Vitaly Petrov tests DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe in Portimao, Portugal

Former Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov (29, Russia) gets his first DTM test in a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe at the Portimao race track. The session takes place precisely 100 days ahead of the opening race of the 2014 DTM season at Hockenheim on May 4, 2014.

The 29-year-
old Russian got his first taste of the world's most popular touring car series last year, when in the summer of 2013, Petrov drove in the Moscow City Race around Red Square and made his DTM debut at the Moscow Raceway in a Mercedes-Benz DTM racing taxi.

Petrov was GP2 runner-up in 2009 and moved up into Formula 1 with the Renault F1 Team for the following year. He lined up in 57 grands prix for Renault, Lotus Renault GP and Caterham during 2010 and 2012. Petrov secured a total of 64 world championship points in his three Formula 1 years. He was third on the podium at the 2011 season opener in Australia.

"I'm absolutely delighted and really grateful to Mercedes-Benz for inviting me to test drive one of their DTM cars. This test is a great opportunity to get back in the cockpit of a high-performance racing car. I got my first impression of the DTM last year when I drove in the Moscow City Racing event and took the wheel of a DTM racing taxi for Mercedes-Benz at the Moscow Raceway during the DTM race weekend. I had never driven such a car before and the demo laps were fantastic fun. I've been especially impressed by the way the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe handles in the corners. The DTM is top-class and one of the most competitive touring car series in the world," said Vitaly Petrov.


Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorspor, added, "Russia is a highly significant market for the DTM and for Mercedes-Benz. Following the success of the DTM debut at the Moscow Raceway last year, the interest of Russian fans in the series has grown considerably. Vitaly has been aware of these developments and expressed a desire to test drive our DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe. We were only too happy to make his wish possible."

Posted in: 2014 DTM,Coupe,Europe,F1,Formula 1,Hockenheim,Mercedes AMG C-Coupe,Mercedes-Benz,Mercedes-Benz Motorsport,Motor Sports,Portugal,Toto Wolff,Vitaly Petrov