DTM: Mercedes tests young people

In addition to the “house” drivers Jamie Green, Gary Paffett, Susie Stoddart and Bruno Spengler, the Portuguese circuit of Estoril welcomed, from last Friday, aspiring drivers to a seat within the team Mercedes en DTM. Even if they did not drive, the Italian Giorgio Pantano and the Spaniard Roberto Merhi, whose career the Stuttgart manufacturer follows closely, were present with an interested eye.

Of the five young people in action, one of them was not really taking an assessment test. Valtteri Bottas, double winner of the Zandvoort Masters F3, was in fact rewarded for his 2010 ranking in the F3 Euro Series championship, third, the best in the clan of Mercedes engine processors.

Luciano Bacheta, as his name does not indicate, is originally from Great Britain and is a friend of the little brother of Lewis Hamilton. Member of the British Racing & Sports Cars Club, this 20-year-old cut his teeth in Formula Palmer Audi then in Eurocup FR 2.0 with Hitech Junior Team, Epsilon Sport then Interwetten Junior Team, finishing vice-champion in 2010. Although present at the Portugal, it seems to be moving towards FR 3.5.

For Alberto Valerio and Renger Van der Zande, participation in the German Touring Championship would be an excellent alternative to the car. The first, a 25-year-old Spaniard, had competed in the GP2 Series and Asia Series since 2008, with Durango, Trident, Piquet, Comtec and Coloni, without much success. As for the second, a 24-year-old Dutchman, he gained his experience in Formula 3 (3rd in the British championship in 2009) then in GP3.

Finally, Tomas Kostka, 26, already drove in DTM in 2009, but in an Audi from the Kolles team. Last year, he dedicated himself to the Tourism Championship of his country, the Czech Republic, winning the title with a? Mercedes DTM Class C. He also started several rallies with a Skoda Fabia, including the Barum in IRC.