Nico Müller expects closed-body challenge in DTM

Audi DTM rookie, Nico Müller, believes one of the biggest challenges in his debut DTM season will be adjusting a closed-bodied race-car.

Müller, who spent 2013 in Formula Renault 3.5, started his motorsport career karting in his native Switzerland in 2004, and until 2014, had spent his entire racing career in open wheel cars.

“The strangest thing in the beginning will be the fact that you can’t see the front wheels,” Müller told TouringCarTimes.

Despite having to get used to the closed-body ‘silhouette’ style of a DTM car, Müller believes the technical similarities between a DTM car and an open-wheeler will allow him to be competitive if he focusses on the smaller details in his rookie DTM season.

“The DTM car does look very different from a single seater, but in fact isn’t that much different under the roof; it still creates a lot of downforce and is very agile.

“As the DTM is so competitive, it’ll be about picking up the little secret details and tricks about how to drive these cars as quick as possible.”

Müller will drive alongside Jamie Green at Rosberg Audi this season, and believes the Briton, who will start his 10th DTM season in 2014, will make the ideal team-mate.

“Jamie, with his experience and personality, is the perfect team-mate for me.

“We’ve already had our first team meetings, gotten to know each other a bit better, and discussed initial details.”

Green moved to Audi in 2013 after eight seasons with Mercedes, and finished 11th in his 2013 Audi debut year with the Abt Sportsline team.