From press release
Vitaly Petrov, Russia’s first Formula 1 driver will also become the country’s first Russian DTM driver as he will enter this year’s championship with Mercedes-Benz.
Petrov will make his race debut at the wheel of a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé at the DTM season opener on 4th May in Hockenheim. On 23th January, the former Formula 1 driver tested a DTM car with Mercedes-Benz for the first time in Portimão, Portugal. Last year, Petrov drove a Mercedes-Benz DTM race taxi at the Moscow City Race around Red Square and at the DTM premiere at the Moscow Raceway.
Petrov finished the 2009 season in second place in the GP2 standings and moved up in the following year to compete in Formula 1, where he contested 57 Grand Prix for Renault, Lotus Renault GP and Caterham. Between 2010 and 2012, Petrov secured a total of 64 championship points and clinched third place on the podium at the 2011 season opener in Melbourne.
Vitaly Petrov: "The DTM is a great racing series and I’m very happy that Mercedes-Benz are giving me the chance to compete against the world’s best touring car drivers in the DTM. I’m aware that I’ve got a steep learning curve ahead of me, but I love a challenge and accept it gladly. At my first test in Portimão, I was able to make my first acquaintance with the team and get a feel for the car, which is very important for me in order to play to my strengths. Motor racing is becoming ever more popular in Russia – last year, the DTM debuted at the Moscow Raceway and Sochi will host Formula 1 for the first time this year. I am certain that we will see many more Russian racing drivers in various series in the future and I hope that I can do my part in the DTM to make our sport more popular in my home country."
Vitaly Petrov, Russia’s first Formula 1 driver will also become the country’s first Russian DTM driver as he will enter this year’s championship with Mercedes-Benz.
Petrov will make his race debut at the wheel of a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé at the DTM season opener on 4th May in Hockenheim. On 23th January, the former Formula 1 driver tested a DTM car with Mercedes-Benz for the first time in Portimão, Portugal. Last year, Petrov drove a Mercedes-Benz DTM race taxi at the Moscow City Race around Red Square and at the DTM premiere at the Moscow Raceway.
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| Vitaly Petrov in Portimao. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz) |
Petrov finished the 2009 season in second place in the GP2 standings and moved up in the following year to compete in Formula 1, where he contested 57 Grand Prix for Renault, Lotus Renault GP and Caterham. Between 2010 and 2012, Petrov secured a total of 64 championship points and clinched third place on the podium at the 2011 season opener in Melbourne.
Vitaly Petrov: "The DTM is a great racing series and I’m very happy that Mercedes-Benz are giving me the chance to compete against the world’s best touring car drivers in the DTM. I’m aware that I’ve got a steep learning curve ahead of me, but I love a challenge and accept it gladly. At my first test in Portimão, I was able to make my first acquaintance with the team and get a feel for the car, which is very important for me in order to play to my strengths. Motor racing is becoming ever more popular in Russia – last year, the DTM debuted at the Moscow Raceway and Sochi will host Formula 1 for the first time this year. I am certain that we will see many more Russian racing drivers in various series in the future and I hope that I can do my part in the DTM to make our sport more popular in my home country."