Duval Among Drivers Set for Audi DTM Test

Photo: Audi

Loic Duval is among four drivers that will test Audi’s DTM contender next week in Jerez, with an eye towards a potential switch to the touring car series in 2017.

The 34-year-old Frenchman, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship with the German manufacturer in 2013, is among the brand’s ex-LMP1 drivers left on the sidelines following Audi’s withdrawal from prototype competition.

Duval will be joined by Nyck de Vries, Kelvin van der Linde and Dion von Moltke in DTM’s Young Driver Test.

Von Moltke, an Audi of America Sportscar Brand Ambassador, will become only the second American to drive a modern-day DTM car following Joey Hand’s three-year stint with BMW that ended in 2014.

Audi Sport factory drivers Rene Rast and Jamie Green will be on hand to assist the new drivers, with Green and Mattias Ekstrom set to continue development of the 2017-spec Audi RS 5 DTM car at the Spanish circuit over the four-day test.

While all three DTM manufacturers will drop from fielding eight cars to six each next year, Audi has already lost two drivers, with Edoardo Mortara moving to Mercedes and Timo Scheider not having been retained.

It’s believed LMP2 and GT standout Rast will take one of the full-time seats next year.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John