Grapevine: Hakkinen Confirmed for Racing Return in DTM

Former Formula One World Champion Mika Hakkinen will make his racing return in 2005, but the Finn will not go back to Grand Prix racing but rather will race in the German Touring Cars series, the DTM.

Hakkinen has been long rumoured to be looking for a way to return to full time racing, having retired at the end of the 2001 season. His name was tied with a possible move to BAR or Williams, but after a successful test in an AMG-Mercedes C-Class three weeks ago, the popular Finn decided to accept Mercedes's offer and join DTM.

Hakkinen, who will race alongside former Formula One drivers Jean Alesi and Heinz Harald Frentzen, said in a statement today: "After the end of my Formula One career in 2001, I soon realised that I'm not ready to retire for good. It was just the right moment that Mercedes-Benz offered me to test a DTM car. I saw immediately that I still enjoy racing very much and during the test three weeks ago, my lap times were at the same level as those of the touring car specialists.

"I know, of course, that I first have to get used to a DTM car to be able to fight with the front runners. The AMG-Mercedes C-Class, however, is a great car and with it I want to be consistently competitive soon. I look forward to an interesting season with exciting battles â€" against my former Formula One colleages as well as against the young DTM drivers â€" and to see again my fans. I'm especially happy about returning to the Mercedes family â€" I'm back, but I've never been really gone."

Hakkinen was greeted by Norbert Haug, Mercedes Motorsport's vice president, who said: "We are very happy about Mika's decision to race in the DTM. Our engagement and the Championship will gain a lot from his commitment.

"Since Mika was driving for us, he was always interested in DTM and we talked a lot about it. Watching the 2004 season on TV, Mika has become a real DTM fan, as he told us. During his test he proved that he didn't lose his speed. We look forward to exciting battles next year."