BMW Motorsport has announced that Lucas Auer will return to DTM with the manufacturer in 2020, while Joel Eriksson has been dropped from its roster.
Auer spent four years in DTM with Mercedes, taking four wins, before moving to Super Formula in 2019, receiving backing from energy drinks company Red Bull.
But that relationship has not been extended into 2020 and instead Auer will return to DTM, this time with BMW, which has also confirmed that Marco Wittmann, Philipp Eng, Timo Glock and Sheldon van der Linde will stay on.
“I am really excited about returning to the DTM with BMW,” said Auer.
“During my career, I have been in contact with BMW Motorsport on several occasions, but it all came together this time.
“I am counting down the days until I get into the car for the first time. I took a big step forward personally last year in Japan. The key now will be to adapt quickly to the DTM again. However, I am not worried about that.”
Auer’s place has come at the expense of IMSA-bound Bruno Spengler, while Eriksson, who stepped up to the series with BMW in 2018 off the back of finishing third in European Formula 3, has been dropped.
BMW has yet to determine the identity of Eriksson’s replacement, though ex-Williams F1 racer Robert Kubica and Racing Point simulator driver Nick Yelloly both tested its M4 DTM at Jerez last week.