Much like Audi Sport, the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Team were busy in Vallelunga this week for the three day test that saw Robert Wickens, Gary Paffett, and Edoardo Mortara complete over 2,100km of testing.
Wickens got the week underway on Tuesday and managed to complete 140 laps with a best time of 1:27.516
“That was quite a nice birthday present,” said the Canadian, who celebrated his birthday on Monday. “We had our own programme and are pretty happy with it. We managed to check off every box on our list”
For the second day it was Gary Paffett behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM, the British driver managed an impressive 201 laps with a fastest time of 1:27.166 on a track that was unknown to him before this week.
“I like the track and got up to speed pretty quickly,” said Paffett. “We did over 200 laps, which is pretty amazing. It was hard work, but we collected lots of useful data.”
The programme included a mix of long and short runs but the main focus was on understanding the new softer tyres that are being introduced this season from Hankook. “It was a really good day,” added Paffett.
Mortara was up last for the third and final day of testing and he claimed the fastest lap of the trio with a time of 1:27.081 and managed to complete a total of 177 laps.
“We posted lots of laps today and tried out many things,” said the Italian, “We now need to analyse the data from Portimão and Vallelunga in order to be well prepared for the final round of testing in Hockenheim. The tests here were very informative, and I think we’ve taken a step in the right direction.”
Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM Ulrich Fritz commented: “The team have some very taxing weeks and months behind them, but their hard work has paid off so far with plenty of kilometres posted and data collected during two successful weeks of testing.
“Still, our work is far from over. We must now evaluate all the info, especially with regard to the new generation of tyres, and draw the right conclusions before final testing in Hockenheim.”