Alesi's DTM move confirmed.

Mercedes have officially confirmed today that they have signed former F1 driver Jean Alesi to race in the DTM series for them in 2002 and 2003.

The team released the following statement:

"Mercedes-Benz today announced that Jean Alesi will join the brand's line-up for the 2002 DTM. The former Formula One driver, who competed in the 2001 Formula
One World Championship for the Prost Acer and the Jordan Honda team is the first new Mercedes-Benz driver to be confirmed for the 2002 season starting on 21 April at Hockenheim."

"Mercedes-Benz and Jean Alesi are happy to announce a two-year contract with an option to continue the co-operation after the end of 2003."

Alesi who tested the Mercedes DTM car at Hockenheim two weeks ago said: "I'm very happy to join Mercedes-Benz for the 2002 DTM season. I've always liked the DTM with its close competition. Without the electronic aids assisting you in Formula One the DTM cars are very challenging, that's what I like very much."

"Therefore my decision to join Mercedes-Benz for the DTM in 2002 comes as the result of the test I had in Hockenheim a few weeks ago. I'm very much looking forward to compete in the best touring car series in the world and to race against the best touring car drivers world wide. I consider my DTM involvement to be a big challenge for my further racing career"

Mercedes boss Norbert Haug added: "Jean Alesi is the perfect completion to our line-up of experienced drivers and young talents. He performed impressively during his test and I am sure he will successfully contribute to our team's performance in the upcoming years."

"In the last 13 years in Formula One Jean was always one of the fastest drivers and his style of driving and his personality is very much liked by the public. When the opportunity to contract Jean for the DTM arose we didn't hesitate and now all team members are very happy to have him in a Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM next year."

Alesi, born on 11 June 1964, started racing in the Renault 5 Cup in 1983. He won the Formula 3000 Championship title in 1989 before he entered Formula One in 1990 with Tyrrell. His Formula One career in which he took part in 201 Grands Prix lasted for 13 years.

During this time he competed for Tyrrell (1990), Ferrari (1991 till 1995), Benetton (1996, 1997), Sauber (1998, 1999), Prost (2000 until half way of the 2001 season) and Jordan (for the second half of the 2001 season). Highlights of his Formula One career were the victory in the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix and 31 podium finishes. In 1996 and 1997 he finished fourth in the Drivers World Championship.

On 7 November 2001 he completed his first test in the Mercedes-Benz CLK-DTM at Hockenheim, Germany. Jean Alesi is to date one of the most popular and most liked racing car drivers worldwide. His approach towards the public is very much liked by the large number of his fans.