The 2023 season is shaping up strangely in Germany, a great motorsport country known for its dynamic national championships that attract many international drivers.
Last year, the ADAC began with the announcement that its famous F4 championship, which along with its Italian counterpart was the pinnacle of European F4 in terms of number of cars and level, would be suspended in 2023. The best, and most fortunate, had become accustomed to competing in a double Italian and German programme using the same cars and teams. But this year, after eight glorious years, the German championship was no longer organised. The three German drivers selected in the ADAC Formula Junior Team 2023 are racing in the French F4 Championship.
The DKM, which has been the most successful national championship on the international scene so far, seems to be struggling in 2023. Of course, KZ2 is still present with its two divisions: 30 drivers in DSKM and 31 in DSKC were on track in Mülsen last weekend for the opening event. On the other hand, the direct-drive categories were barely present with only nine OK-Junior and especially nobody in OK. A look back shows a downward trend for several seasons, despite the end of the restrictions due to the pandemic. In OK, there were 28 in 2021, 16 in 2022, in OK-Junior 37 in 2021, then 19 in 2022. In these two categories, participation by foreign drivers and teams has been gradually reduced. Nevertheless, the cancellation of OK for the first event in 2023 is a blow, even though the organisers are maintaining the category for future events.
It is not easy to understand the reasons for this disaffection for Germany in karting and in F4. In single-seater racing, the last two rounds in 2022 saw a massive reduction in the number of participants, with the usual teams preferring to concentrate on their Italian programme. The quality of the ADAC's organisation is not in question, but it would seem that its priorities are more oriented towards GT, which is very active in Germany. The competition is fierce in F4 with attractive offers in France, with its different approach, but also in Spain, Great Britain and of course Italy, without forgetting the United Arab Emirates for the winter period. The question of costs does not seem to be a determining factor, but the testing possibilities are. Very limited or even impossible in Germany, although testing reaches 40 days or more in Italy. In this context, small teams find it difficult to survive compared to the ever-growing behemoths.
In karting, the favourable status of the German Championship with regard to OK and OK-Junior no longer seems to work. These two international categories with a high level of competition had previously managed to find their place in this national championship thanks to the interest of smaller teams, but this is no longer the case. The range of competitions has been expanded in addition to the FIA Karting events. The WSK Promotion series that accompanied the rise of the OK concept is now complemented (or in competition with) by the RGMMC Champions of the Future Euro Series whose calendar now reaches five races per year in preparation of the FIA Karting competitions.
As in motor racing, small and medium sized companies find it more difficult to keep up with these top categories and drivers often turn to the official teams and the big teams with the consequence that they concentrate on international programmes linked to the FIA Karting calendar. Times are harder for national championships such as DKM, a situation that can only be deplored for the development of a broad base of competitors.
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