2024 DTM: Mercedes-AMG starts title mission with high-calibre line-up

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing will once again field a high-quality line-up in the 2024 DTM season. With Mercedes-AMG Team HRT and Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing, the performance and sports car brand is relying on two established and highly respected Performance Teams. The quartet of Lucas Auer (AUT), Maro Engel (GER), Arjun Maini (IND) and Luca Stolz (GER) will be competing for the prestigious DTM title with the racing cars from Affalterbach. Suitably for the 40th anniversary of the DTM, Mercedes-AMG is celebrating 130 years of motorsport under the sign of the star with the motto “Defining Motorsport since 1894”.

Two Mercedes-AMG Performance Teams, four Performance Drivers

Mercedes-AMG Team HRT is relying on a proven driver pairing with 26-year-old Arjun Maini and 28-year-old Luca Stolz. The duo has formed the line-up of the racing team from Drees since 2022. Last year, Luca Stolz and Mercedes-AMG Team HRT secured a win and a podium finish at the Sachsenring as well as further podium results at Zandvoort and the Lausitzring. He will embark on his third full-season DTM campaign in 2024.

Maini, meanwhile, made his debut as the first Indian driver in DTM in 2021. He made history in the same year by finishing in second place at the Norisring. In 2023, he showed a positive form curve during the second half of the season. For this year, Maini was promoted from Junior Driver to Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver status.

Two equally experienced and successful DTM professionals, Lucas Auer (AUT) and Maro Engel (GER), will compete for Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing. The 29-year-old Austrian has been driving for the team from Altendiez since 2021. Auer has a total of 139 starts since his debut in 2015 to his name. In 2022, he concluded the season as the runner-up in the overall standings.

Engel first raced for Mercedes-AMG in DTM in 2008. Last year, the Mercedes-AMG brand ambassador impressed with a commanding victory in Zandvoort. He will receive a special honour in the 2024 season. To mark 130 years of motorsport under the motto “Defining Motorsport since 1894”, his Mercedes-AMG GT3 will sport the anniversary starting number 130.

Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing is continuing its successful history in the 35th season for Mercedes-Benz in the DTM with the line-up for 2024. Mercedes-AMG is on a mission in the battle for the title, aiming to bring the DTM trophy back to Affalterbach after 2021.

The calendar of the championship, organised by the ADAC, again includes eight rounds with a total of 16 races in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. For Mercedes-AMG, the hunt for the ninth manufacturers’ title in the DTM starts with the season opener at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben from 26 to 28 April. The first encounter of all DTM participants will already take place during the official test days in Hockenheim at the beginning of April.

“As a brand, we have a long and very successful heritage in the history of the DTM since 1984, which we want to live up to, of course. As we know, the 2023 DTM season by no means fulfilled our expectations. We were behind the competition for long stretches. In order to build on our previous achievements, we are focussing on the upcoming season. Our goal is clearly defined with the battle for the championship. Together with our teams and partners, I am therefore looking forward to an exciting and thrilling season.”

Christoph Sagemüller, head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

“Taking into account our international achievements, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is a highly competitive car. In last year’s DTM, we were not able to realise this potential for the title fight. Over the winter, we set the right course for 2024 and feel ideally positioned with our line-up of two Performance Teams and four Performance Drivers. My sincere thanks go to Klaus Landgraf and his entire team for the past season. We will strategically assign another task to Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf which will be announced at a later date.”

Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing

“I am very happy to be starting our fourth DTM season together with WINWARD Racing. The winter has been intense and we have worked hard to further improve in various areas and create the conditions for a successful year. I can hardly wait to bring the knowledge we have gained to the race track.”

Lucas Auer, Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing #22

“I have very fond memories of my co-operation with WINWARD Racing so far, for example the victory at Daytona we achieved together. The team has shown impressive performances in all series so far. There was still room for improvement for me in the DTM last season. That's why we used the winter to put ourselves in the best possible position to fight for the championship. Of course, the 130th motorsport anniversary is something very special. It is an honour for me to be allowed to present car number 130.”

Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team WINWARD Racing #130

“I'm incredibly excited to be back in the DTM in 2024 as a part of Mercedes-AMG, and in my third year with HRT and with Luca as my team-mate. DTM is always a huge challenge and, together with the team, I want to put everything I've learnt and the experience from previous years into practice to deliver consistently strong results this season! I'm particularly looking forward to the Norisring. I really enjoy the atmosphere at this venue and that is also where I scored my maiden DTM podium.”

Arjun Maini, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #36

“DTM is the world’s strongest GT3 series and I am incredibly motivated to prove myself in this environment again. Of course, the big goal is being in contention for the championship. We have shown over the past two years that we are a combination that is capable of winning. If we consistently deliver these performances, anything is possible. It is always an advantage to compete with a well-practiced team. I am delighted to be back on the grid with HRT and to continue our successful work.”

Luca Stolz, Mercedes-AMG Team HRT #4