Maro Engel Will Pilot #9 SP Tools Racing V8 Supercar

German born and former DTM driver Maro Engel will join the Erebus Motorsport V8 stable aftersigning a multi-year contract, and will pilot the #9 SP Tools Racing Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG V8Supercar in the 2013 Championship.

Starting his racing career in karting, Engel is an experienced European driver who has competed innumerous formula categories and will now take his place on the V8 Supercars grid for the first time.

Engel admits that while he completed a successful V8 Supercar test with the team in December2012, his first year in Australia’s premier motorsport category will be a learning curve.

“V8 Supercars gets quite a lot of coverage in Europe so I was well aware of the category and Ifollowed it. It’s always been known for very close racing and that is something we look at fromEurope in a little bit of an envious way because our touring car racing sometimes lacks thoseovertaking mauvers. It is impressive to see how closely the cars follow each other.

“In December I tested the 2012 car and it was a great experience. The car was really fun to drive; Ihad great feedback out on track and heightened my desire to be part of this category.

“We had a really successful and positive test and it was great to work with the engineers. They are areally professional team and it gave me a really good insight into what the V8 Supercars have beenlike and I think with the changes for this year it’s going to make them even better.

“This year will be a steep learning curve for me, that’s for sure, but I’m really looking forward tolearning from my team and team mates. I’m definitely coming over to be successful however I thinkwe have to appreciate that this will take some time.

“This year is an unknown for everybody with new cars and new Car of the Future regulations, so Ithink we will have to wait and see how things go in the first race to see where we are all positioned.Obviously I would like to be as close as possible to my team mates, so that will be the first goal.

“My ambassadorial role with Mercedes-AMG now comes to an end by mutual agreement. I wouldlike to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Mercedes-AMG for the great experiences we haveshared together, it has been a privilege to work for such a great company.

“I have made many new friends and despite the distance will certainly keep in touch with them.Through the close links between AMG and Erebus Motorsport, I have been presented with thisopportunity and I now look forward to this new challenge; working for an AMG customer sportsteam as a driver for Erebus Motorsport V8,” said Engel.

Engel says he is hugely excited about competing in his first race at the Clipsal 500: “It’s a big thing forme, the team and for the fans. I feel very positive about it and can’t wait to get there and get on the grid. We definitely have a lot of homework to do before we get there and some important testing. Ithink it will be an amazing event especially for me being my first race in V8 Supercars.

“I want to thank Betty, Ryan, Ross and the entire team for giving me the opportunity to be a part ofthis Australian made project. I really believe in this project and I believe we will be successful,” saidEngel.

While Engel is new to the sport of V8 Supercars, he is no stranger to the Erebus Motorsport teamhaving won his Australian race debut in the GT3 Championship at Phillip Island last year.

“It was an amazing experience driving for Erebus Motorsport last year in the GT Series at PhillipIsland. You could really feel the vibe and spirit of the team, everyone was really motivated andhungry for success. We had a great run and had some great results with a lap record, pole positionand the win,” said Engel.

Erebus Motorsport V8 CEO Ryan Maddison said the process of filling the car #9 seat was one thatwas carefully considered.

“Erebus Motorsport V8 has a huge response with offers to drive both full time in car #9 andendurance events, and we are still fielding highly creditable applicants both domestically andinternationally.

“Maro has four years of experience as a Mercedes-Benz factory driver in the DTM series and hasproduced a number of standout performances including his win with Erebus Motorsport at PhillipIsland last year.

“We undertook extensive due diligence on all levels and we believe that Maro’s desire to learn theV8 category, his professionalism and his motivation will strengthen our 2013 driver line-up whichincludes Lee Holdsworth and Tim Slade.

“The result is that we are entering this year’s V8 Supercars Championship with three drivers who weare not only very experienced, but that are excellent team ambassadors,” said Maddison.

Erebus Motorsport v8 General Manager Ross Stone said:

“Maro tested our 2012 spec V8 Supercar back in December and exceeded our expectations, giventhat a V8 Supercar is so unique to learn to drive in terms of the control tyre and brake packageagainst engine power.

“He adapted to the car very quickly and showed that he had the determination and skill to race inthe category. Of course he will have a lot to learn this year, as will every driver getting into a newcar of the future,” said Stone.

Maro will participate in his first official V8 Supercars test day on 16 February at Sydney MotorsportPark.