DTM: Magnussen gets Mercedes test

Former McLaren Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen will test DTM machinery with Mercedes this week at Jerez. The Dane, who was the F1 team's reserve until being released last month, headlines Mercedes' lineup for the annual DTM rookie test, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday.

While Magnussen has stated his goal is to return to F1, he has explored other opportunities, including testing Porsche's LMP1 car at Barcelona earlier this month. Magnussen also held preliminary discussions with BMW about a DTM test, before locking in his Mercedes mileage.

His father, Jan Magnussen, was a race winner for Mercedes in the original DTM and its International Touring Car Championship successor in 1995-'96.

The final make-up of Mercedes' 2016 DTM lineup hinges on whether a deal for newly crowned champion Pascal Wehrlein to graduate to F1 with Manor comes together. A plan for ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde to test with Mercedes at Jerez failed to come to fruition.

GP2 driver and Ferrari protege Raffaele Marciello, who appeared in several grand prix practice sessions with Sauber, will join Magnussen in the Jerez lineup. GP3 front-runner Marvin Kirchhofer will also test, along with Formula Renault 3.5 driver Jazeman Jafaar and Mikkel Jensen, who finished ninth in the Formula 3 European Championship.

The invitation for the top Mercedes F3 finisher would have gone to Jake Dennis, third in the standings, but the Brit will instead take part in GP3's Abu Dhabi post-season test.

Luca Ludwig and Sebastian Asch are testing separately on Monday as a reward for their ADAC GT success with Mercedes. Another driver from Mercedes' GT program will also be in action in Maro Engel.

The winner of the FIA GT World Cup in Macau earlier this month, Engel raced in the DTM with Mercedes between 2008-'11.

"It's always a great experience to observe talented drivers taking their first steps in our Mercedes-AMG C 63 DTM," said Ulrich Fritz, head of Mercedes' DTM efforts. "Our brand has successfully worked to promote young talent in motor racing for many years, so it's really terrific that we are again able to offer a number of talented racing drivers an opportunity to test our DTM car this week."

BMW and Audi are also testing a host of young drivers in the Jerez session, with F3 winner George Russell and GP2 front-runner Mitch Evans among those getting chances.

Originally on Autosport.com