Schumacher extends DTM deal

Eurosport - Wed, 11 Feb 17:55:00 2009

Ralf Schumacher has extended his contract to continue in the DTM for the coming season, with the former Formula One racer moving up to a 2009-spec Mercedes C-Class for his second year in the series.

2008 Mercedes Schumacher - 0

Having seen his F1 career come to an end, the 33-year-old followed in the footsteps of drivers like Jean Alesi, Mika Hakkinen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen in switching to the touring car series but he endured a difficult year in a 2007-spec car - taking a best finish of seventh and finishing down in 14th place in the standings.

However, with his learning year now behind him, Schumacher will be armed with the new 2009 Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class for the new campaign and he said he was now keen to repay the faith shown in him by the manufacturer for the his second year of competition.

"After only one year with a year old car I now change to the up-to-date Mercedes-Benz C-Class," he said. "It was clear for all of us that 2008 would be a learning year for me, therefore I am satisfied with my achievements.

"The 2009 C-Class is a big chance for me and I want to justify the trust Mercedes-Benz put in me with good results.

"In my opinion, the DTM is the best touring car series in the world. Here we fight hard for every metre and every tenth of a second. As I know from many encounters in the paddock, the fans like this as much as me.

"From my point of view, the spectators don't get more value for their money in any other top racing series."

Mercedes-Benz motorsport chief Norbert Haug welcomed the chance to give Schumacher the latest model of car for the season ahead and said he was confident the driver would show what he is capable of during the year ahead.

"During the last season, Ralf Schumacher demonstrated that he was racing in the DTM with all his heart and that, after his Formula One career, he does not consider touring car racing a challenge which he has yet finished," he said.

"His learning year was good for him and for the DTM. The racing series again showed that even a world class driver with Formula One victories to his credit cannot come straight in and compete against the front runners.

"Nevertheless, Ralf became one of the most popular drivers already in his debut year and was the focus of the interest from the beginning to the end.

"Our latest tests in Mugello showed that Ralf can drive a DTM touring car at top level. After his 'learning year', he will get the chance in our new 2009 C-Class: now everything is up to him and to us and I am sure Ralf will show what he can do."

Crash.Net / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. Spunky: last year he was new to the DTM, he was in an­ old car, & driving on circuits that were new to­ him. 3 reasons he was pish poor. Non of those excuses­ will wear this year. (And also he's a @#$% driver).

    From the real adrian, on Thu 12 Feb 9:00AM
  2. He should switch to goKarts again. Maybe he'll do­ well against all the eight year olds..

    From Asdfaf A, on Thu 12 Feb 7:56AM
  3. Hey, he has been in a good car at Williams, and the­ Toyota showed some real promise his first year there­ but he still did incredibly badly, and it didn't­ stop him making pathetic excuses then. So why should­ now be any different?

    The issue here is, that for this­ man to keep a drive in DTM after his terrible year last­ year, AND get a better car, the once amazing DTM series­ must really be on it's knees. Which is a criminal­ shame.

    From spunky_the_rabbit, on Thu 12 Feb 5:45AM
  4. marnio you really are a pain in the arse you know that.­ I am sick fed up of reading through the comments on­ here to find your garbage of all this @#$% about­ hamiltons son, this and that, glock and all the rest of­ it. So who really cares what happened, the season is­ OVER, its time for a new season, the old season is­ consigned to the history books. Its time to see what­ these new machines can do, stop leaving your useless­ and annoying comments that as far as I can see just­ piss people off, no one wants to hear what you have to­ say. You don't take part in any of the debates now­ do us all a favour and just shut the @#$% UP!!!!!!!

    From Martin N, on Thu 12 Feb 3:29AM
  5. mediocre driver (comparatively) and a poor sports man.­ Will only be remembered as the brother of ...?

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Wed 11 Feb 10:36PM
  6. he rode michaels coat tails.....c+ driver at best

    From ericmueller1971, on Wed 11 Feb 9:38PM
  7. In F1, he seemed to have reasonably good speed with a­ good car but when was asked to become the first driver­ and therefore a development driver for the Toyota F1­ team, the feedback he was giving the engineers drove­ the car and the team backwards. Look at the progress­ the team had after Trulli took over.

    Nevertheless, if­ the new car they give him is comparable to the other­ top runners he should be able to do reasonably well.

    From Christos K, on Wed 11 Feb 9:32PM
  8. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up against­ the top guys in the best cars. He has no excuses to­ hide behind this year. If he doesn't make it they­ should give the car to Susie Stoddard.

    From the real adrian, on Wed 11 Feb 9:14PM
  9. Seriously who cares, he was a lack talent liabilty in­ F1, he may as well be racing go karts of the pedal­ variety.

    From Concerned, on Wed 11 Feb 8:31PM
  10. I guess. We'll just have to wait and see how he­ performs. I suspect that if he doesn't, he'll­ be out of that series also. Then he might try NASCAR.­ All he has to do for that series is go around in a­ circle..............haha

    From mejask, on Wed 11 Feb 8:18PM
  11. mejask............
    Unlike Hakkinen, the German 1 eyed­ Pink Piccolo player has had more rings than a second­ hand jewellers. Admittedly, the rings are usually waist­ height and belonging to Thai or Brazilian (possibly­ Peruvian) rent boys, but that trait runs in his­ family.
    The has-been, that never was, is to motor­ racing, what Jeremy Clarkson is to diplomacy.
    Norbert­ will be rueing the day that he allowed the 3rd rate­ German behind the wheel of the new Merc.

    From sid, on Wed 11 Feb 7:35PM
  12. Of course he did, he needs the job and the money that­ goes with it. He is not as wealthy as his brother as he­ did nothing in F1

    From EleanaV, on Wed 11 Feb 7:33PM
  13. nah just more mediocrity

    From piers, on Wed 11 Feb 7:01PM
  14. Unlike Hakkinen, 2 championship rings, he has none.­ Can't compare them. Also, to say DTM is the best­ touring car series in the world is his opinion. Well I­ will agree it is one of the best, ALMS and GRAND-AM­ here in the US is just as good. That's my­ opinion........

    From mejask, on Wed 11 Feb 7:01PM
  15. Looking forward to seing him again at Brands and hope­ he's a bit faster this year.

    From wizzo, on Wed 11 Feb 5:27PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account