Grand finale also a home race: The Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team travels to Hockenheim for the closing fixture of the 2017 DTM
- Lucas Auer opened the 2017 DTM season with a win in the first race of the season at Hockenheim – Gary Paffett finished runner-up the following day
- Mercedes-AMG Motorsport is the most successful manufacturer at Hockenheim with a tally of 34 victories since 1988
- Lucas Auer: “I’m really looking forward to the final race and will try to get 100% out of my available package”
- Ulrich Fritz: “I think the fans have witnessed one of the most exciting and spectacular DTM seasons ever staged”
Comments on the DTM races at Hockenheim
Lucas Auer (23, Austria):
- Car number: 22
- Team: BWT Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
- Car: BWT Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“I’m really looking forward to the final race and will try to get 100% out of my available package. The race weekend will definitely be one of the highlights on the calendar. There are always a lot of spectators there, and I feel sure that it’s going to be an action-packed occasion, because the championship is going to be decided one way or another.”
Robert Wickens (28, Canada):
- Car number: 6
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM Mercedes me
“It’s been a pretty up-and-down season, to say the least. I would have hoped for some slightly better results midway through, but even so, I feel like the performance from myself and the team has been at an amazing level from start to finish. Unfortunately, we missed out on opportunities because of no fault of our own or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But we’ve picked up some momentum lately, scoring points and three Top Five finishes in the last four races. We know from the first race weekend of the season that we are very strong at Hockenheim, and everyone is definitely very motivated to end the season on a high note.”& nbsp;
Paul Di Resta (31, Scotland):
- Car number: 3
- Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“It’s hard to believe that the last weekend has come around already. We started the year with such a great car at Hockenheim. Hopefully, we can go out on a good result. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been an up-and-down year, but it would be nice to get at least a podium or even a win to end the season. That would be a big one.”
Gary Paffett (36, England):
- Car number: 2
- Team: Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Mercedes me
- Car: Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM Mercedes me
“Obviously, I’m not in a position to fight for the championship, but I will certainly be going there looking to end the season with a good result. To score some decent points, get on the podium and maybe even a race win to finish the season – that’s certainly the aim. I think we have a competitive car. Spielberg was a tough weekend, and I don’t think the circuit suited our car, but Hockenheim will be a lot better. We had a very good start to the year there, so now I’m looking to end the season on a high.”& nbsp;
Maro Engel (32, Germany):
- Car number: 63
- Team: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
- Car: SILBERPFEIL Energy Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“I’m really looking forward to Hockenheim. The grand finale to the season is a massive occasion every year. At the same time, it is the home race for our team, in which we traditionally have a very strong record. Consequently, we’ll be aiming to deliver two really strong performances for our fans and, if possible, win both races. Perhaps we – and Lucas in particular – can liven up the championship again. Personally, I would also like to go back on the attack and see if I can make another podium appearance.”
Edoardo Mortara (30, Italy):
- Car number: 48
- Team: BWT Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
- Car: BWT Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM
“It’s been a tough season for me so far, and I don’t really know what to expect from the season finale in Hockenheim. I’ve experienced some ups and downs this year. That is why it is important for me to round off the season with two decent results. We will try to score as many points as possible. Hopefully, we will be as competitive as we were in the season opener.”
Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM:
“I think the fans have witnessed one of the most exciting and spectacular DTM seasons ever staged. Mattias pulled out a big lead at Spielberg, of course, but we now go to Hockenheim with six drivers having a mathematical chance of taking the title. That’s one in three of the field. It’s just an incredible situation! Realistically, though, we have only an outside chance with Lucas, but that’s no reason for us to give up. Hockenheim is a track that actually suits us far better than Spielberg. Consequently, we’re hoping that the races go differently for us than they did in Austria. We need to get the maximum out of our package and exploit every opportunity that comes our way. Then, with a bit of luck, anything is possible.”
Source : Mercedes.com
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