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Motopark in talks to enter DTM with privateer BMWs

Top single-seater team Motopark is aiming for an entry to the DTM next season with a privateer squad of BMWs.

Jüri Vips, Motopark Dallara F317 - Volkswagen

Jüri Vips, Motopark Dallara F317 - Volkswagen

FIA F3 / Suer

The Oschersleben-based squad, which ran current factory BMW DTM driver Joel Eriksson to the runner-up slot in the 2017 European Formula 3 season, has been in discussions since last year to join the series.

BMW was open to having a privateer team of M4 DTMs on the grid for 2019, but this never came to fruition, while rival Audi managed to add an equivalent non-factory squad with top GT3 team WRT.

Motopark boss Timo Rumpfkeil told Motorsport.com: “We looked at it last year already. We are in good talks with BMW and they are very keen to get customer cars with a privateer team on the grid.

“We are looking now to turn that into reality, but the reality is that somebody has to pay for the show so we are trying to find some backing for it. Of course we are interested in such projects, but at the moment we have to see how it moves on.”

Rumpfkeil, whose team ran on the DTM undercard in European F3 from 2015-18, said he has become more interested in the DTM since Gerhard Berger took over the reins in 2017.

“Since Gerhard took it over the whole thing took on a lot of momentum in a positive way,” he said. “If you look at the racing, it’s good, and the politics side is now at a reasonable level – I think now it’s a very attractive thing.

“It’s a good place for the drivers to be, a good place for the sponsors to be, and last but not least a good place for the teams to be.”

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DTM plans won't affect single-seater operations

Rumpfkeil added that a DTM programme would not affect Motopark’s single-seater teams in Super Formula and Japanese F3 (with B-Max) and in Euroformula Open (under its own name).

“Super Formula and Japanese F3 are stable, and Euroformula also,” he said.

Motopark currently runs Berger’s nephew and former DTM driver Lucas Auer in Super Formula, but Rumpfkeil denied that his DTM plans currently involve the Austrian Red Bull junior.

“We haven’t looked at that yet – we have to first of all get a bit further with the talks with potential sponsors,” he said. “Once we have done that we’ll look at drivers.”

Lucas Auer, B-Max Racing with motopark

Lucas Auer, B-Max Racing with motopark

Photo by: Jun Goto

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