Former Formula 1 driver Vitaly Petrov supports DTM in his homeland Russia. During the appearance of the most popular international touring car series this weekend in the Moscow City Racing event, Petrov will drive a DTM Race Taxi. And he also will be on site when DTM will contest the sixth round of its season at the Moscow Raceway (02nd to 04th August). There, Petrov will – inter alia – once again drive a Race Taxi.
In the meanwhile traditional Moscow City Racing, a spectacular two-day motor-racing event held right in front of the Kremlin walls, just two weeks before the maiden DTM race ion Russian soil, the series will be represented by big names: DTM Championship leader Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), Andy Priaulx (BMW) and former DTM driver Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz), who is extremely popular in Russia, will not only join Petrov at a press conference to answer all the questions of the Russian media representatives around DTM but also will be available for the fans during autographing sessions.
The highlights, however, definitely will be the demonstration runs on Saturday and Sunday with an Audi RS 5 DTM, a BMW M3 DTM and a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé on the 3.7-kilometre track. On Sunday, Petrov will replace Schumacher at the wheel of the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, thus becoming the first Russian to drive a DTM car. “I’m thrilled by my cooperation with DTM,” said Petrov, to then address the Russian fans: “You definitely should attend the race from 02nd to 04th August. And who knows if you won’t be one of the lucky ones to win a lap with me on the Moscow Raceway.” Petrov was the first Russian Formula 1 driver and contested a total of 57 GP, from 2010 to 2012.
In the past years, the Moscow City Racing event has become a kind of tradition, in the Russian Capital. The sixth edition, in 2012, attracted and thrilled 300,000 visitors. The visitors will have the chance of getting very close to the DTM cars and witnessing them in action – and the same applies to numerous other racing cars, such as several Formula 1 cars and the mighty Kamaz race trucks used in the Dakar Rally. Having completed a first stint on Saturday, the DTM cars will be out on the track even three times, on Sunday.