DTM travels to Japan to showcase itself for the Japanese motor-racing enthusiasts in the SUPER GT season finale at Motegi. Following the much noticed SUPER GT appearance in the support programme of the DTM season finale at Hockenheim, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-AMG respond with a return visit in the land of the rising sun. During the SUPER GT season finale (11th to 12th November, 2017), all the three German manufacturers will entertain the crowds with demonstration laps with their 2017 DTM vehicles. The three DTM racers will be driven in Japan Loïc Duval, Augusto Farfus and Maro Engel and will go out on the track together with the Super GT racers of Honda, Lexus and Nissan Nismo. The visit at Motegi underlines the intensified cooperation of DTM’s umbrella organisation ITR and GTA, the SUPER GT umbrella association. The declared goal of the cooperation: joint technical regulations from 2019 what would allow for appearances of cars of the one series in the other.
For the DTM drivers Duval and Farfus Japan and SUPER GT don’t represent virgin soil. They both already competed in the series. Duval contested a total of 57 SUPER GT races from 2006 to 2012, celebrated five race wins and secured six poles. And in 2010, the Frenchman and his team-mate Takashi Kogure won the title for Team Weider Honda Racing. « It was great that SUPER GT was on site at Hockenheim, » the Frenchman said regarding the DTM season finale at Hockenheim. « The cars are just as spectacular as the DTM vehicles and seeing them all the five together was just amazing. So it will come as no surprise that I, being a former SUPER GT Champion, am absolutely delighted with returning to Japan with my DTM car. » During the DTM appearance at Motegi, Duval will showcase his 2017er Castrol EDGE Audi RS 5 DTM for the Japanese crowds. .
Farfus raced twice in the SUPER GT, both times in the GT300 category. « For me, having been offered the chance of presenting the BMW M4 DTM in front of the Japanese motor-racing enthusiasts represents a real honour. I contested the Suzuka 1000-Kilometre Race this year and the atmosphere was just fantastic, » says the Brazilian who finished third in the 2014 edition of the event. « I’m convinced that the DTM vehicles will find a ready welcome, there. » Farfus will drive Tom Blomqvist’s BMW M4 DTM, in Japan.
Meanwhile not only SUPER GT will represent a new experience for Maro Engel. « 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, » says Engel. The DTM returnee who celebrated his first win in the series, this year, will drive the demonstration laps with the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM SILBERPFEIL Energy he also raced in the 2017 DTM season.
Press release DTM
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