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HomeNewsAUSTRALIAN S5000 RACER SIGNS DTM TROPHY DEAL

AUSTRALIAN S5000 RACER SIGNS DTM TROPHY DEAL

AUSTRALIAN S5000 racer Ricky Capo has been signed by DTM team KÜS Team Bernhard to race in the 2022 DTM Trophy category.

The 26-year-old Melbournian will drive the #26 Porsche Cayman 718 GT4 RS during the 16 race calendar that will visit Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria.

Capo was one of the original drivers on the S5000 grid when it was established in 2019 and finished fifth in the series that season. He finished runner-up in the 2015 Australian Formula 3 Championship.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’d like to thank Timo (Bernhard, KÜS Team Bernhard team principal) for putting his trust in me,” Capo said.

“It’s a privilege to be part of KÜS Team Bernhard, and to have the guidance of a driver with such an incredible career. I’m sure there’s a lot I’ll learn from him throughout the year.

“To be racing for Porsche is an honour and it comes with a big responsibility – something that really motivates me for the season ahead.”

The Australian will drive alongside 16-year-old German Daniel Gregor in the sister #25 Porsche and will first get a taste of his new car next week.

“I’m excited to be driving the car for the first time next week,” Capo said.

“I’ve been spending time with the mechanics and engineers who’ve been nothing but helpful getting me up to speed for my first time in a GT4.

“DTM Trophy is a step towards my goal of becoming a full-time DTM driver, and I can’t thank those enough from Australia – and of course here in Europe – who’ve helped me get closer to my goal.”

Capo has also been successful in Formula racing, GT3 and LMP3 prototypes, highlighted by winning the LMP3 class at the 4 Hours of Monza in 2017, and is currently helping develop the Praga R1 for the Australian Prototype Series in Australia alongside Rick Campbell and Praga Racing ANZ.

“We have a super interesting driver pairing,” Bernhard said.

“Daniel will have a very interesting and very strong teammate in Ricky Capo. For him, however, the GT4 category is completely new; he comes from a higher class, but has already gained experience in Europe in LMP3.

“I think that with Ricky we’ll really bring some colour into the DTM Trophy. He’s a very open-minded guy and, at the age of 26, already brings a lot of experience with him.

“Of course, we don’t just want to drive for the gallery in the DTM Trophy, we also want to fight for victories and the title, which requires the right drivers, and I think we have them.

“For Daniel, of course, learning and gaining experience has top priority, with Ricky we want to attack up front.”

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