Mercedes-AMG has the youngest pilots in the current Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) championship, a trend which they apparently want to continue in the upcoming years as well.
The German manufacturer has decided to offer a DTM test to the 2013 FIA Formula 3 champion, 18-year old Raffaele Marciello, from the Prema Powerteam.
Finishing fourth in the second race of the series at the championship finale in Hockenheim on Saturday was enough for the Italian to be crowned the new FIA Formula 3 European Champion, which earned him enough cred to be offered a test with a Mercedes-Benz DTM car from the Stuttgart manufacturer.
Rafaelle Marciello: “What a fantastic day for me. Winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship is not only the biggest success in my career to date but also a great springboard for my future in motorsport. I can hardly believe that I am the latest in a long line of Formula 3 champions such as Lewis Hamilton and Paul Di Resta who have experienced success at this level with a Mercedes-Benz powered car and have then made the step up to the DTM and Formula 1. Obviously, I still have some way to go, so I’m all the more grateful to Mercedes-Benz for this invitation to test a DTM car. I’ll be doing my very best to justify the confidence they have shown in me and to use the opportunity to learn as much as possible for my future development.”
With 12 wins, 18 podiums, twelve positions and seven fastest laps, Marciello was by far the most prolific driver in the 2013 Formula 3. On top of that, the Italian has been racing a car powered by a Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engine, just like the other three occupants of the first four places in the 2013 championship standings.
Finishing fourth in the second race of the series at the championship finale in Hockenheim on Saturday was enough for the Italian to be crowned the new FIA Formula 3 European Champion, which earned him enough cred to be offered a test with a Mercedes-Benz DTM car from the Stuttgart manufacturer.
Rafaelle Marciello: “What a fantastic day for me. Winning the FIA Formula 3 Championship is not only the biggest success in my career to date but also a great springboard for my future in motorsport. I can hardly believe that I am the latest in a long line of Formula 3 champions such as Lewis Hamilton and Paul Di Resta who have experienced success at this level with a Mercedes-Benz powered car and have then made the step up to the DTM and Formula 1. Obviously, I still have some way to go, so I’m all the more grateful to Mercedes-Benz for this invitation to test a DTM car. I’ll be doing my very best to justify the confidence they have shown in me and to use the opportunity to learn as much as possible for my future development.”
With 12 wins, 18 podiums, twelve positions and seven fastest laps, Marciello was by far the most prolific driver in the 2013 Formula 3. On top of that, the Italian has been racing a car powered by a Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engine, just like the other three occupants of the first four places in the 2013 championship standings.