Since the news broke that Italy’s Edoardo Mortara was announced as making the move from Audi Sport to Mercedes-AMG DTM for 2017, the Italian has been getting used to new surroundings with his new Stuttgart team mates at the annual pre-season training camp at La Manga this week.
After six years with the Ingolstadt marque, the 30-year-old felt it was time to move on to pastures new, being one of the strongest drivers in the current field that will race at eight different tracks over nine race weekends.
“The objective, of course, to get into peak physical condition and the right frame of mind,” said Mortara, who despite winning five races in 2016, would end up just four points behind defending champion Marco Wittmann.
Mortara also felt at ease, as he is starting to get to know his five other team mates, which includes past champions Gary Paffett and Paul Di Resta.
“I’m really enjoying it. I’ve experienced fitness training camps like this in the past. The atmosphere is always good. You train together, play different sports, and there is obviously a competitive element. It’s a cool thing to do in the run-up to the new season.”
Alongside race winners Lucas Auer and Robert Wickens, as well as DTM returnee Maro Engel, who comes back to DTM after leaving in 2011, the breadth and depth of the Stuttgart squad could stand them in good stead for the forthcoming season.
The first test for all three DTM brands gets the 2017 season underway at Portugal’s Portimaõ circuit between the 20th and 24th of February.