Joel Eriksson eyes DTM debut with BMW in 2018
BMW Motorsport Junior driver Joel Eriksson has set the DTM as a target for his future. The Swede’s dream could become true next season with help from the Bavarian manufacturer.
The 19-year old became part of BMW Motorsport’s Junior Programme last year during his first season racing in the European Formula 3 championship. Eriksson scored his maiden win at Spa, finishing as runner-up in 2017.
Eriksson has been on duty as race car taxi driver for BMW at DTM events, being the driver chosen to showcase the M4 DTM in the exhibition run, held jointly with the Super GT cars in the season finale at Hockenheim. As a BMW Junior driver, Eriksson also took part in the DTM Young Driver tests held at the end of the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Jerez and Lausitzring respectively.
“That was without doubt one of the biggest moments in my career so far,” said Eriksson. “The DTM is one of my goals. As such, I would like to thank BMW Motorsport for giving me this opportunity. The test was really very good and I enjoyed every second in the car. The team and I performed well together.”
BMW Motorsport has competed with the same driver line-up since Tom Blomqvist made his series’ debut back in 2015, only tweaked for the 2017 season as the manufacturers downsized from eight to six cars, with Martin Tomczyk and António Félix Da Costa moving onto new assignments with the Bavarian manufacturer.
