Merc are planning to test the following drivers this week:

Marko Asmer
Nicolas Kiesa
Renger van der Zande
Yelmer Buurman
Cyndie Allemann
Maro Engel

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Yes I've read it. The best will be in Mugello. It's only a test for the drivers. There will be no new parts of teh 2008 car. Each driver will drive one day. They have to beat a time who was set by Matthias Lauda.
Also Paul di Resta will test the 2007 car. He has to beat the times of Jamie Green who will be on the track too.

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

That's a good idea by Mercedes, make the drivers beat their current drivers lap times. I'm not sure anybody will beat Lauda's time, but I reckon Green's time can be beaten by Di Resta.

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Yes it's a good way for testing. Buurman had a test in the last winter and Allemann will drive in F3Euro neyt year. So not all drivers fight for a cockpit in a 2006/7 car.
I think Maro Engel and Marko Asmer want to drive in GP2. DTM is the second solution not the best for theese two drivers.

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

I think only the drivers who really want the Mercedes DTM seat should get it. So if Engel and Asmer want to do GP2, they should go and do that.

Maybe they could put Cyndie Allemann in the 2006 seat, and put Susie in a 2007 car?

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Like I said. Allemann has a F3 contract for 2008. So I think she tests to show her potential for 2009 or later(like Buurman last winter).

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

Di Resta defintely deserves the 2008 seat, after doing so well this year. Keep Schieder, Spengler and Green.

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The official lubricant for all Mercedes-Benz Motorsport engines

The four 2008 cars are nearly save I think.

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

Brilliant, any news on Lauda or Margeretois?

Also, Audi's new 2 year old driver will be interesting...

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Lauda will drive the Speedcar but he said that doesn't matter for his DTM engagement so I think he will drive. Magaritis did a good job this year I think he will drive a 2007 car in 2008.
But maybe there are to much drivers for the cars so maybe some drivers will be kicked out.

Audis second 2006 driver must have a lot of money because it's the only driver wothout factory contract. So their are lot of drivers who could drive it.

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

Lauda in Speedcar, that will be interesting.

I think Magaritis did a very good job this year, he has defintely improved this year, getting many points. I think some Merc drivers could be out, like Paffett if he goes to F1.

Hmm, the Audi 06 driver will have to have lots of money? We will have to see then...

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Do you really think Paffet goes in F1? I don't think so.
But I think drivers like Paffet or Margaritis want to have a 2008 car but Mercedes can't give them one. So maybe they want to leave Mercedes. Thats what I wanted to say with:

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

If Prodrive enter F1 next year, then Paffett could get the seat. However, if Prodrive fail to enter F1 next year he hasn't got a chance.

I think Paffett could get frustrated with Mercedes, it just shows, trying to enter F1 by getting a Mclaren seat failed completely.

Margaritis is a driver who can grow, maybe HWA should make a fifth car?

This is interesting, 25% of HWA has been brought by a Qatar investor; http://dtm.com/newsausgabe.php?id=6514

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Yes I've read it. HWA is on the stock market since a few months.

I don't think that HWA will make a fifth car.

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Für alles über 8 Minuten auf der Nordschleife ziehe ich keinen Helm auf!

For anything over 8 minutes on the Nordschleife I don't put on a helmet!

Walter Röhrl

I don't think HWA will be affected, well hopefully not. This person is just an investor, I don't think he will care how the team is run.

Hopefully next year HWA can win the championship.

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