Antonio Felix da Costa unfazed by lack of DTM experience
Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team reserve driver and BMW DTM rookie, Antonio Felix da Costa, believes his MTEK BMW team’s relative lack of DTM experience will not be a problem in 2014.
The MTEK team – newly formed formed by Ernst Knoors for 2013 – became BMW’s fourth team last season, and ran then Formula 1 refugee, Timo Glock, and BMW’s 2012 DTM test-driver, Marco Wittmann.
In 2013, Wittmann had his best DTM career result with second at Spielberg and took pole at Zandvoort, whereas Glock won the Hockenheim season ender.
Wittmann and Glock finished eighth and ninth respectively in the drivers’ standings.
Whilst Glock has been kept at MTEK for the 2014 DTM season, Wittmann has moved to the Stefan Reinhold run RMG outfit and da Costa has taken the vacant seat alongside Glock.
“MTEK is an extremely professional team; they did a very good job on their first year in DTM,” da Costa told TouringCarTimes. “They finished with both cars in the top 10 in the championship last season.”
da Costa added Glock’s previous racing experience will also be of benefit in 2014, and both drivers can push each other throughout the season.
“Being team mates with Timo Glock is obviously a good thing, [because] he is a very experienced driver.
“I believe together we can push each other and bring the team and BMW to the places that we’re aiming for.”
Despite his optimism heading into his debut DTM season, da Costa is cautious about his expectations for 2014 and believes the year will be about learning, and proving to BMW their decision to sign him was correct.
“At the moment I am focussing on getting myself totally confident in the car so I can push 100%; that’s something really important in the DTM as one or two tenths can make a big difference in qualifying.
“Obviously I am looking forward to the season to start and my aim is to learn as much as I can and show BMW that the decision to sign me was the correct one.
“Results will come naturally if I do a good job with the team!”
