Breaking news
DTM
Molina: Formula E among several options after DTM exit
DTM race winner Miguel Molina says he has been "in contact with several championships" after losing his Audi drive at the end of 2016.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Edited: Dec 27, 2016, 2:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Molina, who won three DTM races during his seven-year stint in the DTM with Audi, was left off the Ingolstadt marque's 2017 roster amid the series cutting down to six cars per manufacturer – and is now evaluating what the next step in his career will be.
"There are several options," the 27-year-old Spaniard told Motorsport.com. "We need to analyse which ones fit my driving style best, and the type of cars. But it's still early to decide.
"We are evaluating where we could end up and be competitive, and that will take some time. We have been in contact with several championships and I hope there's a final decision soon."
A Formula Renault 3.5 frontrunner prior to his DTM switch, Molina admits a return to single-seaters could be a possibility, with the all-electric Formula E series firmly on the Spaniard's radar.
"It [Formula E] could be one of the options, but the [2016-2017] championship is already underway, so it will be hard for this season. I'm not ruling it out.
"I said before that I had options to be there this season already, but I had a contract with Audi and I couldn't make such a radical change. So it could be an option - but not for this year, because everything is settled."
DTM exit "a shame"
Molina expressed regret about his departure from the DTM after seven seasons, but said that it did not come as a huge surprise, given the troubles of Audi parent company VW Group.
"The possibility was there because the Group is not in the best situation. They first ended the WEC project, then Volkswagen decided to quit the WRC officially...
"We knew it was hard times for a couple of years with all that happened and that security was not guaranteed.
"My contract was finishing this year and there was a restructuring from Audi and it was our turn, like it was other drivers' turns in other years. It was our turn because of the coincidence that the contract was ending and because there were other drivers who still had contracts from other programmes."
While his 13th-place overall finish in 2016 was three places lower than his personal best in the DTM, Molina reckons this past season was his best in the series.
"It's a shame [to be leaving] because I think that, from a performance level, it was a great year, the best I had in the DTM."
However, the Spaniard reckons the DTM cutting down to 18 cars from 24 is justified: "I think that as long as it keeps the championship alive, all the changes are important. The DTM is a very competitive championship, where the costs are very high - and that's one way to reduce them.
"It's obvious that having 18 cars is not ideal, but if the goal is to help the championship, to keep the competitive level up, then it can be positive."
Interview by Sergio Lillo
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Audi confirms Gass as new head of motorsport
Next article Berger downplays talk of DTM involvement
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Miguel Molina
Ferrari “didn’t expect” #50 to win Austin WEC as #51 pitstop issue revealed
WEC
WEC
COTA
Ferrari “didn’t expect” #50 to win Austin WEC as #51 pitstop issue revealed
Antonio Fuoco drove “angry” overcoming penalties for stirring last-lap GTD-winning pass
IMSA
IMSA
Sebring 12 Hours
Antonio Fuoco drove “angry” overcoming penalties for stirring last-lap GTD-winning pass
Ferrari's Molina convinced Corvette 'has something extra'
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Ferrari's Molina convinced Corvette 'has something extra'
Latest news
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Denny Hamlin proud of season despite another likely missed title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
2 h
Denny Hamlin proud of season despite another likely missed title
Max Verstappen jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's Le Mans ambition: "He's a smart man picking me!"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Max Verstappen jokes about Daniel Ricciardo's Le Mans ambition: "He's a smart man picking me!"
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe