Budapest/Hungary, 18th June 2017 – For the first time this season, “Maxi” Günther will be on double duty. In Budapest, the third DTM stop in 2017, the drivers in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship will also be battling for points on the Hungaroring track. Günther may be a DTM reserve driver, but the 19-year-old still has meetings here. “In Budapest, I will only be racing in the Formula 3 cars, but I have tuning meetings with the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM team. And I also take part in media events and autograph sessions as a DTM test and reserve driver,” explained Günther.

It is the fifth race weekend for the Formula 3 driver. In the previous ten races, the man from Oberstdorf in Bavaria has won three times and picked up three third places, three fourth places and one seventh place. These results see the 19-year-old lead the overall standings. “You don’t have to win every race, usually consistency is the key to success. It’s better to finish higher up the points regularly than to take too many risks and end up retiring with no points,” said Maxi, revealing his recipe for success.

Another constant for Günther is premium tyre maker Hankook. In both his DTM test drives and in Formula 3, the junior talent drives with Hankook race tyres. While the cars in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship are fitted with the Hankook Ventus Race for single-seater racing, the DTM drivers rely on the new Ventus Race, specifically designed for the DTM. “Both tyres are very different, you can tell that by the dimensions alone. But both tyres provide a great deal of grip and fantastic performance. My task is, depending on the race series, to bring the tyres to the optimum working temperature as quickly as possible, to get the maximum top performance out of the tyre. The tyres are no longer allowed to be preheated in the DTM, so it is difficult at the start because there isn’t so much grip,” said Günther describing working with the black gold. “The Formula 3 tyres are at the optimum range from the third lap. But tyres are like points. It’s no good if the tyres are great at one point and bad at another. This is another area where consistency is the key. Consistent performance gives confidence and ultimately leads to success. The Hankook tyres deliver that perfectly,” summed up Günther.

Hankook, exclusive DTM partner since 2011, has been supplying the FIA Formula 3 European Championship since 2012, and supports junior talents on their way to an international career in motorsport. Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director Europe: “The junior series was the springboard to the pinnacle of motorsport for many drivers. In the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, you see motorsport at the highest level. We are delighted to be able to help the stars of tomorrow on their way.”