Brit Jamie Green will embark on his eighth consecutive season for Mercedes-Benz in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, it was confirmed today (Friday).
Green, a seven-time race winner in the DTM, will continue for his fifth season with the HWA AG Mercedes team with whom he has taken five of his seven wins to-date in the German series. It is also the continuation of a long-running collaboration for Green and Mercedes – the 29 year-old first took part in the young driver development program with McLaren Mercedes in 1997.
Green finished fifth overall in last season’s championship, recording one win at the Hockenheimring. His best finish in a DTM season to-date is fourth in 2007 and 2008, and Green is the fourth most successful active driver in the DTM with a win-rate of 7 in 74 races.
Like many drivers, Green is excited about the new regulations for the forthcoming season. “DTM enters a new era in 2012,” said Green. “New cars and new technical rules promise to make the championship even more exciting than ever before.”
“I’m looking forward to bringing my experience from seven DTM seasons to bear on the development and set-up of our new DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé, which will play an important role in the fight for top positions. I hope I can start the new DTM era in Hockenheim where I left off last year.”
Vice-President of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug is pleased to be working with Green again in 2012. “Jamie Green is without doubt one of the finest and fastest drivers contesting the DTM,” added Haug. “Since graduating from our young driver programme to become 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion in his Dallara Mercedes, and then join our DTM line-up, he has put in some great race performances – most notably his showing in last year’s DTM season finale at Hockenheim.
“Jamie cruised home to record the 85th victory for our Mercedes C-Class in its 159th and – quite probably – final DTM outing. This model goes down as the most successful car in the history of the DTM. We look forward to the new season with Jamie who, like a true racer, has been polishing up his German skills, so that they are now almost as perfect as his drive in Hockenheim. On that occasion, Jamie crossed the finish line a full 20 seconds ahead of the next driver in the same car. It is obvious that Jamie’s Hockenheim performance is the blueprint for an ideal race. But when it comes to what exactly that secret is, Jamie’s keeping it to himself – with typical British discretion.”