touring Cars return to Brands Hatch next month for a weekend of high-speed, flame-spitting action.

<p>This season the rules have been spiced up and three British drivers are aiming for home glory in the world’s fastest Touring Car series.

<p>DTM has long been recognised as the ultimate challenge in Touring Cars, with Germany’s ‘big three’ of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz fighting for supremacy.

<p>While resembling sports coupés, the cars are thoroughbred racing machines, with high-tech chassis and powerful V8 engines powering them to over 140mph on the Brands Hatch pit straight and lapping the Indy circuit in little more than 40 seconds.

<p>The incredible cars attract many of the world’s best drivers and in addition to up-and-coming talents, former F1 driver Timo Glock joins the series for the 2013 season.

<p>He’ll be racing for BMW, who won the title at the final round of last year with Canadian Bruno Spengler.

<p>Just missing out on last year’s title was 2005 DTM champion Gary Paffett and the Bromley ace will be out to avenge his narrow defeat.

<p>The 31-year-old is the series most successful active driver and spearheads Mercedes-Benz’s attack, in addition to being the McLaren F1 team’s test driver. He won at his home circuit last year in dominant style and will be looking to do the same next month.

<p>Paffett’s former team-mate Jamie Green is also a title contender but has switched to the rival Audi squad for this season.

<p>He joins a strong line-up that includes double champions Matthias Ekström and Timo Scheider but his 2012 form suggests that he could be the man to bring further success to the Ingolstadt-based marque.

<p>BMW’s British challenger is triple world Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx, who enters his second season in DTM.

<p>After a learning year in the series, the Guernseyman says he is ready to make a step forward in his performance and will be aiming for the top at a circuit that he knows well from his formative seasons in racing.

<p>F1-inspired rule changes have also been introduced to spice up the action.

<p>Rear wings with DRS (Drag Reduction System) mechanisms will provide chasing drivers with a boost in top speed on the straight to aid overtaking.

<p>Meanwhile, option tyres increase team strategies, with all drivers needing to use faster but less durable soft rubber during the race.

<p>DTM commands a prestigious status in the motorsport world and the event has attracted many big names among the spectators, including F1 drivers Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Paul Di Resta, who is a former champion in the series.

<p>The support bill also includes many future stars in the FIA European F3 championship and the new MSV-run BRDC F4 championship, making this one of the most important dates in the British motorsport calendar.

<p>Tickets for DTM at Brands Hatch, which runs between May 17 and May 19, are available from £29, with free entry for children aged 12 and under.

<p>For more information, call 0843 453 9000 or visit brandshatch.co.uk

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