Three DTM teams set to run Mercedes GT3 machinery in 2021
Mercedes is set to be represented by a minimum of three teams on its return to the DTM following the championship's switch to GT3 rules for the 2021 season
HTP Winward Motorsport and the Haupt Racing Team, two of the most successful Mercedes squads in the GT3 era, are looking certain to be on the grid with factory-supported cars for the scheduled first DTM event of the year at Monza in June.
The two German-based teams would join Hong Kong-headquartered GruppeM Racing, which announced its plans to enter the series last year.
Mucke Motorsport, which raced with Mercedes in the DTM in 2005-16, is also known to have had discussions with the marque about racing in the DTM this season.
Autosport understands that HTP and HRT are close to finalising their deals to run the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the new-look series after its switch from the Class 1 touring car rulebook.
A spokesman for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport confirmed that HTP and HRT are among the teams in discussion to represent the marque for its first DTM campaign in the series since 2018, but stressed that no deals have been done.
He explained that it is likely that there will be "four to five" AMG GT3s spread across three teams racing in the DTM in 2021.
It is understood that HTP and HRT intend to run two AMG GT3s alongside the single-car entry revealed by GruppeM in November.
The plans of the Mucke team, which ran Audis in last year's ADAC GT Masters, are known to be at a less-advanced stage.
HTP, HRT and GruppeM have all raced as so called Mercedes AMG 'performance' teams in major GT3 championships.
This typically means that they are loaned drivers from the factory-contracted pool and receive some financial assistance.
Asked if Mercedes would be providing factory support to the teams representing it in the DTM, the spokesman replied: "It depends on which teams want to participate - they might be performance teams or pure customers."
HTP, whose American ownership since late 2019 is reflected in the Winward suffix to its name, won the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series and the overall Blancpain GT Series title in 2016 with Mercedes.
It also triumphed in the GT Daytona class for GT3 machinery at last month's Daytona 24 Hours, the opening round of the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
HRT was established by veteran driver Hubert Haupt last year when he took over the major operations and programmes of the Black Falcon squad, which won the Nurburgring 24 Hours for Mercedes in 2013 and '16.
GruppeM represented Mercedes across the full Intercontinental GT Challenge in 2019 with a roster of factory drivers and also won the FIA-sanctioned GT World Cup at Macau in the same year with Raffaele Marciello.
Mercedes appears to have changed its stance toward the DTM over the winter.
It is understood that it was initially against supporting teams racing its GT3 machinery in the series, but has now decided to provide some assistance.
This was reflected in the DTM being mentioned last week when it laid out its programme in the GT3 arena for the coming season, with the marque stating that it will be represented in the series by multiple teams.
It is unclear how many factory drivers Mercedes will be able to place in the series given its commitments in other championships.
Mercedes has added Daniel Juncadella, who raced for the marque in the DTM in 2013-16 and '18, and former Bentley driver Jules Gounon to its roster for this season.
Yelmer Buurman and Adam Christodoulou are no longer full-factory drivers but are both expected to continue to race Mercedes machinery in the coming season.
It was confirmed on Thursday that Buurman will again drive for the Ram Racing Merc team alongside Ian Loggie in the British GT Championship this year.
Mercedes returns to DTM as it will give factory support to its customer teams
BMW to be represented in revamped GT3 era-DTM by Walkenhorst
The longest-serving Red Bull driver revealing F1’s true brutality
His day of days in Formula 1 came at Indianapolis in 2005, a day grand prix racing strives to forget. But Patrick Friesacher, the long-serving Red Bull lieutenant, remains active today driving a two-seater that provides ordinary people with a glimpse of an F1 car’s savage potential, including this writer...
How the DTM has come back stronger from its Norisring nadir
OPINION: Questionable driving standards and farcical team orders meant the DTM's first season under GT3 regulations ended under a cloud. But the organisation has responded firmly by banning team orders and welcomed new manufacturers, making for an intriguing season ahead as new and returning names prepare for battle
The remarkable career of a 'classy' champion who rejected politics
Over two decades as a factory driver with Audi and BMW, Martin Tomczyk earned the respect of team-mates and rivals as a hard but fair racer. After calling time on his racing career, the 2011 DTM champion sat down with Autosport to look back
The other Hamilton conqueror seeking career revival
On his rise through the ranks before reaching Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton was usually a cut above the rest. But he never truly asserted himself over a Mercedes-backed fellow Briton who traded single-seaters for touring cars and is now seeking new opportunities after a year largely spent on the sidelines
How the DTM's shambolic finale poses awkward future questions
OPINION: The scenes at the Norisring as Mercedes used blatant team orders to secure the first DTM title of the new GT3 era totally undermined the credibility of the championship. But as well as overshadowing the season, it also presents uncomfortable questions to series bosses about the direction it is headed in
How Audi's new DTM star is channeling Rast to achieve his "childhood dream"
Having learned the ropes in GT3 alongside Rene Rast, Kelvin van der Linde is in line to take up the three-time champion's baton as Audi's new DTM king. From humble origins in South Africa, it's been a remarkable journey so far for the current series leader, but he knows that the 2021 title is a long way from settled just yet
The number-crunching behind the new-look DTM's equalisation drive
Switching to GT3 regulations marked a fresh start for the DTM in 2021, but it has also drawn a line in the sand against other series using similar cars by engaging AVL Racing to develop a bespoke Balance of Performance system. Here’s how it works
The initial verdict on DTM's move to GT3 cars
OPINION: Facing collapse last year, the DTM has shifted its philosophy from a championship for silhouette-based touring cars to GT machines not too dissimilar to those racing across multiple series worldwide. But despite some initial BoP-based teething troubles, there were some pleasant findings as the 'new DTM' got underway at Monza