Schumacher joins bulging DTM

Mick Schumacher’s cousin David is jumping off the single-seater ladder into the DTM this season, and will follow in the footsteps of his father Ralf by driving for Mercedes.

Schumacher (left), whose uncle Michael also contested a few DTM races in 1990-91 as a Mercedes junior, took part in the marque’s young-driver test at Paul Ricard last November. He will now partner reigning champion Maximilian Gotz and established DTM racer Lucas Auer at the Winward Racing squad of AMG GT3S.

The naming of Schumacher as part of an eight-car line-up for Mercedes in the DTM is just the latest in an explosion of interest for the series, which is now entering its second season under GT3 regulations. To date, 27 drivers have been named, with not all seats yet assigned. One of these could go to Porsche factory star Laurens Vanthoor, who has been tipped for a berth at the SSR Performance squad as it enters the series.

In recent days, two-time DTM runnerup Nico Muller has been confirmed as remaining with Team Rosberg to once again spearhead its two-car team of Audis. BMW has announced Schubert Motorsport joining the series, with Philipp Eng returning to the DTM to partner Sheldon van der Linde. And Lamborghini star Mirko Bortolotti has been named in the GRT Grasser squad’s four-car line-up of Huracan GT3 Evos.