MotoGP: Dovizioso to trade two wheels for four in DTM

Andrea Dovizioso will trade two wheels for four next month, when the Ducati MotoGP racer makes his debut in the ultra-competitive DTM touring car race series. Filling in for Audi Sport Team WRT racer Pietro Fittipaldi, who will be on F1 duty, Dovi will race at the Misano round of the championship on 8 June.

Coming about thanks in part to Audi’s ownership of Ducati, the two-time MotoGP championship runner-up has already tested for the factory Audi team, driving yesterday in Germany only hours after completing MotoGP testing at Jerez.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “I love cars and I feel lucky to be able to race with the Audi RS 5 DTM. It’s tough to find the time to prepare for it during the MotoGP season but I am really looking forward to compete in such a high-level context such as the DTM. The car is amazing, but it’s a different challenge compared with my Desmosedici GP and I need to get prepared, so I did many laps in the simulator before stepping into it for the first time. Misano is a special track for every Italian driver and the place where I scored an incredible win last year so I’m very excited and thankful for this opportunity.”

“I’m delighted that in Andrea Dovizioso we managed to get a real superstar to race as a guest in the DTM,” added Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “MotoGP riders are true heroes in Italy. Andrea hails from the Misano area, won the Grand Prix there last year and is going to attract many additional fans. We’re already extremely excited to see how he’s going to fare in his DTM debut. That he’s taking time out for the DTM between two MotoGP races is fantastic and not to be taken for granted at all. I’d like to particularly thank Ducati’s CEO Claudio Domenicali and Luigi Dall’Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, who agreed to this guest entry. That’s a big thing for the DTM and for motorsport in general.”

This year’s new-spec turbo DTM engines have a two-litre capacity with direct injection, replacing last season’s 4.0L V8 naturally-aspirated engines, and will produce a stunning 610hp. The most powerful cars ever raced in DTM, Dovi will have to come to grips with a Push-to-Pass function with extra power for overtaking and rear wings with Drag Reduction System activation for overtaking.

FIRST FOOTAGE: @MotoGP ace @AndreaDovizioso gets to grip with some @audisport #DTM muscle! #DoviDrivesDTM ️ pic.twitter.com/jXgCME2bzU

— DTM (@DTM) May 8, 2019

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