“It started with finding a contract at the end of the last year together with the Japanese motorsport authorities about the GT500 series,” continued Ullrich. “And there we have found agreement that they will take basic technical rules from DTM from 2014 onward. So then, more or less, the cars should be under the same technical rulebook which gives the chance to run cars from the GT500 in DTM and for cars from DTM in the GT500.

“And our target was to find a way to do something similar for the United States but in the United States there is no series existing, therefore we have done a different concept. We tried to build a partnership with GRAND-AM and offer GRAND-AM that they could run in the United States a series with cars following this rulebook. And that we, together with GRAND-AM, would try to be in contact with American manufacturers to maybe create some interest from their side to go into thinking about building a car following this rulebook. This is how far I know that we are along.”

Audi's Dr. Ullrich. (Photo: LAT)

The next step in the American DTM venture could involve a bit of risk.

It’s tempting to announce a series, but without two or three manufacturers signed up ahead of time, it could fail to materialize if no one signs on. At a time when sports car racing is undergoing a major rebuild, having a new series like the DTM in America fail to get out of the gates could slow the overall momentum that unification has brought.

That leaves Bennett in a position to continue seeking buy-in for a DTM series before going public with a formal championship.

“I think there is an opportunity there for the manufacturers,” he said. “And there has been, really going back to 2010. There's a lot of details that go with these things but you really would need a handful of manufacturers to step forward and say, hey, we’re willing to support that platform with this brand, this model, and we’d like to see that come to fruition.

“Sitting here tonight, I think many are aware that there's an opportunity [with the DTM] and that kind of gets well covered, and none of them have actually yet formally committed to say x number of cars in the DTM series by this calendar year, whatever that might be. The opportunity, it is still there.”

My read on the situation is that at least two current DTM manufacturers (excluding Mercedes-Benz) are waiting to see who’ll commit first. If Audi goes, I think you’ll see BMW right behind, or vice versa. And more would likely follow if either or both of those brands take the leap. For now, it’s a waiting game.

“Of course we remain interested in an internationalization of the DTM,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt when I asked if an American championship was of interest.

“We are involved in good discussions with all parties. However, we must all take it one step at a time. Then we can work together to draw up the next stage of the plan. In short: yes to internationalisation – but not at any price.”

BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, and other manufacturers have made the DTM one of the most popular and exciting championships for decades. (Photo: LAT)

Even with the switch to a mostly spec formula and numerous cost-saving changes for the new cars that debuted in 2012, the DTM series is still an expensive proposition, as Marquardt points out. Easing the budgetary concerns held by manufacturers interested in an American DTM championship could be the single biggest move by GRAND-AM if they want the series to gain traction.

Provided the numbers make sense, Ullrich believes the series has great potential to offer European, Japanese and American manufacturers a unique, high-tech battleground that doesn’t currently exist.

“I think it is planned to announce that this cooperation between GRAND-AM and ITR in the United States should be taken as something official,” he said. “The idea is just not racing in any of the existing [endurance series]. The idea is to race with DTM cars in a special DTM race somewhere in the program together with GRAND-AM and NASCAR, but having a separate race.

“So it could be now the three German manufacturers, it could be a Japanese manufacturer from 2014 onwards, or other manufacturers that are interested in going into the game, they can run there. And this I think is the base that we need if we think about racing with these cars in the United States. We need to partner in America and this is the reason why this partnership is going to [eventually] be announced.”

[UPDATE 3/6/13]: SPEED has learned an announcement is expected to take place late this month in New York, with multiple manufacturers having agreed to attach themselves to the DTM initiative.

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.