Ex-MotoGP star Dovizioso completes DTM test in BMW GT3 car

Former MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso tested a BMW M4 GT3 for Project 1 last week to evaluate whether he is ready to race in the DTM this year.

Dovizioso got his first taste of GT3 machinery at Hockenheim on March 28-29, sharing an M4 GT3 with two-time DTM champion and factory BMW driver Marco Wittmann.

Wittmann has already been signed by Project 1 to lead its assault on the DTM and the team has been looking for a second driver to complete its line-up for the 2023 season.

Dovizioso, who impressed during a guest outing in an Audi Class 1 car back in 2019, was seen as a contender for the seat after being included in the two-day test at Hockenheim. However, a race berth now looks unlikely, given the scale of challenges ahead for the Italian.

Motorsport.com’s sister website Motorsport-Total.com was able to find individual lap times of both Dovizioso and Wittmann, who provided a benchmark to the 37-year-old thanks to his extensive experience in the DTM with BMW.

While Wittmann was able to achieve a best time of 1m37.712s in the car that won last year’s title in the hands of Schubert’s Sheldon van der Linde, Dovizioso could improve no further than 1m41.812s in his final stint.

That put the Italian 4.1s off Wittmann’s best time, even though he had made a marked improvement from a 1m43.642s from his first stint.

The difference in lap times points to Dovizioso facing a steep learning curve in GT3 machinery, where he is a complete rookie, in order to be ready to race competitively in the DTM.

While GT3 cars do come with ABS and traction control, making them suitable for amateurs, some find adjusting to driving aids a particularly difficult exercise.

It could be one reason why Dovizioso had a relatively easier time in the more aerodynamically-efficient Class 1 car at Misano in 2019, where he ended up 1.319s off polesitter Rene Rast. However, it must be noted that he completed an initial run at Audi Sport’s Neuburg facility and two days of testing at Misano to prepare for his debut outing. 

Project 1’s second driver

Project 1 is now facing a race against time to lock in a second driver for 2023, with pre-season testing due to get underway at Spielberg on 15-16 April. DTM’s new owner, the ADAC, has been putting pressure on both the team and BMW to have its drivers signed in time for the test.

Dev Gore, who drove for Team Rosberg in 2021-22 and finished on the podium at Imola with an impressive strategy, is one such candidate for the drive. Although Gore had a tough rookie season, he showed signs of improvement last year and finished on the podium at Imola with the help of an impressive strategy.

Wittmann’s 2022 team-mate at Walkenhorst, Esteban Muth, is also a contender for the…