Wickens: Results vindicate Mercedes’ young driver choice

Robert Wickens feels Mercedes’ decision to go with young drivers for the 2013 DTM season has been vindicated, due to the performances he and HWA team-mate, Christian Vietoris, have put in this year.

Wickens won his maiden DTM career race at a wet/dry Nurburgring, and also finished on the podium at Brands Hatch, the Lausitzring, and the Norisring, where he took his first pole-position in the DTM.

Vietoris has scored four third places in 2013, and took pole at the Lausitzring.

Wickens currently lies fourth in the championship with 70 points, one behind Vietoris in third.

“I think Mercedes gave us young drivers the freedom to show what we can do, without putting pressure on us,” Wickens told TouringCarTimes ahead of the 2013 season finale at Hockenheim.

“When you see that we’re  fourth and third position in the championship, and HWA is still able to win the teams’ championship, I think our season was quite good and we’ve repaid this trust.”

Wickens added that despite dropping out of title contention after Oschersleben after an accident with BMW’s Bruno Spengler, he is not disappointed as he has not scored in every round this season.

“When I transferred to HWA before the season, I knew that I would have a car with great potential.

“My goal was to score consistently and to be on the podium as often as possible, and since I wasn’t able to score in all of the races, I am not surprised that I am out of the title race.

“Mike Rockenfeller has shown impressive consistency this season, so next year I’m going to try to do the same.”