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dicembre 05, 2016 - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport

DTM test week in Jerez: Two debuts and a comeback

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Mercedes-AMG DTM Team invites #maximiliangunther and #maroengel to participate in Young Driver Tests at #jerez de la Frontera

  • Maximilian Günther’s reward for finishing as runner-up in the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship: a first outing in a DTM car
  • Maro Engel also takes opportunity to test in a Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
  • Edoardo Mortara in test debut for the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team

As the year draws to a close, the DTM booked the track at #jerez de la Frontera in Spain for a week of testing (29/11/16 - 02/12/16). In addition to preparations for the 2017 DTM season, this year’s Young Driver Tests were also on the agenda, and the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team brought #maximiliangunther and #maroengel along for this part of the programme. Someone else making his debut for the brand with the three-pointed star was new recruit #edoardomortara.

Debut in a new team: Edoardo Mortara

Welcome to the squad, Edoardo! The Italian drove a Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM for the first time this week. Mortara was out on track on all four days at the former Formula 1 circuit near #jerez de la Frontera in southern Spain, setting reference times for the Young Driver Tests.

Tuesday’s drive was his first at the wheel of a DTM car built by Mercedes-AMG. On Thursday, he was also able to gain an initial impression of how the vehicle handles in the wet. The new recruit to the Mercedes-AMG DTM Team arrives with solid experience accumulated over the past six DTM seasons. He has competed in 76 DTM races, registering eight DTM victories for his team and finishing the recent season as a championship runner-up.

Edoardo Mortara: “My first impressions were good. Of course, this is a completely new field of endeavour for me, but still, I was very pleased to be able to post my first few laps in the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM before the end of the year. I would like to thank Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport for that. I immediately felt at home in the team and was aware that they were doing everything they could to make me feel at ease, which was very nice of them. I was able to gain some first impressions despite not being able to post all that many laps over the four days. It’s always good to get in a car and drive. I’m now looking forward to my first test in the new year.”

Debut in a DTM car: Maximilian Günther

Whereas #edoardomortara is an old hand in the DTM, the 2016 FIA Formula 3 runner-up #maximiliangunther was gaining his first experience of driving at DTM level this week. The 19-year-old German completed 131 laps on Tuesday, his first day of testing in the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM, and a further 111 on Wednesday. His fastest lap time was 1:37.131 minutes. However, the focus was not so much on speed as on familiarising himself with the car and learning about working with the team.