Antonio Felix da Costa and Maxime Martin will drive in the DTM next year after BMW announced that they would join their line-up for the 2014 season.
Felix da Costa, 22, was tipped to secure the second Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 drive vacated by Daniel Ricciardo, before the team opted for the Russian teenager Daniil Kvyat.
After finishing third in this season’s Formula Renault 3.5 championship, Felix da Costa attracted the attention of BMW, testing one of their DTM challengers at Jerez earlier this week. The announcement today was the second piece of good news for the Portuguese, after he was confirmed as one of Red Bull’s test and reserve drivers for the 2014 Formula 1 season, alongside stalwart Sebastien Buemi.
Martin, meanwhile, joins the squad having competed in the GT1 World Championship between 2010 and 2012, and graduates to the manufacture having carried out testing duties for them this season.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt was thrilled with the outfit’s newest recruits, with the pair bringing a mixture of raw pace and experience with the machinery.
“After his impressive year as test and development driver, Maxime Martin is now ready to prove himself in the DTM,” said Marquardt.
“He showed in the DTM tests and his successful outings in the BMW Z4 GT3 that he will be a valuable addition to our driver line-up.
“António Félix da Costa really convinced us what a talented driver he is during his tests in the BMW M3 DTM, and through his previous success in single-seater racing. I am looking forward to following his development in the DTM.”
The announcement also means that Andy Priaulx will move to the United Sportscar Championship with BMW having endured two trying seasons in the DTM, while Dirk Werner will also leave the squad.
BMW are yet to confirm whether they will change their line-ups or give Felix da Costa and Martin the respective vacancies at Schnitzer and RMG.