Grasser stand-in Jordan Pepper does not want to retire from the DTM with a crash: What his plans are and why his performance was so impressive
Despite the controversial collision in Sunday’s race with Rene Rast and Marco Wittmann at the Sachsenring, Grasser stand-in Jordan Pepper has tasted blood and wants to return to the DTM. “The goal is pretty clear,“ announced the 28-year-old South African, who replaced the convalescing Christian Engelhart, on Instagram.”
“I would very much like to return full-time in the future,” he clarifies. “All the more so because we still have a score to settle.” The unfortunate end to the weekend has even further awakened his ambition. “I’m hungry for more. Hopefully I can compete again in the DTM and make amends.”
Pepper, who was familiar with the Sachsenring from the ADAC GT Masters, actually put in a strong performance, even if the happy ending failed to materialize
Pepper proud: “Was in the Top 10 in every session ”
In both qualifying sessions, he was the second-best Lamborghini driver in eighth place. In Saturday’s race, he finished tenth and drove the fastest Lamborghini lap in the field.
Even though Sunday’s race “didn’t end the way we had hoped, I won’t let it spoil this incredible weekend – from start to finish,” said the ex-boyfriend of former DTM driver Esmee Hawkey, drawing a positive balance. “I was in the top 10 in every session. I can be proud of that on my debut. “
Why Grasser “takes his hat off hugely” to Pepper
He already knew before the weekend “that it’s not easy to start so late and without testing in a championship like the DTM, but we did it.” In addition to the strong field of drivers, this also has to do with the Pirelli tires, which are not allowed to be heated in the DTM, which repeatedly drives even experienced drivers to despair, especially in qualifying.
This was not the case with Pepper, confirms team boss Gottfried Grasser. “You have to take your hat off to him for that: The last time he drove with the cold Pirelli wheel was in 2016,” ‘And that was a completely different tire than now. ’
Grasser’s conclusion: “Jordan was really good on both days. He didn’t have a test to prepare and was immediately competitive. “
Further DTM appearances in 2024 ruled out
But when will we see the friend of the Van der Linde brothers, who lived with them in a shared flat in Kempten and was nicknamed “Jürgen Pfeffer” by Kelvin, back in the DTM?
Even if Engelhart is also unable to compete in Spielberg following his knee operation, Pepper, who has been a Lamborghini works driver since last year, will not be available. “There’s no chance this year, because he has overlaps with the GT Open Series at the next two DTM events,” says Grasser.
Because Pepper shares the Oregon Lamborghini in the GT series with ex-DTM driver Alessio Deledda, who is competing for the title there. “That’s his main task, but we knew that,” says the Austrian.
That’s why Pepper’s focus is already on 2025 as far as a DTM commitment is concerned. “Let’s see what the future holds,” says Pepper, who is also competing for Grasser in the GT World Challenge Europe this year and has driven the Abt-Lamborghini on the Nordschleife.