Photo: DTM

Champion Marco Wittmann looking to start the season on a high

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Marco Wittmann starts his fifth season in the DTM this weekend as title defender and strong man for BMW Motorsport. The German driver holds an impressive record, with eight wins and two titles in just four years, being also the youngest ever DTM twice champion.

The 2017 season, however, will mark a new starting point for the series, with new technical and sporting regulations, a different tyre compound from Hankook and a higher level of competition. Wittmann will continue with Team RMG, partnered by Augusto Farfus and Timo Glock.

Wittmann hopes to start the new season on a high, continuing from his successful title bid at the Baden Wüttemberg track last year: “It is obviously very nice to go into a DTM season as the defending champion for the second time in my career, not with the number 1 this time, but with the number 11. I hope that brings me more luck than last time. My memories of Hockenheim are very good. After all, I won the title in my last race there,” said Wittmann.

2012 champion Bruno Spengler will head the charge of Team RBM, the second BMW squad in the series this year. The Canadian, previously driving for MTEK, will also have new team-mates in the form of Tom Blomqvist and Maxime Martin. Spengler hopes for a new impulse after a grey 2016: “I’m very much looking forward to driving for BMW Team RBM this year. A new team and a new car mean that this season is something of a new start, after last year did not work out so well for me. It is always rather special to go into a season with a new car. I am certainly very motivated to do well,” said Spengler.

New tyres and new pit stop regulations will bring a new focus on strategy. GT and Endurance specialist for BMW Maxime Martin believes the changes will be good for the DTM: “I think the new regulations will make the start of the season extremely interesting. The cars have more power and are fantastic to drive. The new tyres make a huge difference and, in my opinion, will make for a lot of different race strategies,” said Martin.

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt is sharing the excitement of his drivers and looks forward to what 2017 may bring: ”I think we are about to witness one of the most exciting DTM seasons ever. In many regards, the series set the course for a successful future over the winter. As such, we are all really looking forward to the first showdown in Hockenheim. We are well prepared with the new BMW M4 DTM,” said Marquardt.