Two top-tier touring car racing series will race together under a joint series starting in 2019. Germany’s Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) and Japan’s Super GT have finalized plans for a joint regulation under “Class 1” starting with two races in 2019.

Described by DTM Chairman Gerhard Berger as “a milestone for international motor racing,” these regulations enable manufacturers and teams to participate in two of the top-tier touring car series at a more reasonable cost on two continents.

Already now, the cars of the two series resemble each other in many areas. From the 2019 season, the DTM vehicles will fully meet the “Class 1” regulations. In 2020, Super GT will also adopt a version of the new regulations that will be slightly modified for endurance races that are a part of the series’ calendar.

The most important factor of the new regulations will be the common part concept. It results in clear cost reductions while also adding to the safety and equal-opportunity areas. Components of nearly all the areas of the car will be standardized and will be produced and distributed both in Europe and Japan. For all these components, the manufacturers needn’t to invest in expensive design and development efforts. The core of the car is the carbon-fiber monocoque with integrated safety cell.

In terms of engines, the DTM will be moving closer to what Super GT offers. From the current V8 power units being used, DTM will move to a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. The engine will produce somewhere in the region of 620 horsepower and will accelerate these cars to more than 300 km/h.

Due to the additional power, DTM cars will adopt an aerodynamic package closer to Super GT specs, specifically the front and rear diffusers, and rear wing; and better air flow for powertrain and brake cooling.

Although Super GT will adopt the Class 1 regulations only in 2020, DTM and Super GT plan to hold two joint race meetings—one in Europe and one in Asia.

The format will resemble the sporting regulations of DTM, with two sprint races without a driver swap or refueling but an obligatory pitstop for the change of all the four tires. For these race meetings, a one-off “Balance of Performance” (BoP) will be created to make for equal chances of the still slightly differing vehicles of both series.