Thierry tests at Red Bull Ring: 'Can't wait to make my debut in DTM'

Published on 17 April 2023 by Heidi De Love

Last weekend the 2023 DTM season kicked off with the first official DTM testing days at the Red Bull Ring, introducing the drivers and teams for the first time to the public.

Verstappen.com Racing driver Thierry Vermeulen, who takes part in a Ferrari 296 GT3 run by Emil Frey Racing, says: “Overall it was a positive two days. Of course it’s an official test so nobody is pushing fully, which makes it hard to know where we really are. But focusing on ourselves, we’ve completed the testing program allowing us to try everything we had set out to do. We made some good steps towards the right direction. It’s just a question of getting the miles into the car, working with the team and improving the car step by step.”

Thierry had two days of useful running and completed plenty of laps. He continues: “We showed good pace both in qualifying simulations and long runs. I feel very comfortable with the car already. Of course, we have done some days pre-season and we have one more test before it starts. I can’t wait to make my debut in the DTM series. Driving on track with all the iconic drivers was definitely a moment I really enjoyed and also being back at Red Bull Ring was really nice.”

“I think we can be satisfied with what we've learned this weekend so we will keep working and analyse the data with the team. From there on we will push to make the most of it before the season starts”, says Thierry.

Thierry’s first race of the season is the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup (GTWC Sprint), mid May at Brands Hatch. Two weeks later, the 20-year-old Dutchman will have his first DTM weekend, in Oschersleben.

Thierry: “We’ll have one more test next week in Valencia, where we can try some things we couldn’t on the Red Bull Ring. After that will be the first round of the GT World Challenge, the different series that I will be competing in this year. We have a competitive package this year, but it’s still a question of finding out the Balance Of Performance and hoping we don’t have any technical difficulties. As always with a car, it takes some time to run things smoothly, but the team is doing an amazing job and also working with my teammate Jack Aitken is really nice. I can' wait to get the season started!”