Ralf Schumacher to test for Mercedes

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By Glenn Freeman Monday, January 14th 2008, 19:53 GMT


Ralf Schumacher will test a Mercedes C-Class DTM car at Estoril on Tuesday, the team have confirmed.

The German, who won six grands prix during his Formula One career, has been left without a slot on the 2008 F1 grid.

Speaking to the official DTM website, a Mercedes spokesman said that the test had been arranged between Schumacher and Norbert Haug a long time ago, but this week was the first opportunity for the 32-year-old to drive the car.

Autosport.com understands that Schumacher will be one of six drivers at the Portuguese track, including former F1 driver Christian Klien. However, Mercedes did not confirm which versions of the C-Class will be used.

The former champions have not confirmed their driver plans for 2008 yet, but they added that a driver shootout was not taking place this week.

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Mercedes waiting on Ralf's decision

By Steven English Thursday, January 17th 2008, 12:53 GMT


Mercedes DTM boss Norbert Haug wants to wait for Ralf Schumacher to decide whether he wants to race in the DTM this year before finalising the team's driver line-up.

After the former Grand Prix driver sampled a 2006-spec C Class at Estoril this week, Haug said: "I don't want to raise high hopes. He is testing and to date nothing else has been discussed.

"Should he be inspired by the tests and the same can be said about us, then it's time to continue the discussions."

But Haug denied that Mercedes is looking for an ex-Formula One driver to replace Mika Hakkinen, who retired at the end of last season: "The series is strong enough, we don't need to hire people just for their names," he said.

"I've known Ralf since he was in F3, and for many years he said he'd like to try the DTM. I said he should wait until his current contract situation allowed it and this is the first opportunity."

Mercedes also tested fellow F1 refugee Christian Klien and F3 graduate Maro Engel alongside regular drivers Bernd Schneider and Bruno Spengler at Estoril.