» Formula E: DTM stars join Venturi

The Venturi Formula E team has confirmed that it will field Mercedes DTM drivers Edoardo Mortara and Maro Engel in the 2017-18 season.

Engel has been retained by the Monaco-based outfit after debuting with them in the preceding 2016-17 season, and dovetailed his Formula E duties with his DTM commitments for Mercedes-Benz.

The German (pictured above right) finished 17th overall in the Drivers’ Championship standings in his first season of open-wheel racing in ten years, claiming a best finish of fifth at the Monaco ePrix.

Mortara, meanwhile, will end an open-wheel racing break that stretches to 2009. The 30-year-old Swiss driver (pictured above left), the champion of the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2010, has spent the past seven years racing in the DTM championship.

Originally starting out with Audi, he finished runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship standings in 2016 before jumping to rivals Mercedes-Benz the following year.

With Mercedes having recently announced its shock withdrawal from the DTM Championship to move to Formula E for the 2019-20 season onwards, Venturi’s appointment of two of the German carmaker’s drivers could hint at Mercedes’ plans for the all-electric championship.

Images via DTM Championship / LAT