Photo: BMW Press Club

BMW to test seven rookies in Jerez

For the first time since the season finale in Hockenheim, the DTM cars will take it to the track. The appointment will be the first post season tests, running in the southern Spanish circuit in Jerez, from Tuesday to Thursday. BMW will have a busy time, with no less than 13 drivers at the wheel.

The Bavarian manufacturer dominated the season, thanks to the superb show of drivers’ and teams’ champions Marco Wittmann and BMW Team RMG. However, Audi produced an incredible effort in the final part of the championship, snitching the manufacturers’ title at the last round in Hockenheim.

BMW’s regular DTM drivers Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin, Bruno Spengler, Antonio Felix Da Costa and Timo Glock will be on duty at the Spanish track.

Marco Wittmann will also be present, although the 2014 champion is due to enjoy his F1 test with Toro Rosso at Imola on Thursday, a prize from BMW for his efforts this season. This will be Wittmann’s first run on a single seater since his F3 days, back in 2011.

As it’s the custom in these tests, BMW will also evaluate seven rookies, coming from various backgrounds. GP3 champion Alex Lynn and fellow contestant Richie Stanaway will be joined by European F3 runner-up Tom Blomqvist, Indy Lights runner-up Jack Harvey, British driver Sam Bird, 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 champion Robin Frijns, as well as BMW factory sportscar driver Lucas Luhr.

Noticeable are the absences of Martin Tomczyk and Joey Hand, who have come under fire in the rumour mill after poor performances in recent seasons.

So far, Marco Wittmann is the only confirmed driver to continue driving for BMW in the DTM for the 2015 season.