Marco Wittmann will remember 14th December 2011 for a long time. This was the day when the young driver climbed behind the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM for the first time at tests in Monteblanco, Spain, skilfully guiding the 480hp racing car through the 19 corners of the 4,445-metre circuit. An indescribable feeling, and a milestone in what is still a fledgling career.

It was also a big change for the man who finished runner-up in the 2011 Formula 3 Euro series. Lap by lap, Wittmann rapidly adapted to the brakes, downforce and completely different view from the cockpit of the touring car. The reward for his good performances: Marco drove for BMW Motorsport in the 2012 season, during which he was employed in a diverse range of activities. He lined up in the BMW Z4 GT3 for customer teams at various races, as well as starting at the infamous 24-hour race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. At the same time, Marco was also an integral part of the DTM programme as test and development driver. He was present at all the meetings and briefings on race weekends. The goal was to get to know the processes within the team better.

Over the course of the season, Marco also drove the BMW M3 DTM at selected test sessions. Finally, he proved good enough to get the chance to be a DTM driver for BMW Motorsport in the 2013 season.

Fast and talented: these two words best sum up Marco Wittmann. The German, now 23 years old, demonstrated his raw speed back in his Formula BMW days. Wittmann received the necessary tools for a successful career in motorsport in Formula BMW, scoring three wins and a further 14 podium finishes in the 2007 and 2008 seasons of BMW's junior racing programme. "I have always had a link to BMW since the great and informative time I spent in Formula BMW," he says. "As such, I am delighted to be able to race for BMW in 2012 and to gain DTM experience as a test driver. I am certain that I will learn a lot in this new environment."

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt is full of praise for Marco's rapid development: "He made a very good impression at his DTM test. It is certainly no coincidence that Marco has come through our own junior promotion programme. Having graduated from Formula BMW he forged ahead with his motorsport career."