Bernd Schneider Retires from DTM

German touring car driver Bernd Schneider announced earlier today that he will retire from DTM after season's finale at Hockenheim. The 44-year old driver was rumored to leave the sport ever since he clinched his last win at Nurburgring in late July, but has now officially expressed his desire to part ways with Mercedes works team starting 2009.

“I've been active as a racing driver for more than 30 years and my aim has always been to continue racing for as long as I enjoy the sport and am still able to remain competitive. The time to leave has now come and it gives rise to conflicting emotions. On one hand I'm sorry to be saying goodbye to the many friends I have made in motorsport, above all in the AMG, HWA and Mercedes-Benz teams. But on the other hand I'm looking forward to facing my exciting new challenges,” said Schneider.

Those new challenges include working for the same HWA team as a test driver and helping to the development of their new car for 2009. He will also take on a job as driving instructor at the AMG Driving Academy while becoming an ambassador for the brand to whom he has been linked with for the past 17 racing seasons.

“Bernd and Mercedes were partners on the track for 17 years - one of the longest and most successful partnerships between a driver and a brand in the motor racing world. Mercedes-Benz has much to thank Bernd for and he has put his stamp on the DTM like no other driver. He is also an example to many young drivers but for me he is also a friend, and one I will miss behind the wheel when there are races to be won,” concluded Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug.

Schneider has won no less than 5 DTM titles while driving for Mercedes-Benz works team, having clinched an overall 36 wins throughout his touring car career. Between 1997 and 1999, when DTM was discontinued, the German also clinched the FIA GT title alongside Mercedes (1997). Schneider's run in Formula 1 was rather short, having raced for Zakspeed and Arrows between 1988 and 1990.