Mercedes-AMG driver Lucas Auer explains ahead of the private test in Portimao why his Winward team faces an additional challenge in the 2022 DTM
This is the start of the testing season for many DTM teams: in addition to Audi Team Rosberg and the new BMW Team Schubert, numerous Mercedes-AMG teams, including the Winward squad, will also be on hand at the private GT tests running from Tuesday to Friday in Portimao.
Winward driver Lucas Auer, who will have new teammates in 2022 in the form of champion Maximilian Götz and David Schumacher, who was confirmed on Tuesday, will however have to do without a man who was considered a cornerstone of his team with immediate effect: technical officer Alex Zöchling.
“This is of course a bitter blow,” Auer said of Zöchling, who has returned after a year to his former team GruppeM, where he will now work with Maro Engel and Canadian rookie Mikael Grenier.
Auer’s anticipation for private test in Portimao
“On the other hand, there are a lot of people in the team that I worked with last year. And we will do everything we can to start this year where we left off,” says Auer, who was in top form last year in the final phase of the year with two victories.
While other teams are testing for four days, Winward is only active from Wednesday to Friday. “I can’t wait to be back in the car,” enthuses Auer, who is aware of the relevance of the test. “As Portimao is also the start of the season, these three days are enormously important for us. Especially as far as the set-up is concerned. “
Because “with such a large number of top riders, every little thing will be crucial,” he points to the ever-growing grid, which could include as many as 30 riders in 2022.
Lucas Auer: 20+ race entries in 2022?
But Auer not only wants to be on the grid in the DTM in 2022, he is also negotiating additional race entries. If everything goes according to plan, the 27-year-old Mercedes-AMG driver could contest over 20 races this year.
“Every racing driver wants to race,” explains the Austrian. “And if they are also interesting tasks where you can also learn, then of course that’s a great thing. Let’s see what else comes up. “