Munich. A private customer team will compete with BMW Turbo
Power in the DTM for the first time in the 2020 season. French team
ART Grand Prix returns to the series and will run a BMW M4 DTM. This
sees the number of BMW race cars on the grid rise to seven. At the
wheel of the privately-run BMW M4 DTM for the 2020 DTM season will
be a well-known driver, with Robert Kubica (POL) set to make his
debut in the touring car series. The 35-year-old took to the track
in the BMW M4 DTM for the first time at the DTM Young Driver Tests
at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) in December.
“This is really great news for the DTM,” said BMW Group Motorsport
Director Jens Marquardt. “We are delighted to welcome ART Grand Prix
to the DTM as a private customer team. It has always been our goal to
make the DTM field even larger and more attractive with privately-run
BMW M4 DTMs. There were several options and we have held many
discussions with potential teams in recent months. Considering all the
aspects, we opted for the package provided by ART Grand Prix. After
the test in Spain last December, Robert Kubica made no secret of the
fact that he could imagine a future in the DTM. It is great that ART
Grand Prix is now allowing him the opportunity to contest the 2020
season in a BMW M4 DTM. Robert showed during the test that is very
good in a DTM car. He is a real asset to the series. We have our
fingers crossed for ART Grand Prix and Robert, and hope they have a
successful DTM season.”
“No need to introduce BMW, Robert Kubica or the DTM! Their fabulous
careers speak for themselves,” said ART Grand Prix team principal
Sébastien Philippe. “This project is important to us and we have been
putting a lot of energy into it over the winter. It is with great
pride that we will undertake it with the ambition to honour a historic
car manufacturer, BMW, which has won several titles in the most
demanding passenger car championship. Our goal will also be to
accompany Robert Kubica, who is about to write a new page in his
already incredibly rich motorsport career. Our last participation in
the DTM series dates all the way back to 2015/16, so ART Grand Prix
will need to relearn the inner workings of this high-level
championship. Our objectives will be modest at the start of the
season, but with the determination of our team, I hope that we will
progress from the start of the season to fight with the frontrunners.”
“The DTM has appealed to me for a long time – and the test in
December at Jerez de la Frontera really gave me a taste for more,”
said Kubica. “I am really looking forward to starting this new chapter
in my motorsport career. I believe the DTM is one of the strongest and
best race series in the world. I immediately felt at home in the BMW
M4 DTM at the test. ART Grand Prix has been a big name on the
international motor racing scene for years. I am sure we can achieve a
lot together in the DTM. We obviously still have to gain experience
compared to the established DTM teams, but we will work hard to ensure
that we improve all the time. I can hardly wait to race in the DTM.”
The team, from Villeneuve-La-Guyard (FRA), was formed in 2005. ART
Grand Prix is an established name on the international motorsport
scene. The team is primarily known for its many successes in various
Formula series, right up to GP2 and Formula 2. Team Principal
Sébastien Philippe’s crew has helped many renowned racing drivers on
their route to the top. ART Grand Prix has already competed in the DTM
in 2015 and 2016, claiming a total of four podium finishes.
In preparation for the season, ART Grand Prix and Kubica will attend
the ITR test at Monza (ITA) from 16th to 18th March. The 2020 season
kicks off at Zolder (BEL) from 24th to 26th April.