The Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Peter Mücke’s racing team will be the only car in the DTM to be equipped with the Space Drive system this year. Schaeffler-Paravan is therefore pursuing a new strategy, because last year not only Maximilian Buhk’s car had electronic steering on board, but also Timo Glock’s Rowe-BMW and Sophia Flörsch’s Abt-Audi.
According to Mücke, it is nonsense that this could have something to do with the fact that the system in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 works better than in other cars. “It’s a top story and we had no problems with it,” says Peter Mücke in an interview with ‘Motorsport-Total.com’.
“Everything else had to do with the fact that the drivers who also had it on board were very new to GT3 and needed their time to get into it.”
“You have to be used to GT3 cars for that”
In fact, neither Glock nor Flörsch, in which the system was finally expanded before the Spielberg weekend in contrast to Buhk’s cars, had much GT3 experience under their belts last year. In complete contrast to the 29-year-old Mücke driver Buhk, who has been active in GT3 racing since 2012 and has never complained about the system.
According to Mücke, this has nothing to do with Buhk’s adaptability. “Another GT3 specialist can handle that, but you have to be used to GT3 cars,” the experienced team boss clarifies.
A GT3 car is “not a racing car like any other – and operating it requires a great deal of experience. You don’t just beat the guys who sit in there every weekend, even if you have the best career. “
Why Schaeffler-Paravan will only rely on Mücke in 2022
But what is the reason that Schaeffler-Paravan no longer relies on three different DTM vehicles to collect data for the development of the system, which is intended to play a key role in future with regard to autonomous driving?
According to information from “Motorsport-Total.com”, this has to do with the fact that the further development of the system in racing is now at a level that makes it no longer necessary to distribute it to several cars. You get into areas of detail where you have no gain if an inexperienced GT3 driver is behind the wheel.
Which role Maximilian Buhk plays
That is also the reason why Winward rookie David Schumacher, who has Schaeffler-Paravan as a sponsor, will be driving in the DTM with a conventional steering system. And why the contract extension with Buhk at the Mücke team was also in Schaeffler-Paravan’s interest.
The man from Dassendorf, who finished third in last year’s DTM season finale at the Norisring and clinched the first podium place with a vehicle without a steering column, knows the system and therefore also feels minimal changes to the software. This allows him to give valuable feedback.
What role does the Mücke team play? “We are the operations team and supply the data, but we are not developing the system any further,” explains Peter Mücke. “Schaeffler-Paravan does that itself.”
Mücke’s DTM racer not yet ready for 2022
By the way, the Mücke team is not currently testing with the car with which Buhk will be at the start in the DTM in 2022. Because the team will receive a new vehicle from Mercedes-AMG, in which Space Drive first has to be installed, which can now be done in just a few days.
Incidentally, during the test in Le Castellet last week and this week on Tuesday and Wednesday in Imola, Buhk also turned out with the test vehicle from Schaeffler-Paravan: the Mercedes-AMG GT3 equipped with Space Drive, which is usually used in the GTC Race series at the start has now been provided with the Evo package and is on the same level as the other Mercedes-AMG cars in the DTM.
In contrast to the previous year, continuity should also be ensured for the drivers in 2022. As a reminder: Back then, Buhk was only used because the ex-champion Gary Paffett, who was originally intended for use, canceled due to the coronavirus crisis.
Buhk then had to retire on the Hockenheimring weekend due to a scheduling conflict with the ADAC GT Masters and was replaced by Marvin Dienst. “It is the plan that Maximilian Buhk will compete in all races this year,” clarifies team boss Mücke.