Photo: Super GT

Heikki Kovalainen and Ronnie Quintarelli to demonstrate Super GT cars at DTM finale

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Former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen and GT driver Ronnie Quintarelli will drive the Lexus LC500 and the Nissan GT-R respectively for demonstration laps at this weekend’s DTM season finale at Hockenheim.

The two Super GT cars, which already sport the two-litre, four-cylinder, 620bhp turbo engine defined in the Class One regulations, will run for a 30-minute test on Friday afternoon, and then complete 15 minutes of race-pace simulations on Saturday and Sunday.

35-year-old Kovalainen contested 111 Formula 1 Grands Prix, winning at the Hungaroring in 2008. The Finn has been racing in the Super GT series since 2015.

“This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the attractiveness of the Super GT cars,” said Kovalainen. “For me it’s my first return to a European circuit since I retired from F1 for good. DTM is really famous in Japan and has a lot in common with our series. This will be an exciting event.”

38-year-old Quintarelli became Japanese Formula 3 champion in 2004 and, after four seasons in Formula Nippon, has been racing in Super GT since 2009 for Nissan.

“It’s an honour for me to have the chance of presenting the Nissan at Hockenheim. Super GT is a wonderful series. Now we finally have the opportunity to also showcase our cars in Europe,” said the Italian.

The DTM and Super GT are expected to both fully adopt Class One regulations from 2019.