Andy Priaulx confident of achieving DTM success with BMW

The Brit has been a BMW factory driver since 2003 and had won three World Touring Car Championships and a European crown for the German manufacturer in that time.

But Priaulx, whose efforts in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup this year has taken BMW into second place in the manufacturers' standings in the GTE class, is not underestimating the effort that it will take to turn the new M3 DTM into a race-winning car.

"The DTM will be a big challenge for us all," he said. "Together with BMW, I have celebrated success in many different disciplines and behind the wheel of some fantastic racing cars in recent years.

"I am more than confident that this will also be the case in the DTM. The BMW M3 DTM looks fantastic.

"I can hardly wait to get to know the car better in the coming tests, to contribute to its development, and ultimately to sit in the cockpit for the first DTM race in 2012."

Priaulx's Schnitzer GT team-mate Augusto Farfus was also named on the BMW driving strength and shook down the DTM machine at Oschersleben earlier this month.

The Brazilian, who has numerous WTCC wins to his name for BMW and has also won the Nurburgring and Dubai 24 Hour races during the past 18 months, is keeping his expectations in check, however, and sees 2012 as a learning year.

"I am delighted BMW is giving me the opportunity to race in the DTM," said Farfus. "You always need new challenges in life. That is why I cannot wait for my debut in this series.

"The opposition is tough and has more experience in recent years, but BMW Motorsport is working fantastically to ensure we should be competitive right from the word go.

"We want to learn as quickly as possible. Who knows, maybe we can already challenge the established manufacturers a bit in 2012."

Schnitzer, for which both currently compete in the ILMC, is one of three teams that will represent BMW in the DTM next year, although the manufacturer would not reveal for which squad either driver would race.