2017.10.24

Demonstration runs by Audi, BMW and Mercedes DTM cars to be held at SUPER GT series finale at Motegi!

It has been announced that three Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) cars from Germany will make a demonstration run appearance at the MOTEGI GT GRAND FINAL, last round of the 2017 AUTOBACS SUPER GT series to be held at Twin Ring Motegi on November 11 and 12. The demonstration runs are scheduled to take place on both the 11th (Sat./Qualifying Day) and the 12th (Sun. / Race Day).

Prior to this, on October 14 and 15, a historical visit to the final round of the 2017 DTM series at Hockenheim, Germany by two SUPER GT GT500 cars for demonstration runs together with DTM cars for the first time made big news, not only in Japan and Germany but around the world. This collaboration was resulted from the fact that the GT500 class SUPER GT cars and the DTM cars are now built according to a unified technical regulation designated “Class One” (although presently the Japanese and German cars still use different engines).

Photos courtesy of DTM
　

 

The three DTM cars that will appear at the SUPER GT series finale at Motegi are the Audi RS5 DTM, the BMW M4 DTM and the Mercedes AMG C 63 DTM. There drivers will be Loic Duval in the Audi, Augusto Farfus in the BMW and Maro Engel in the Mercedes. Duval is the 2010 GT500 class champion, having competed that year in the Honda HSV-010GT with teammate Takashi Kogure. Farfus is also well known to Japanese fans, having competed in the Suzuka 1000km (Round 6 of the 2017 SUPER GT series) as the third driver for the No. 7 Studie BMW M6 team.

 

About last month’s appearance by the GT500 cars at the DTM series finale at Hockenheim, Duval commented, “It was great that SUPER GT was on site at Hockenheim. The cars are just as spectacular as the DTM vehicles and seeing them all the five [cars from both series] together was just amazing.” He then went on to show his pride at being selected for this important role as a representative of the DTM drivers for the demo runs by saying, “I, being a former SUPER GT Champion, am absolutely delighted with returning to Japan with my DTM car.”

As for Farfus, he commented, “For me, having been offered the chance of presenting the BMW M4 DTM in front of the Japanese motor-racing enthusiasts represents a real honor. I contested the Suzuka 1000-Kilometre Race this year and the atmosphere was just fantastic.” He then added, “I’m convinced that the DTM vehicles will find a ready welcome, there.”

For Engel, in contrast, it will be his first visit to Japan. He expressed his anticipation by saying, “It will be my first trip to Japan. Therefore, I am curious about the race and – of course – about the response of the Japanese fans to our Mercedes-AMG DTM.” Engel celebrated his first win in the DTM series this year, in the second race of the Moscow round, which makes him another outstanding representative of DTM.

 

 

Cars to participate in the DTM demo runs at the Final Round at Motegi

 

No.77 Audi Sport Team Phoenix (Audi RS5 DTM)
Driver : Loic Duval

   

 

 

No.31 BMW Team RBM (Tom Blomqvist’s BMW M4 DTM)
Driver : Augusto Farfus

   

 

 

No.63 Mercedes-AMG DTM Team HWA (Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM)
Driver : Maro Engel

   

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