DTM driver Patric Niederhauser has found a new manufacturer following the dissolution of the Audi squad: Will he now return to his former successful team?
Long-time Audi driver Patric Niederhauser is switching to Porsche and is now a contract driver for the traditional manufacturer. The fast Swiss driver, who became part of the Audi driver squad after winning the ADAC GT Masters title in 2019, has officially announced the move. “It’s a childhood dream come true for me to now be driving for such a legendary brand,”
The 32-year-old, who competed for Audi Team Attempto in the DTM in 2023 and had a disappointing season, had to look for a new manufacturer after the Audi squad was disbanded.
“If I say it was a tough year, that would be an understatement,” he says, looking back on his first DTM season. “We’ve had a few good moments here, but for the most part this season has been a bit of a disappointment. “
Niederhauser’s “character-building year” in the DTM
And this despite knowing “that the challenge in such a top-class series is great and that everything has to be 110 percent right to be successful,” says Niederhauser, who speaks of a “character-building year”.
The figures also show this: Niederhauser, who was one of Audi’s top drivers, finished in the top 10 three times in 16 races. An eighth place in Zandvoort was his highlight, and he finished 23rd in the championship with 23 points – which at least put him ahead of team-mate Mattia Drudi. One possible reason why expectations were not met: no team tested as little as Attempto
Is Niederhauser returning to his successful Rutronik team?
But what’s next for the man from Münsingen? According to Niederhauser, he would like to announce this “soon”. It would come as no great surprise if he were to join his former team, Rutronik Racing, in 2024. The team, with whom he won the ADAC GT Masters title in 2019 together with Kelvin van der Linde and for whom he continued to drive, switched from Audi to Porsche in 2023.
In addition, the GT3 professional completed the ninth race of the Nürburgring endurance series NLS for the Rutronik squad together with team partner Julien Andlauer in October 2023 – and finished third in the Porsche 911 GT3 R. He received clearance from Audi Sport for the race.
Rutronik Racing will not be racing on the Nordschleife in 2024 – and the DTM has already been canceled. However, a cockpit would still be available in the GT World Challenge Europe, as the team has not yet announced any drivers for the professional car.
Another hint: the team congratulated Niederhauser on his Porsche switch with a post of its own on Instagram. It says that the Swiss driver has been “an integral part of our team since winning the ADAC GT Masters title”. In the comments, however, the team specified: “For now, he’s just a Porsche driver … Let’s wait and see what the future holds.”
