Quote:
Originally Posted by Bcarr6
What youve just described is exactly how very many customer programs work. Customer teams receive factory supported drivers all the time, doesnt mean they are factory efforts.
So really the question is whether Ferrari think DTM is worth sending a factory associated driver to, which could potentially happen this year when it didnt last year, as Red Bull seemingly have less options this year
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"Customer program" doesn't mean anything without a context... customer program in the most basic meaning it's the manufacturer that lets customers buying their racing cars.
And you're wrong, it doesn't happen all the time, actually only few selected customer teams receive factory support... think about how many teams use audi R8 gt3? And which of them usually receive factory support? Only WRT for full GTWC season effort and other teams like phoenix, attempto, sainteloc for 24H races only.
Speaking about AF corse DTM program, is quite simple, redbull wanted to race in DTM, they contacted and hired AF corse to grid cars and manage redbull DTM program with all drivers involved being redbull contracted drivers.
There is no direct involvment of ferrari intended as "factory" as happens with AF Corse when they run and manage ferrari work racing program in WEC (which it would be actually bizarre considering the huge hostility between ferrari and redbull).
AF corse manages private and unbacked racing programs of many other teams, like cetilar racing, MR racing, spirit of race etc...