Mercedes Benz to field eight cars in the DTM in 2015
Mercedes-Benz will expand their program in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters next year, by increasing the number of C-Coupés DTM on the grid to a total of eight. To reinforce the structure in the championship, the Stuttgart manufacturer welcomes long standing partners ART Grand Prix as their third team in the DTM.
The announcement was made last night by Totto Wolff at the “Stars and Cars” event in Stuttgart. The Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport was enthusiastic about the prospects the new partnership brings for their DTM operation: “We are delighted to now have on board a strong third team for the 2015 DTM season, long-standing partner ART Grand Prix. We have in the past achieved many successes in Formula 3 with ART Grand Prix. We would love to repeat that success in the future in the DTM.”
Speaking about the addition of an eighth C-Coupé DTM, Wolff remarked: “We have always said that we would only ever increase the number of vehicles in the DTM when we could be certain that all the cars deployed would be equally well looked after. We will have three strong teams next year, HWA AG, Mücke Motorsport and ART Grand Prix, who are well placed to contest a successful season in 2015 with the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé.”
The three-point star manufacturer fielded seven C-Coupés DTM for the 2014 DTM season, one less than Audi and BMW. Two cars were managed by Mücke Motorsport, whilst all the remaining five were run by HWA AG. Despite achieving three victories, Mercedes struggled with pace all season, needing the agreement from their fellow competitors to update their cars before the end of the year.
The reduced operation, decided at the last minute before the start of the season, upset their partners in the organisation of the championship, who felt that Mercedes hadn’t kept their commitment to the structure of the DTM. Back at the season finale in Hockenheim, Totto Wolff expressed that, in order to field an eighth car, they would need an additional team to guarantee the necessary resources.
ART Grand Prix and Mercedes go back to 2003, when they started their partnership in the Formula 3 Euro Series, where they jointly won six drivers’ titles. Their programme expanded to GP2 at its inception, crowning Mercedes F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in their first two years in the series.
Frédéric Vasseur, ART Grand Prix Team Principal, was eager about the new challenge now ahead: “To be picked by the most successful brand in the annals of the DTM to become their latest team fills us with enormous pride. We have a steep learning curve ahead of us. Nevertheless, we can’t wait for the season opener at Hockenheim to get under way when we will line up in a DTM Mercedes AMG C Coupé on the DTM starting grid for the first time in team history.”
Mercedes-Benz’ only driver confirmed for the 2015 DTM season is Gary Paffett, who will continue to sport the blue Euronics brand.
