Photo: Daimler Global Press

Edoardo Mortara completes first test with Mercedes

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Mercedes-AMG completed a successful four-day test at Jerez, with Edoardo Mortara having his first run with the Stuttgart-based outfit as part of the DTM young driver test.

The championship runner-up was behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG C63 DTM on each day, getting to know both the team and the car, after having raced for Audi for his career to-date in the DTM.

Mortara had a positive impression of the car after his time in Jerez.

“My first impressions were good,” he said. “Of course, this is a completely new field of endeavour for me, but still, I was very pleased to be able to post my first few laps in the Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM before the end of the year. I immediately felt at home in the team and was aware that they were doing everything they could to make me feel at ease. I was able to gain some first impressions despite not being able to post all that many laps over the four days.”

Official drivers Gary Paffett and Robert Wickens were also at Jerez, serving as a reference for the young drivers appointed by the manufacturer, and also were testing the Class One technical regulations to be introduced next season. The Briton ran all three days, and was the fastest Mercedes on Tuesday, with the Canadian working on long stints and race simulations.

Formula 3 driver Maximilian Günther and Mercedes GT driver Maro Engel were the young hopefuls invited by the Stuttgart squad to Jerez, with two days of running time each.

Günther focussed his work in familiarising himself with the car and working with the team, completing over a hundred laps each day.

“I’ve just had two really cool days in this mega car,” said the 19-year-old. “The DTM car obviously has much more power than a Formula 3 car, and it was the first time I’ve driven a racing car with a roof over my head. These were all new impressions for me, but I quickly got used to it. The aerodynamics were particularly impressive on the fast corners.”

Maro Engel already had racing experience in the DTM with Mercedes, with 42 races contested between 2008 and 2011. The twice FIA GT World Cup and Nürburgring 24 Hours winner was grateful for the opportunity to drive a DTM car again.

“It was amazing fun to drive the Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM again and to work with the team,” he said. “Driving so many kilometres was just great, and I’m happy with the programme I completed.”