With all six cars for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM set to be run by Affalterbach-based powerhouse HWA, the Stuttgart brand has now decided on its team and driver choices for the forthcoming 2017 campaign.
2005 champion Gary Paffett will now partner Canada’s Robert Wickens at Team Mercedes me, whilst returnee Maro Engel will work alongside Paul di Resta under the SILBERPFEIL Energy banner, with the Austrian drinks producer having been team partners since 2015.
BWT, whose pink colour schemes were ran by both Lucas Auer and Christian Vietoris, will house the final pairing of both Auer and Mercedes newcomer, Edoardo Mortara.
Auer became the first Austrian winner in DTM history last June, having piloted his BWT-liveried C63 AMG Coupe to success at the Lausitzring.
“You always need quite a sensitive touch when it comes to buddying up team members. Whilst we work together as a team, the relationship with one’s immediate team-mate is usually a bit more intense,” explained Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM.
“Fortunately, we have a well adjusted squad of drivers, whose team spirit and esprit de corps have come on in leaps and bounds over the last few years. At any rate, we’ve got three strong teams to get the season under way, all of whom are capable of winning the team title.”
The final pre-season test gets underway at Hockenheim on April 3rd.