BMW joins Audi in ruling out Mercedes drivers for 2019 DTM season

The impending exit of Mercedes from the series leaves a number of top drivers on the market for 2019, some of which have openly expressed their desire to remain in the DTM even if it means ending their ties to their current employer.

Points leader Paul di Resta previously said he could picture himself joining Audi or BMW, although he has also been exploring his options outside of the DTM, while Brands Hatch race winner Dani Juncadella expressed a similar wish to remain in the series.

Audi and BMW are likely to expand to a minimum of eight cars each next season to maintain a 16-car grid until a third manufacturer can be enticed to the championship, something Audi has made a condition of it staying in the series beyond 2019.

But the extra cars are likely to be fielded by customer teams, which means the factories will not have direct control over who they choose as drivers.

Audi motorsport boss Dieter Gass said at Misano: "In a customer team, I have no intention to influence the decision about drivers.

"They are customer teams and they have to try to bring together a certain budget. One way to get the budget is to use your own drivers."

BMW head of motorsport Jens Marquardt added: "Private teams need our cars, but who will drive them is their decision."

Audi may need to replace Robin Frijns in its DTM line-up next season if the Dutchman returns to Formula E with Virgin Racing, where he has been linked with replacing Alex Lynn.

But it appears South African driver Kelvin van der Linde would be first in line to replace Frijns.

Van der Linde has enjoyed success in the Blancpain GT Series in an Attempto Racing-run Audi R8 LMS this season, and was also part of the Nurburgring 24 Hours race-winning Land Motorsport line-up last year.

He also partnered reigning DTM champion Rene Rast during his title-winning ADAC GT Masters campaign in 2014.

Marquardt emphasised that BMW would look within its own stable to fill any gaps in its roster, having successfully promoted Philipp Eng and Joel Eriksson to race seats this year.

"We are extremely satisfied with our driving squad and we have some great juniors," he said.

"We are currently focused on looking at our drivers and less on who's going to be released next year."

One driver who could be on BMW's radar for a future DTM seat is Beitske Visser, who joined the Bavarian brand's junior scheme last year after her single-seater career fizzled out.

She currently races in the GT4 European Series and scored her first win alongside team-mate Nico Menzel last weekend in wet conditions at the Hungaroring.

"Beitske is doing a great job and hopefully she will continue to develop in the same way, so let's see where it goes," commented Marquardt.