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Manor hand DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein F1 seat

Omnisports

Manor have announced DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein as their first driver for the 2016 Formula One season.

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Reigning DTM champion Pascal Wehrlein will get his first taste of Formula One in 2016 after signing for Manor.

The 21-year-old became the youngest winner of the DTM championship last year having previously impressed in the junior levels of single-seater racing under Mercedes.

Wehrlein won two races driving for Mercedes last season but it was his consistency that secured the title by 19 points from Jamie Green.

For the past two seasons Wehrlein has combined his role in DTM with being the Mercedes F1 test driver, but he has never featured at a race weekend.

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That is all set to change this year, though, after he was the first driver confirmed by last season's strugglers – who are now powered by Mercedes engines.

"Pascal is a sharp driver with a very promising future," Manor Racing owner Stephen Fitzpatrick told the team's official Facebook page.

"Manor Racing is excited to have him aboard. We're a small team up for a big challenge this season, so we've chosen a driver with the talent and hunger to match our own on-track ambitions.

"Pascal has impressed in testing for Mercedes and Force India, together with commanding performances in DTM, culminating in the championship win last year.

"Manor Racing is perfectly placed to help Pascal make a big impact in his first season. We're looking forward to it!"

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Wehrlein is excited to begin his F1 career and will get his first action in the new Manor car at the pre-season testing in Barcelona on February 22.

"Manor Racing is a great place for me to start my Formula One racing career – I'm very pleased to be here," he said.

"It will be a tough challenge but I think we should be able to challenge for points along the way. It's going to be good fun."

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