Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg will get his first taste of Germany’s famous DTM touring car series this weekend when he appears at 2011’s opening round at Hockenheim. However, the F1 star will not be racing. Instead, Rosberg will act as a chauffeur to a number of special guests, driving an AMG Mercedes C-Class.
“As a young driver, I grew up around the DTM and I know that it’s a fantastic series with a unique atmosphere and great crowds,” Rosberg told Mercedes GP’s official website. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the Thomas Sabo AMG Mercedes C-Class for my first ever drive in a DTM car.”
There has been plenty of crossover between DTM and Formula One. Force India’s Paul di Resta is the reigning DTM champion, while the 2011 DTM field includes former F1 stars David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher. Rosberg, who has competed in three Grands Prix at Hockenheim, is simply relishing the chance to sample some different machinery.
“As a racing driver, it’s great to be able to drive different cars and broaden my experience - you always learn something,” he added. ”Although it’s a tin-top, the AMG Mercedes C-Class is a serious racing machine. I’ll be treating it with respect on my first drive but I’m also looking forward to seeing what it can do, and to discovering the differences compared to my Formula One car.”
Those differences are likely to be fairly apparent. At 1050kg, the DTM car weighs 60 percent more than its F1 counterpart, and produces around 500 bhp from its 4-litre V8, compared to 700 bhp-plus from the 2.4 litre V8 of Rosberg’s Mercedes GP car. And for even more of a contrast, Rosberg will also be a sampling the 1886 Benz Patentwagen, which boasts less than 1 bhp.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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