Already a race winner in his rookie year, in 2005, Hakkinen finished fifth and sixth respectively in the last two seasons. Mercedes' protegee enjoys great popularity among the team members and his fans, and he is the best known driver personality currently competing in the German series. The reason for this is not only his successful career in Grand Prix racing, but also the commercials he appeared in for Mercedes-Benz.
"It's nice being a part of the Mercedes-Benz family further on. Everybody at Mercedes and HWA has supported me very much during the last two years and I feel absolutely comfortable here. My results in 2006 don't reflect our true potential and my target is to rectify that this year", says Hakkinen.
Mika Hakkinen retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2001 season. During his 11-year career, he won 20 races with McLaren-Mercedes, achieved 26 pole-positions, 25 fastest race laps and scores 420 World Championship points. In 1998 and 1999, he clinched the Drivers' title and finished as a runner-up in 2000.
The Finn will start his third DTM year in the season opener at the Hockenheimring, on April 22. The driver line-up of the championship is yet to be confirmed.
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