The renowned German manufacturer has opted to maintain continuity by retaining all three of its seasoned professional drivers in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) for the upcoming year.
Lucas Auer, a nine-time race victor, alongside Nürburgring and Macau GT champion Maro Engel and former GT World Challenge titleholder Luca Stolz, will continue to represent Mercedes-Benz in this competitive category.
Joining this formidable trio in Mercedes’ 2024 DTM lineup is 26-year-old Arjun Maini, who recently earned a promotion to ‘Performance’ driver status within the marque’s factory GT racing team.
Unfortunately, David Schumacher and Jusuf Owega have been omitted from Mercedes’ DTM program. However, both are expected to remain active in other championships and events under the Stuttgart brand’s banner.
Schumacher, the son of former Formula 1 and DTM luminary Ralf Schumacher, faced speculation regarding his DTM future after two lackluster seasons, which yielded only one top-10 finish. Additionally, his on-track conduct received criticism from fellow competitors.
Owega, on the other hand, had a reasonably successful debut season, earning points in half of the races and securing 22nd place in the championship standings.
Despite their departure, there isn’t space for a fifth driver at Mercedes due to the exit of the Landgraf team, which entered the DTM after clinching the GT Masters title in 2022 but withdrew after just one season.
Consequently, Mercedes’ DTM presence is now represented solely by the HRT and Winward teams. Engel will transition to Winward, filling the vacancy left by Schumacher’s departure.
He will partner with Auer, who has become a cornerstone at Winward after finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 title race. Meanwhile, Stolz and Maini will continue under the stewardship of Hubert Haupt’s squad.
Mercedes’ footprint in the DTM has notably diminished compared to previous years, with just four drivers and two teams for the 2024 season. This reduction follows budgetary constraints after the Stuttgart brand re-entered the championship in 2021 under GT3 regulations, initially supporting seven cars, the most of any manufacturer.
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, emphasized the brand’s commitment to competitiveness despite the downsizing, acknowledging the potential of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and expressing confidence in the chosen lineup for the forthcoming season.
Stolz emerged as Mercedes’ highest-placed driver in the 2023 DTM standings, securing a sixth position with a solitary triumph at the Sachsenring circuit.
