Monaco-based returnee Maro Engel is looking forward to being put through his paces for the forthcoming Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season, after an five-year absence from the series.
He has a very busy schedule ahead, coupled with competing in the FIA Formula E Championship for Venturi, which sees him race against new DTM rival Loïc Duval, who will début for Audi Sport this year. This is along with potential appearances in the talisman GT3 sportscar for the Stuttgart brand.
Engel kicked off his 2017 racing season with two endurance racing classics, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hours, before heading to Mercedes-AMG DTM’s pre-season training camp at the La Manga resort in Spain.
“I joined the guys a bit later because of the race at Bathurst, but it was a great training camp. We trained hard, had a lot of fun together and bonded as a team,” said the 31-year-old, who will be racing in Argentina this coming weekend.
“But before the tests at Vallelunga, I will be a frequent visitor to HWA in Affalterbach, where I’ll be getting myself ready for the season. I just can’t wait for the DTM season to start.”
Having made the commitment to return to the DTM in 2017, he has now opted for the number 63 to adorn his C-Class AMG Coupe. All six cars will be run by Mercedes powerhouse HWA, based in Affalterbach.
Sportcar racing has been a staple of Engel’s career after his first foray into the DTM, which saw him take part in 42 races over four seasons. He also triumphed at last year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours and becoming the inaugural FIA GT World Cup champion in Macau in 2015.
“I’m especially looking forward to the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring where we’ll be defending the title we won last year,” he said, stating that this category is one that he holds in high esteem.
“The Nordschleife is an amazing race track that never fails to pose a new challenge; it’s going to be very special having the number 1 on our car. If time permits, I’ll try to compete in some other GT races. In particular, the FIA GT World Cup in Macau – that would be another highlight for me. Let’s see what happens during the year…”
Engel will also be taking on another role for 2017, as he has been appointed as the latest works driver to become a Mercedes-AMG ambassador.
“It is an honour for me, and I am delighted to be even more closely associated with the brand name. It has always been the marque with which I identify one hundred percent. For me, Mercedes-AMG cars are an absolute dream, not only on the racetrack but also on the open road. There are many exciting projects ahead; I will continue to work for the AMG Driving Academy, and I’m looking forward to carrying out my responsibilities as a representative and ambassador of the Mercedes-AMG brand at trade fairs and other events.”
The first test ahead of the 2017 DTM season will take place at Portugal’s Portimaõ circuit between the 20th and 23rd of February. the following two tests at both Vallelunga and Hockenheim will see the teams put all efforts into their respective campaigns.
Mercedes-AMG DTM 2017 driver line-up (Run by HWA)
#2 – Gary Paffett (Great Britain)
#3 – Paul Di Resta (Scotland)
#6 – Robert Wickens (Canada)
#22 – Lucas Auer (Austria)
#48 – Edoardo Mortara (Italy)
#63 – Maro Engel (Germany)