American Le Mans Series GT champion Joey Hand will be heading to Europe for 2012 to drive BMW’s new DTM car, the company announced Thursday.
The 32-year-old has been driving for BMW in North America since 2004, in ALMS and Grand Am’s Rolex and Continental Tires series. In 2011 he was part of the Rolex 24 Hours-winning team, as well as winning the ALMS GT Driver’s championship, while helping BMW win the team and manufacturer’s titles.
Hand earned his seat on the DTM team with impressive results during testing at the Monteblanco circuit near Seville, Spain in mid-November.
“I am really looking forward to my new challenge in the DTM, and thank BMW sincerely for the company’s confidence in me,” said Hand in a BMW press release. “I immediately enjoyed the BMW M3 DTM. Its downforce and carbon brakes are extremely impressive.
“I know some of the team members from the past, and was able to acquaint myself with the others in Monteblanco. Now I am looking forward to our close teamwork in future!”
Hand is the fifth driver chosen for the six-man team. He joins Andy Priaux, Augusto Farfus, Bruno Spengler, and reigning DTM Champion Martin Tomczyk on the 2012 BMW squad.
“Joey has been a member of the BMW family for many years, and we are extremely pleased that he will now form part of our DTM project,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
“During the test in Monteblanco with the BMW M3 DTM he immediately proved to be very fast. We are convinced the addition of Joey to our line-up will substantially strengthen our project.”
The 11-round 2012 DTM schedule begins at Germany’s Hockenheimring on April 29. This would leave the California native time to race for BMW at Sebring in the combined ALMS-WEC Sebring 12 Hours on March 17. There is also a break in June during which Hand could race at Le Mans. Given the rest of the schedule, it seems unlikely he will be racing in North America in ALMS or Grand Am once DTM kicks off.
