Dubai (UAE), Feb 16 (IANS): After a successful rookie season in Germany's premier racing series, Arjun Maini, will participate this season appear for Mercedes AMG in the DTM series. The Indian driver will also contest the pre-season tests in his official DTM Mercedes AMG car before the season opener in Portimao, Portugal, between April 30 and May 1.
Maini will look to build on his solid foundation as he joins the team that brought 2021 champion, Maximillian Gotz, to the title.
The 2021 season marked a new chapter in Maini's life, as the Omega Seiki Mobility-backed racing driver became the first Indian to compete in the German Championship. Maini demonstrated incredible one-lap speed, finishing in the top-five in several practice and qualifying sessions, and his perseverance was ultimately rewarded with a fine second place in the season-ending race at the Norisring.
The DTM series was revitalised when it switched to the GT3 regulations in 2021, with a slew of supercar manufacturers joining its ranks. This included the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi to name a few.
The new format also ensured that the championship remained one of the most competitive racing classes outside of Formula 1, with current Williams driver Alex Albon competing alongside former stars such as Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock, and Markus Winkelhock in a sprint format that captivated audiences from around the globe.
Despite the influx of new manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz maintained its dominance, with the Stuttgart-based behemoth winning both the Manufactures' and Drivers' titles in 2021. In fact, Mercedes' continued support is a testament to Maini's performances in 2021, with the championship winners offering the Indian the opportunity to compete with one of their flagship teams in the form of HRT.
HRT has a long history in motorsport, having competed and tasted success in a variety of GT championships such as the Asia Le Mans Series, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the GT World Series, and the DTM. Given their wealth of experience, Maini will be hoping to capitalize on their acumen as he seeks to establish himself as a consistent front-runner.
After only a few days of testing in 2021, Maini has had a much more structured off-season, with the Indian currently racing in the Asian Le Mans Series. Maini, who is sharing the car with team owner Herbert Haupt is currently in the UAE competing in all four rounds of the championship and is the team's lead qualifier.
"I'm thrilled to be joining HRT. Having achieved the majority of my goals in 2021, I'm better prepared to face the challenges of the upcoming season, and my goal is to become the first Indian race winner in DTM," Arjun Maini said.
"Given the Haupt Racing Team's pedigree, I believe we can mount a series fight for a top-five finish in the championship, with the objective being to accumulate as many podiums and wins as possible," he added.
"I feel at ease in the car, and after an entire season last year, I genuinely believe I am better equipped to navigate the subtleties involved in driving the Mercedes AMG GT3 racecar to extract the best of its Potential."
"I am convinced that, together with our teams and the high-quality driver line-up, we can deliver success in the new season as well," Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, said.