Former W Series racer and Porsche Carrera Cup GB champion Esmee Hawkey will be the second woman in the upcoming DTM season, as the Brit joins forces with T3 Motorsport and ROKiT.
British racing driver Esmee Hawkey enjoyed a stunning 2020 season, as she claimed 9 victories and 15 podiums in the Porsche one-make series Carrera Cup GB and clinched the Pro-Am title.
After three years in the series - and a season in single seaters as one of the inaugural 20 selected drivers for the first edition of the all-female W Series - Hawkey proved that GT3 was her natural habitat and her program was set to expand to a top-level GT3 championship for 2021.
Initially scheduled to run in European Le Mans Series, Hawkey had to change plans after an issue in the FIA driver categorisation ranking. The driver, who is managed by former F1 racer Mark Blundell, now finally announced that she will step up to DTM - one of the most exclusive and competitive closed-wheels series in the world - joining forces with T3 Motorsport.
The German team will line up two Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, as Hawkey joins Belgian driver Esteban Muth on the grid. Esmee's partner for the operation will be global media company ROKiT, a company that has recently supported several talents across the world and has been massively involved in leading motorsport championships.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Esmee said. “The DTM is such a prestigious series with so much history so to be lining up on the grid this year is really exciting. I owe a huge thanks to both ROKiT and T3 Motorsport for making this happen. ROKiT have once again proved that they are a progressive and forward-thinking organisation that have made it possible for me to take the next step in my career.
According to MotorsportTotal, Esmee Hawkey tested the DTM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 last week during the Gedlich Racing-organized test day in Monza, where the 2021 season of the popular championship is set to get underway.
"T3 has a fantastic track record of developing young, driving talent and I have really enjoyed my first experiences with the team and car. With so little time before the first round, I know I am jumping in at the deep end but I’m excited to ramp up my preparations for the season. I know it is going to be a huge step up but it’s one I am ready to take and make the most of.”
T3 Motorsport, an established operation also competing in ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4, enters DTM after the series moved to GT3 regulations for the first time. The championship, which is broadcasted in more than 30 countries to 211 million viewers (2020), is gaining momentum and has attracted a strong field of over 20 cars for its inaugural season with the new format. Among them, there will be two women: Esmee Hawkey and Sophia Floersch.
Esmee's livery will feature ROKiT's most prominent brands, such as ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer.
“We are delighted and excited to have partnered with Esmee and T3 Motorsport to race in the DTM Championship." Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman of the ROKiT Group of Companies added. “We feel that being part of the hugely popular DTM series compliments our other motorsport sponsorships in Formula E, IndyCar, NHRA, W Series and the BTCC and we see this as a tremendous opportunity to further promote our award-winning ABK Beer across Germany, in particular, and internationally as well.”
The 2021 DTM season will get underway in Monza, Italy, in two week's time. After the Temple of Speed, teams and drivers will get the chance to visit some of the most exciting European racing venues, such as Nurburgring, Red Bull Ring, and Hockenheim, with the iconic street circuit of the Norisring currently with no set date but featuring on the calendar.
As part of her 2019 W Series season, Esmee Hawkey has previously raced at Zolder, Assen, Hockenheim and Norisring.
2021 Calendar
R1: Monza, Italy - 19/20 June
R2: Lausitzring, Germany - 24/25 July
R3: Zolder, Belgium - 7/8 August
R4: Nurburgring, Germany - 21/22 August
R5: Red Bull Ring, Austria - 4/5 September
R6: Assen, Netherlands - 18/19 September
R7: Hockenheim, Germany - 2/3 October
NC: Norisring, Germany - postponed
