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Kubica, Yelloly to Test for BMW at Jerez

Robert Kubica, Nick Yelloly confirmed for DTM rookie test with BMW…

Photo: BMW

Former Williams Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica and GT racer Nick Yelloly will drive for BMW in the upcoming DTM rookie test at Jerez later this month.

BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt confirmed the news at a press event on Thursday, during which he explained that the manufacturer’s 2020 driver lineup will be decided after the orientation event on Dec. 10-13.

It will mark a reunion of sorts for Kubica, who had a four-year spell with the BMW Sauber team in Formula 1 that included victory in the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

The Polish driver made his return to the championship this year after an eight-season absence but struggled to achieve high finishes with the Williams FW42 package.

Having been replaced as George Russell’s teammate by Canadian Nicholas Latifi in Williams’ 2020 lineup, Kubica is now exploring options in DTM and Class One.

He will be joined at the rookie test by Nick Yelloly, who became a BMW junior at the start of this year and spent most of the season driving the marque’s GT3 machinery.

The former GP2 driver took a victory in the Nürburgring 24 qualifying race for Walkenhorst Motorsport and also won the China GT Championship in a BMW M6 GT3 run by Fist Team AAI.

Yelloly took part in last year’s DTM rookie test, sharing turns in the BMW M4 DTM with Sheldon van der Linde, Mikkel Jensen and Nicky Catsburg.

Van der Linde went on to secure a full-time drive with the Team RBM squad for the 2019 DTM season.

“Robert has a history with BMW from the past and I know him also from my past quite well, so I think it’s great to give him the opportunity to test the BMW DTM car in Jerez,” said Marquardt.

“Nick has really done a great job this year in all the great categories he has been involved in. He has been really successful in Asia, and also in some of the other events. He really deserves another go in the DTM car.

“Obviously these two guys have the rookie status. Looking at the driver lineup for next year, it is something that we have to look at very carefully.

“From my point of view, priority-wise, we are attacking the things in the order that we need to put in place when they are needed. We still have a bit of time to do the driver lineup decisions.”

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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