The winter tests are over: The Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team
cracks the 7,000km mark as testing comes to an end at Hockenheim
- Four days of testing at Hockenheim (9th - 12th April)
- All six Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM drivers in action
- Pascal Wehrlein back in a DTM car for the first time since 2015; Daniel Juncadella fit again after his recent injury
- Gary Paffett: “Of course, it’s nice to see your own name at the top of the timesheets, but that’s not very important in test sessions”
- Ulrich Fritz: “We put in 1,606 laps and covered 7,346 kilometres on the four test days this week, which was very important, as every kilometre is enormously valuable for us because of the small number of test days this year”
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport are about to write
the final chapter in their 30-year DTM history. Shortly before the
start of their anniversary season, the team were at Hockenheim,
attending a dress rehearsal for the season opener which will be hosted
by the same venue.
Over the course of the four days of testing, the six
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM drivers completed 1,606 laps – equivalent
to a distance of 7,346 kilometres on the 4.574 km Hockenheimring –
more than either of the other two manufacturers.
“I’m pretty
happy after my two days of testing,” said team captain Gary Paffett,
who set the fastest time on the second day. “ The weather has been good
and we had lots of dry running. The cars run very well; we have done
lots of testing and lots of mileage. I’m really pleased with that. As
for the pace, it’s impossible to say really. I think it means nothing
at all so far, but it’s always nice to see your name at the top of the
time sheets. That was good, but it means very little at the moment.
What is important is that we are working through the changes to the car
and we are finding a better balance and making some good progress on
short runs and long runs. I think we have a really good understanding
of the car now, and we are well prepared for the first race in
Hockenheim.”
The test days were particularly important for
Daniel Juncadella. The Spaniard had broken his collarbone just over a
week before in a cycling accident, but he was determined to return to
the cockpit at Hockenheim. “It was great to be back in the car this
week,” said Daniel Juncadella after immediately putting in 121 laps.
“All in all, it was very positive. I completed my programme and did
plenty of laps without experiencing pain. It’s great to feel so fit
again just ten days after my injury. This is the most important thing
for me to take away from the tests. Now I just can’t wait for the
opening race weekend.”
The same goes for the 2015 DTM champion,
whose turn it was to drive on Day 1 - the first time he had got behind
the wheel of a DTM car since his championship-winning season. “I was
delighted to be back in the car again,” said Pascal Wehrlein. “It was
high time after the long winter break. The process of adapting from
Formula 1 to the DTM went quite fast. Lap times in the winter tests are
always hard to judge, but I definitely got a positive feeling. We
learned a lot, and it’s been a good two and a half days for me.
Hockenheim cannot come too soon.”
After the long winter break,
Edoardo Mortara was also delighted to be back on track in his
Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM. “I covered a lot of kilometres and managed to do
plenty of testing,” he said. “I had my turn at the beginning of the
week, so we were doing a lot of work on the setup of the car. After
that, we also tested with qualifying and actual race situations in
mind. I’m now hoping that we will be competitive at the start of the
season.”
Paul Di Resta obviously enjoyed his first laps of the
new year: “ I got a feeling of how the new car works. As a team, we
got through most of our priorities, and the majority of our test
programme is ultimately all about putting the time until the first race
to a good use. Credit to the team – it’s been a long four days for
them. I’m looking forward to getting back into action, turning on the
power, getting aggressive and going out and racing these cars.
“This
is precisely what racing drivers such as Paul and Lucas Auer love
about their job. “The two days of testing were very productive,” added
Lucas. “We tested a lot of components, and I really got back into my
rhythm. After the test drives, we know the direction we need to go in.
I’m now curious to see who has the upper hand in the first race at
Hockenheim.”
Of course, the winter test drives do not
conclusively answer the big question of how the teams measure up to
each other. “We have an exhausting but successful final week of testing
behind us in the run‑up to the season opener at the same venue here in
Hockenheim,” said Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Ulrich Fritz.
“We put in 1,606 laps and covered 7,346 kilometres on the four test
days this week, which was very important, as every kilometre is
enormously valuable for us because of the small number of test days
this year. The whole team were highly dedicated and did a good job.
Also, it was nice to see all our drivers in action again after the long
winter break. We’ll find out just how well we’ve done our homework
when the season begins in early May.”
The Mercedes-AMG
Motorsport DTM Team now returns to the factory in Affalterbach, where
the engineers will continue with final preparations for the season
opener on the weekend of 4th - 6th May at Hockenheimring.
They will be
evaluating the data from the winter test drives and applying the final
touches to the cars for the upcoming campaign. The drivers and crew
will be working through the last part of their physical fitness
programme over the coming weeks. This will include sessions in the gym
and pit stop practice. The results of the tough pre-season will become
apparent on 5th May when Mercedes-AMG Motorsport embarks on its
anniversary season at Hockenheim.
| Driver | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu |
| Lucas Auer | | | 1:32.912 138 laps | 1:32.789 147 laps |
| Paul Di Resta | 1:33.903 67 laps | | 1:33.487 80 laps | 1:33.023 145 laps |
| Daniel Juncadella | | 1:32.870 121 laps | 1:32.361 55 laps | |
| Gary Paffett | 1:33.591 128 laps | 1:32.759 141 laps | | |
| Edoardo Mortara | 1:33.496 113 laps | 1:33.095 152 laps | | |
| Pascal Wehrlein | 1:33.524 54 laps | | 1:32.169 133 laps | 1:33.059 132 laps |
Source: Daimler |
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