OCTOBER 13, 2004

Hakkinen lowers his ambitions

Former double World Champion Mika Hakkinen decided some time ago that he wanted to get back into racing but the Formula 1 circus showed only lukewarm interest in the idea. There were talks with Williams and possibly also with BAR but it seems that the 36-year-old Finn has changed tack and is aiming for a job in the German DTM touring car series. It is virtually certain that if he does move into DTM he will drive for Mercedes-Benz with which he has long enjoyed a close relationship.

Mercedes-Benz currently employ eight drivers in the series: Bernd Schneider, Christijan Albers, Jean Alesi and Gary Paffett in the AMG team; Stefan Mucke and Markus Winkelhock with the Team Persson Motorsport and Jarek Janis and Bernd Maylander with Team Rosberg.

However the company lost the Constructors' title to Audi and so is looking to strengthen its team for next year.

Hakkinen says that he does not have any concrete plans to return to racing in 2005 but testing a car at the Lausitzring on Tuesday would seem to indicate that he is at least curious.