DTM – Esteban Ocon, Mercedes test and reserve driver

As we indicated to you in AUTOhebdo n°2008, French Esteban Ocon had left the Lotus fold to join that of Mercedes which will now support him in his 2015 campaign, where the Norman is entered in the GP3 Series with the French team ART Grand Prix, also lined up in DTM in the Stuttgart clan. The European Champion of F3 2014 notably won its coronation on a car from the Italian Prema Powerteam team, then powered by a star block. This Thursday, the German firm confirmed the integration of the 18-year-old driver into its DTM program, as a test and reserve driver.

“I am really proud to have the support of Mercedes-Benz this season and that the Mercedes AMG DTM team trusts me with the important role of reserve driver, specifies Ocon. I spent the last weekend with the DTM team at Hockenheim and I hope to play a valuable role this year. But my main focus remains the opening GP3 races this weekend. I am proud to race with the support of Mercedes-Benz and in a fantastic team like ART Grand Prix. »

« Esteban is a very talented young man and one of the stars of the future, continues Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. I am happy that we have found a way to continue its relationship with Mercedes-Benz, because we have a strong tradition of supporting the best young drivers. We will be watching Esteban's progress with great interest and hope that this year will be the first of many years of collaboration. »

Esteban Ocon, who owns a contractual option to become a full-fledged Mercedes driver in the future, will return to the circuits this weekend in Barcelona in Catalonia for the opening of the 3 GP2015 Series.