WWR goes into the 2023 DTM highly motivated
With two Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Lucas Auer and David Schumacher, WINWARD Racing wants to cause a stir again in the coming DTM season.
After a strong 2022 season, Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD is preparing for the 2023 DTM with high motivation and meticulous care. The German-Texan team, which runs its European programme from its base in Altendiez, will field two Mercedes-AMG GT3 in Germany’s top motorsport series. The team is also relying on continuity with its drivers: Lucas Auer (28, Kufstein) and David Schumacher (21, Salzburg) already raced for WWR last year and are eager to go one better this season.
DTM runner-up Auer in particular, whose recovery after his crash in practice for the Daytona 24 Hours at the end of January is going to plan, is aiming for the big coup after a great 2022 season with two wins and four podiums: “We were strong last year and simply want to carry on where we left off. Going into our third season together with an almost unchanged team is a big advantage. I’m convinced that we will play an important role in the DTM in 2023 too.”
Team-mate Schumacher wants to continue his upward trend in his second DTM season and establish himself in the top 10: “Last year I had to realise that switching from single-seaters to GT cars was even harder than I had first imagined. That applies both to the driving style and to behaviour in wheel-to-wheel battles during the race. I had to pay my dues now and then, but I also learned a lot. I want to build on that now and contribute to the success of the whole team.”
WWR team principal Christian Hohenadel is aware of the difficulty of the tasks ahead: “Anyone who has followed the DTM in recent years knows how hard it is to succeed in this championship. Only those who prepare perfectly down to the last detail and always get the maximum out of their package have a chance of running at the front. We have proved that we have what it takes. So that must be our goal and standard in the 2023 season too. We are a well-drilled team, the drivers are among the best in their field, and the all-round qualities of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 are well known – basically all the ingredients for success are there. But it’s also clear that it won’t work without a bit of luck here and there.”
The 2023 DTM season consists of eight events, six of them held at all the permanent German circuits and the legendary Norisring in Nuremberg. They are joined by two races abroad on the Grand Prix circuits of Zandvoort (Netherlands) and Spielberg (Austria). On Saturday and Sunday of each event there is a sprint race over one hour plus one lap, including a mandatory pit stop with tyre change. All races can still be watched on free-to-air TV on ProSieben. Advance ticket sales for the 2023 DTM, which starts at Oschersleben on the last weekend of May, begin on 1 March.
2023 DTM dates
27/28 May Oschersleben
24/25 June Zandvoort/NL
8/9 July Norisring
5/6 August Nürburgring
19/20 August Lausitzring
9/10 September Sachsenring
23/24 September Red Bull Ring/A
21/22 October Hockenheim