Ocon, Pic among five given Mercedes DTM test

Mercedes gave a DTM test to five rookies in Jerez this week including Felix Rosenqvist, Esteban Ocon and Charles Pic.

Rosenqvist, Ocon and Lucas Auer received the test as a reward "for outstanding achievements in Formula 3", with the new Mercedes-Benz Formula 3 engine being behind their successes this season. The trio were joined by Maximilian Gotz - who won the Blancpain Sprint Series in a Mercedes SLS AMG GT3, with it being his second DTM test following a run at Lausitzring last September.

Charles Pic was the other driver to get time in the DTM Mercedes AMG C Coupe, with the former Marussia and Caterham F1 race driver having worked alongside Ocon at the Lotus F1 team this year. Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Toto Wolff said the test showed the company's commitment to giving opportunities to young drivers.

"It was wonderful to see so many young and talented racing drivers gaining experience in our DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe," Wolff said. "Charles, Esteban, Felix, Lucas and Maximilian did a good job.

"The brand with the three pointed star has for decades enjoyed great success in bringing on young drivers in motor racing, and during that time, many of them have successfully moved up into Formula 1 or to the DTM. Pascal Wehrlein is the most recent example of what I'm talking about. He won his first DTM race this year and was also named as official reserve driver to our Silver Arrows Formula 1 team, Mercedes AMG Petronas."