Der Schweinhund That Is the DTM

Intent is sometimes hard to prove. This is especially true of charges of sexism. But in DTM, there is overwhelming evidence of sexism. Take, as an example, DTM's treatment of Audi driver Vanina Ickx at the Norisring race of June 24, 2007.

The announcers: The British DTM announcers used by Speed Channel have an extreme phobia with using the word "woman." From the first race in Hockenheim through the fifth race at Nuremberg, the dynamic duo repeatedly and unabashedly described Ickx and Susie Stoddard-- the other female driver in the series-- as girls. Girls, girls, girls. During the Norisring coverage, one of the announcers mockingly described Vanina Ickx, who stands 5'1" tall, as just "a little girl."

Speed Channel (and DTM) are not doing the public any favor by keeping these cavemen on the air. The gratuitous shots pre-race of scantily clad and mammarially endowed women at the stands, on the track, and everywhere else do not help either.

The drivers: For the first half of the season, the Old Boys' Network reared its ugly head. It seemed like in almost every race, someone would take a shot at Ickx on the track. These unwanted "love taps" have the singular purpose of intimidating her and telling her that she is not welcome. There is also no doubt that along with chauvinism, there is a bit of resentment that perhaps Vanina got a seat in DTM due to her father, the famed Belgian driver Jacky Ickx.

These shananigans went up a notch at Norisring when Mathias Lauda (son of Niki) "inadvertently" rammed Ickx from behind, sending her into the barrier and out of the race.

Ickx at Dakar

The officials: The double standard was apparent after the Ickx-Lauda incident. During the first lap of Norisring, Susie Stoddard hit Ickx and spun Ickx around. Stoddard was punished immediately with a drive-through penalty. But when Lauda hit Ickx, he was simply given a warning.

In a series where the cards are stacked up against female drivers, it is very difficult to stand up and openly complain and assert the charge of sexism. All Ickx was able to do, to protect her career and to keep her bosses and sponsors satiated, was to state that she was "confused" by the penalty allocation.

Ickx on the podium, not after a DTM race

At the end of the 2007 season, Vanina retired from DTM. For now, the winner is:


CKY