Project 1 Add Two BMW M4 GT4s
Project 1 will add a new programme in the DTM Trophy in 2022 with two BMW M4 GT4s and drivers Louis Henkefend and Colin Caresani.
Both drivers competed in the BMW M2 Cup, organised as part of the DTM support package by Project 1 in 2021.
“We know that the BMW M2 Cup is a good school,” says Axel Funke, Project 1 Motorsport’s team principal. “With our entry into the DTM Trophy, we’re going one step further and giving the guys the perfect opportunity to get even closer to their dream of becoming a professional racing driver. For Project 1 as a racing team, it is both a new and exciting chapter.” Marcel Jürgens-Wichmann, a fixed element in various motorsport programmes at Project 1 for many years and someone who is also familiar with the young driver support in the one-make series, is in charge of the DTM Trophy programme. “With the Trophy, we’re closing a gap and offering our drivers even better chances to move up the ranks.”
Louis Henkefend is a direct graduate, stepping up into the DTM Trophy as the BMW M2 Cup champion. “I am really happy that it is finally official,” the 21-year-old says. “DTM Trophy is a great series to learn more and to present myself in a top-level environment.”
Colin Caresani, who won three races in the 2021 M2 Cup and ended up sixth overall, is looking forward to his promotion: “The BMW M2 Cup has taught me a lot about racing in the DTM environment and I am ready to put that knowledge to use together with the Project 1 team,” the Dutchman comments.
“I’m delighted that the Project 1 team has decided to make a new commitment to the DTM Trophy. In addition, the BMW M2 Cup has produced some highly talented young drivers, some of whom we will be seeing in the DTM Trophy. The one-make series on the DTM support package, in which even 16-year-olds are already admitted, is an excellent entry level while DTM Trophy is the logical next step,” Martin Tomczyk, series’ manager of the DTM organisation ITR, is also pleased. “And I am certain that the next goal of driving the new BMW M4 GT3 in the top category DTM will spur on all the young talents even further.”
BWT Mücke Add Cauhaupe
BWT Mücke Motorsport is another new team for 2022 with 19 year old Edouard Cauhaupé and 17 year old Mozambican Rodrigo Almeida racing a pair af Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Edouard Cauhaupé has already raced the AMG T4 in the French GT championship and has LMP3 prototype experience and success too, he ended up third overall in last year’s European Le Mans Series as well as runner-up in the Asian Le Mans Series last February.
“My participation in the DTM Trophy is a great challenge and an important step to achieving my goal one day and be up against the world’s best racing drivers in DTM. DTM is one of the most breath-taking competitions in motorsport,” Edouard Cauhaupé underlines his goal. “I am overjoyed to be racing for BWT Mücke Motorsport. The team has a fantastic history and has enjoyed some great achievements. Racing on the DTM support package together with them is a huge honour for me. I can hardly await being on the grid with the Mercedes-AMG GT4.”
Peter Mücke is now switching from single-seater racing to the DTM Trophy for his junior racing activities. “We are really happy to have Edouard on board with BWT Mücke Motorsport for the 2022 DTM Trophy. We know about his qualities that he has already proven in the most varied race cars. His talent has convinced us and he already has experience with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 on top of that. I am certain that in Edouard, we have a driver who will be competing for top results right away.”
Mücke Motorsport currently is the only team with a three-pronged involvement on the DTM platform, racing in DTM, DTM Trophy and DTM Classic.
Heide Motorsport To Field A Trio Of Audis
Following a successful debut season, Heide-Motorsport is continuing its involvement in the DTM Trophy, and, once again, is running three Audi R8 LMS GT4s.
South African Mikaeel Pitamber has already been confirmed as the first driver.
“For us as a team, DTM Trophy is the most attractive championship for production-based sports cars. Therefore, we are happy to be racing in this series again. Having already scored our first pair of race wins and acquired a lot of valuable experience in our first year in DTM Trophy, we continue to build on the cooperation with Audi Sport,” team principal Michael Heide says. He is delighted to have “a young and talented driver on board” in Mikaeel Pitamber.
Mikaeel Pitamber, who already got his first experience in karting at the age of three and won the first regional championship titles as a seven-year-old, is about to embark on his maiden season in European motorsport. However, the South African is already bringing in some previous experience with the Audi R8 LMS. Most recently, he raced such a sports car from the brand with the four rings in the Intercontinental GT Challenge finale at his home track of Kyalami near Johannesburg at the beginning of February.
“For me, competing in DTM Trophy is a dream coming true,” Mikaeel Pitamber says. “After getting back in a race car following a break due to injury in 2020 and having competed in my first GT3 and GT4 races at home in South Africa in the past season, I can hardly wait to be racing on the DTM support package. I am working hard for it every day.”
“Heide-Motorsport has established itself very well in DTM Trophy right away. Two victories in the first year and once again three Audis for the new season underlined the ambitions and the huge commitment by Michael Heide’s team,” says Martin Tomczyk, series’ manager at the DTM organisation ITR. “With Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde, we have two strong South African drivers in DTM. We are all the more pleased that Mikaeel Pitamber as the first young driver from South Africa is now getting into DTM Trophy as our talent pool.”
And A Pair Of Audis For T3 Motorsport Too
T3 Motorsport will be participating in the DTM Trophy with two Audi R8 LMSs in the 2022 season.
20-year-old American John Paul Southern Jr. has already been confirmed as the first driver. T3 gathered initial experience in the DTM Trophy with a guest start by German Formula 2 driver Lirim Zendeli at the Nürburgring in August last year.
“The DTM Trophy is the ideal series for the development towards GT3 racing as drivers and team personnel are working in the environment of their own goal, DTM. In the process, they are learning to deal with the requirements for a professional and get a better understanding of many procedures,” T3 team principal Jens Feucht is convinced. Additionally, he underlines the synergy effects on the DTM platform: “When we are at a race track from Tuesday or Wednesday till Sunday anyway, it is possible to participate in the DTM Trophy as well with little additional effort in terms of staff and logistics. As a result, we are using our team’s resources in a more efficient way, something which is also reflected in the costs.”
John Paul Southern Jr. from Bradenton in the state of Florida already raced the T3 Motorsport Audi in 2021 and ended up tenth overall in the ADAC GT4 Germany where he also scored one pole position. Moreover, the 20-year-old, who started in karting in 2014, is also involved in the programme by T3 Motorsport North America. “I am really happy to be returning to T3 Motorsport for a season in the DTM Trophy. As a team, we are doing great things together and the journey so far has been great fun. I can hardly wait for the new season to start,” Southern Junior says. “This season, we are putting in many resources to extract the best performance from the Audi R8 LMS. Our goal is to win the championship and I believe we can achieve that.” Jens Feucht adds: “In the past two seasons, we have proven with pole positions and podium results that we are very successful with the production-based Audi R8 LMS. We are confident that we will be able to show this in the DTM Trophy as well.”
Speed Monkeys Aston Martin
The Speed Monkeys team is entering the DTM Trophy with Aston Martin. The plan is to run a pair of Aston Martin Vantages with the first seat already taken by Nick Hancke, third overall in the BMW M2 Cup last season.
“The DTM Trophy enables young talents in particular to showcase their performance in an unfiltered way as in the junior series, just like in the famous DTM, one driver is driving a car, rather than two drivers sharing the cockpit. I really appreciate this format,” says Speed Monkeys team principal Christian Bracke. “Moreover, the DTM environment is unique. DTM is a very famous brand. Everybody immediately knows what you are talking about when you mention DTM. After three years with Porsche, the team is making the switch to Aston Martin for the 2022 season. The team and Nick Hancke participated in test drives organised by Aston Martin Racing (AMR) at Valencia in Spain in mid-January. “Nick was able to give very good feedback about the new car right away,” Bracke reports. “In the M2 Cup, he has already shown that he is able to be a frontrunner. We have high goals and are aiming at a position among the best three in DTM Trophy.”
Born in Aachen, Nick Hancke already started racing touring cars in 2016. In 2021, he not only ended up third in the new BMW M2 Cup, although he even had to miss one race weekend but also scored a class win in the Nürburgring 24-hour race in the team owned by football star Max Kruse and sealed the DMV BMW Challenge title. “I am very much looking forward to taking on the 2022 season in the DTM Trophy as a member of the Speed Monkey with such an extraordinary car,” Nick Hanke says. “After some experience in touring car racing, entering DTM Trophy is the start of a new chapter.”
