The BMW M3 DTM cars are set to take on their Audi and Mercedes Benz rivals for real and for the first time in just over two weeks at Hockenheim (on April 29), but the race cars first face off in this photo session from Media Day, where for the first time the final DTM cars were revealed together. This will be BMW’s first DTM race since October 11, 1992.

Subject to the same regulations, the three German marquees’ cars share similar general aero bits and styling, but each also maintains the essence of the respective models’ styling cues - grilles, lights, and the like.

And you haven’t heard or seen the M3 DTM cars in action, be sure to check out the videos we’ve reposted below. Photos … CONTINUED

The countdown is on: BMW Motorsport completes its final test before the DTM season-opener in Hockenheim. Watch the first extensive footage of the BMW M3 DTM race cars inside, together with interviews with the BMW DTM drivers prior to the first DTM race in 3 weeks.

Munich, 5th April 2012. With three weeks to go until the first race of the 2012 DTM season, BMW Motorsport has officially completed its test programme. From Monday to Thursday the three teams and their six drivers were hard at work at the Hockenheimring (DE), traditionally the venue of the opening round, which this year will get underway on 29th April 2012. This will be BMW’s first DTM race since 11th October 1992.

Over the last few days, all the BMW … CONTINUED

The 2012 BMW M3 DTM Safety Car was revealed last evening at the Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe’s “Ball des Sports” in Wiesbaden. It will serve as the safety car for the 2012 DTM European race series in which BMW will compete with its M3 DTM cars. Press release:

BMW Motorsport was a prominent feature in many regards at the Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe’s “Ball des Sports” on Saturday evening. The arrival of BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, along with BMW DTM drivers, Bruno Spengler (CA) and Dirk Werner (DE), was in keeping with the occasion: they and their partners pulled up to the Rhein-Main-Hallen in Wiesbaden (DE) in the new BMW M3 DTM Safety Car. Based on the BMW M3 GTS, the car was specially modified by … CONTINUED

Director of BMW Motorsports, Dr. Mario Thiessen, answers some questions and provides some further insight on BMWs return to DTM racing in 2012. Q&A inside.

The German DTM touring car race series, to which BMW has just announced a return in 2012, will be coming to the US in 2013! The plan is to stage 12 races of this high-performance four door sedan racing series in the US beginning in 2013, races which will be staged with NASCAR and Grand American road racing events. Traditionally, DTM races take place on European tracks such as the Nurburgring and Hockenheim.

The return of BMW to the DTM starting in 2012 is official! This was confirmed by the company during the DTM race weekend at the Hockenheimring. BMW last competed in the DTM in 1994. The BMW M3 will be used as the basic DTM vehicle, a car that has enjoyed unique successes in the field of touring and sports car racing in the past. Eric van de Poele (BE) and Roberto Ravaglia (IT) celebrated two DTM titles with the racing version of BMW’s most sporty representative back in 1987 and 1989, while before that Volker Strycek (DE) won the DTM premiere in 1984 in the BMW 635 CSi. This season the current BMW M3 GT2 caused a sensation in the world of international endurance racing, … CONTINUED