Mercedes considering nine cars for 2008
According to the German motorsport magazine Motorsport Aktuell, Mercedes are considering to enter the 2008 DTM season with nine cars instead of ten. The Stuttgart based team is considering not to enter 2 two-year-old cars to reduce the costs, meaning there would be four new Mercedes C-Class’ and five one year old Mercedes C-Class’ at the start.
“It’s cheaper and easier to not run the two year old cars. For instance, we wouldn’t have to bring that many spareparts”, Norbert Haug commented. The change of model between 2006 and 2007 means much more spare parts to bring to the races. “We need to save money”, Haug says. “Ofcourse everybody wants more cars on the grid, but I think it’s most important that there are 18 good cars on the grid. It won’t damage the DTM.”
Three of the four new Mercedes C-Class’ are likely to go to Bernd Schneider, Bruno Spengler and Jamie Green. Paul di Resta is the main candidate in the running for the fourth and last new Mercedes. That would leave Gary Paffett, Mathias Lauda and Susie Stodart with a 2007 car. If Ralf Schumacher decides to join DTM, he would get a 2007 car as well. Alexandros Margaritis and Daniel la Rosa are not going to drive with Mercedes next year.
Audi wants to wait to see how the basic weights of the cars will be devided before they make a decision if they are going to run 2006 cars. The DTM organisations has promised their partners there will be at least 18 cars on the grid in 2008.
