Breaking news
DTM
Mercedes retains four drivers for farewell DTM season
Four drivers from Mercedes' DTM 2017 roster have been retained for the marque's final season in the category, the Stuttgart manufacturer has confirmed.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Feb 7, 2018, 12:14 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Former champions Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta will remain in the line-up, as will Lucas Auer and Edoardo Mortara.
The announcement leaves two spots on Mercedes' six-car roster unfilled, with Robert Wickens having agreed a switch to IndyCar and Maro Engel prioritising a programme in Formula E and GT racing.
“2018 will be our final year in the DTM, but that doesn't change anything as far as our readiness to take up the fight, our enormous team spirit and commitment are concerned,” Mercedes DTM boss Ulrich Fritz said.
“We intend to work together in pursuit of a common goal in order to bring a positive conclusion to the final chapter of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport's involvement in the DTM which goes back 30 years.”
Mercedes has last won the DTM drivers' and teams' titles in 2015, and has not claimed the manufacturers' honours since 2010.
Austrian racer Auer was the highest-placed of its drivers last year, claiming three of the Silver Arrows' six wins.
“This final season in the DTM will be something really special for Mercedes,” Auer said. "We're all as keen as mustard and intend to round things off in a fitting manner.
“2017 was a good year for me, and I'm really looking forward to 2018. It will be interesting to see how I progress.”
Mortara is the only driver in the roster with an existing full-time programme alongside his DTM commitments, as he also competes in Formula E for Venturi alongside Engel.
The Swiss-Italian racer emerged as one of DTM's benchmark drivers during his six-year stint at Audi, before being signed away by Mercedes for 2017.
He had a mixed first season in the category with the Stuttgart marque, finishing only 14th.
“There was a lot to learn in our first year together in the DTM," Mortara said. "We missed out on a couple of points, but ultimately, we found that we were on the right track during the last few race weekends.
“I didn't have a terrific season, so I'm really looking forward to this year when I intend to do much better.”
The 2018 DTM schedule has two clashes with Formula E, and it is yet to be confirmed which series Mortara will prioritise.
Mercedes says it will announce the two drivers that will complete its 2018 line-up “in the very near future”.
DTM 2015 champion and Sauber Formula 1 outcast Pascal Wehrlein is a prime candidate to take one of the seats, with former series regular Dani Juncadella also a favourite.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article DTM could adopt GTE rules if Super GT tie-up fails
Next article Wehrlein to make DTM return in 2018
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
Mar 13, 2020
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Mar 12, 2020
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General Mar 11, 2020
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Gary Paffett
Friday favourite: The team game maestro who showed Wickens a new side to racing
DTM
DTM Aug 9, 2024
Friday favourite: The team game maestro who showed Wickens a new side to racing
The seaside circuit that a double DTM champion made his own
DTM
DTM Mar 10, 2023
The seaside circuit that a double DTM champion made his own
Paffett forced to abandon plans to return to DTM in 2021
DTM
DTM Aug 12, 2021
Paffett forced to abandon plans to return to DTM in 2021
Latest news
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe