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Challenge accepted: Duval and Rast join DTM with Audi

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2017 looks promising for Faraday Future Dragon Racing driver, Loïc Duval, as he will compete in both Formula E and DTM in 2017. The Frenchman, who formerly drove for Audi for four years in WEC, will make his DTM début with the German manufacturer alongside former Team Aguri driver, René Rast.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“In Loïc, we’ve integrated one of our best drivers from the Le Mans program into our DTM squad. I’m convinced that we’re in a top position with our driver lineup for the 2017″ – Dieter Gass[/perfectpullquote]

Last month, Audi said goodbye to the World Endurance Championship, winning its very last prototype race, the 6 Hours of Bahrain. Loïc Duval was one of the three drivers – alongside Oliver Jarvis and fellow Formula E racer Lucas di Grassi – who helped to put the German squad atop the podium in that race. However, that last WEC race did not mean the end of Duval’s relationship with the Ingolstadt-based brand. It was announced today that the 34 year-old Frenchman will drive for the German marque in the 2017 DTM season. The versatile Chartres native will be making his debut in the category.

Along with Duval’s arrival comes the news that Germany’s René Rast – another man who can be described as versatile – will drive for Audi in DTM full-time in 2017. Rast does have experience in DTM, as he drove for Audi on three occasions last season; he also raced in Formula E for the Berlin ePrix, back in May, where he teamed up with Ma Qing Hua in the former Team Aguri. His main campaign was for G-Drive Racing in the LMP2 category in WEC last season, and the Minden-born racer has driven in many different categories throughout his career, in a variety of vehicles.

“In Loïc, we’ve integrated one of our best drivers from the Le Mans program into our DTM squad. I’m convinced that we’re in a top position with our driver lineup for the 2017”, praised Dieter Gass, Head of DTM for Audi Sport. This is a new challenge for Duval, who joins this championship having taken part in WEC, Japanese Super GT, and Formula E itself, amongst other categories.

Meanwhile, after being asked on Twitter about any chance for him to race in DTM, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport’s Lucas di Grassi answered that his main focus at the moment is Formula E where he lies second in the championship. This means the Brazilian, former teammate to Duval in WEC, will race in the entire Formula E season; while Duval is likely to miss the Paris round, as there is a clash with DTM’s Lausitz round.

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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