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Strong partners: Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing and RAVENOL bring the son of ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher into the 2022 DTM.
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Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing (WWR) is expanding its activities in the 2022 DTM season. In addition to reigning champion Maximilian Götz (Uffenheim) and seven-time DTM race winner Lucas Auer (Kufstein), German young gun David Schumacher will pilot a third Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the German-Texan team.
The DTM entry of the race car is made possible by the partnership with DEKRA and Schaeffler-Paravan as well as the Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH, which under the brand name RAVENOL is one of the premium suppliers of lubricants, greases, care products, coolants and winter chemicals and also works directly with manufacturers in the field of engine and transmission technology. RAVENOL has been closely associated with the Schumacher family for many years and makes a strong commitment to this connection by fully supporting David Schumacher’s DTM debut.
"RAVENOL is in partnership with many DTM teams," says Martin Huning, Motorsport Director RAVENOL. "The extremely high performance density in the DTM is a great incentive for us. The performance of our products is put in focus here. RAVENOL has been cooperating with the most successful German racing driver family for years. So it's logical that David Schumacher is entering his DTM debut season with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in RAVENOL design."
The 20-year-old son of former Formula 1 and DTM driver Ralf Schumacher earned his first honors in formula racing. Last season, the Rhinelander, who was born in Salzburg, Austria, contested the FIA Formula 3 Championship for the Italian Trident team and impressed in this highly competitive junior series with one victory and two podium finishes.
Last fall, David Schumacher took the opportunity to drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the first time in Le Castellet/France and got on very well right away in the unfamiliar GT3 race car. "There are worlds between the two categories," emphasizes Schumacher, who will complete his first test drives for Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing on Wednesday this week in Portimão, Portugal. "Due to the much higher weight, you have to drive the GT3 much more gently than the single seater. At the beginning I was really shocked by the ABS, which I didn't know at all in a race car. Nevertheless, I quickly felt at home in the Mercedes-AMG GT3. It's really fun!"
The rookie is deliberately not setting his expectations too high for his first season in the DTM: "I'm aware that I have to learn a lot in order to succeed in this incredibly high-class racing series. My goal for the first year is to get used to the race car and absorb the many details that are important in the DTM. With Lucas and Maximilian, I have two very experienced teammates to guide me. In the Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing and with the support of my long-standing partner RAVENOL, I certainly have the perfect conditions to work my way up to the top step by step. There's a huge challenge waiting for all of us - but also a lot of fun! Many thanks to my partners DEKRA, RAVENOL and Schaeffler-Paravan for giving me this great opportunity!"
WWR team boss Christian Hohenadel has a high optinion of his newcomer: "Despite his youth, David approaches the matter in a highly professional way. He knows what a big task he is facing and is tackling it with great ambition. We all know how high the stakes are in the DTM, so his first season in this tough competitive environment can't be anything other than an apprenticeship. We will support him to the best of our ability with all our experience. I'm convinced David will give us a lot of joy with his talent, hard work and team spirit! He undoubtedly brings the perfect genes with him ..."
The 2022 DTM includes eight events with 16 rounds in Germany, Portugal, Italy, Austria and Belgium. The season opener will take place on April 30/May 1 at the Algarve Circuit in Portimão. TV station ProSieben will broadcast all DTM races live and also provide extensive pre- and post-event coverage.