David Schumacher will make the switch from FIA Formula 3 to join the german-texan team Mercedes-AMG team Winward for the upcoming DTM season, joining reigning DTM champion Maximilian Götz and seven-time DTM race winner Lucas Auer.
Schumacher tested a GT car for the first time in November of last year, and commented that “The two car categories are worlds apart,” following his time in single-seater racing. The German will get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo again tomorrow (Wednesday) at Portimão, Portugal.
“Only because of the considerably higher weight, the GT3 requires a much smoother driving style than the single-seater. Initially, the ABS was a real shock for me, I didn’t know that from a race car at all. Still, I quickly felt at ease in the Mercedes-AMG GT3. It really is a joy to drive,” the 20-year-old said.
With the switch marking his competitive debut in sports cars, Schumacher isn’t setting the bar too high for his maiden DTM season, “I am aware that I have to learn a lot to hold my own in this unbelievably high-class race series. My goal for the first year is to get used to the race car and to take in the many details that are important in DTM. With Lucas and Maximilian, I have two vastly experienced teammates towards whom I can orientate myself.”
David follows in the footsteps of his father Ralf, who raced in the Mercedes factory teams between 2008-12, while his uncle Michael Schumacher also made DTM appearances from 1990-1991 as part of the Mercedes Junior team.