Mission Winnow Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso will be taking part in next month’s Misano DTM round as a stand-in driver with Audi, replacing Pietro Fittipaldi in the WRT element of Audi’s lineup as the latter will be on Formula 1 reserve duties in Canada.
This isn’t the first time the Italian will be in competitive action on four wheels. ‘DesmoDovi’ starred when he took part in the 2016 Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final at Valencia, picking up a Pro-Am class win in one of the races.
FIRST FOOTAGE: @MotoGP ace @AndreaDovizioso gets to grip with some @audisport #DTM muscle! ????????????#DoviDrivesDTM ????????????️ pic.twitter.com/jXgCME2bzU
— DTM (@DTM) May 8, 2019
Dovizioso had the first contact with the Audi RS 5 DTM at the Audi Motorsport Competition Centre in Neuburg on Tuesday. Before his debut in the DTM, the factory Ducati man will have the opportunity to test the 610+ horsepower that the Audi RS5 DTM has at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on May 22nd and 23rd.
Dieter Gass, Head of Audi Motorsport: “I am delighted that we have been able to invite a superstar to the DTM. The MotoGP riders really are heroes in Italy. Andrea comes from the area of Misano, where last year he won the MotoGP race and he will surely attract many unconditional fans. We are very excited to see how he will do on his debut in the DTM. The fact that he decides to run in the DTM between two MotoGP races is fantastic and it is necessary to value it. I would like to especially thank the Ducati CEO, Claudio Domenicali, and the Ducati Corse CEO, Luigi Dall'Igna, for giving the green light to the invitation for Andrea. It's a big thing for the DTM and for motorsport in general.”
Andrea Dovizioso: “I love cars and I feel lucky to be able to race with the Audi RS 5 DTM. It's hard to find the time to prepare during the MotoGP season but I'm looking forward to competing in a context as demanding as the DTM. The car is incredible, but it's something very different from my Desmosedici GP and I need to prepare well. I did a lot of laps with the simulator before driving the car for the first time. Misano is a special circuit for Italian riders and it is the track where last year I achieved an incredible victory so I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity.”