Ralf Schumacher has extended his contract and will start again in the DTM in 2009. After his learning year with a 2007 car, he will now race the new 2009 Trilux AMG Mercedes C-Class, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport announced today. The season will start in 95 days in Hockenheim on 17th May 2009.

Bernd Schneider and Klaus Ludwig, by far the most successful ever DTM touring car racing drivers, have been appointed as brand ambassadors, instructors and test drivers for AMG and Mercedes-Benz. With these appointments, which take immediate effect, Mercedes-Benz and the high-performance brand AMG have succeeded in securing the extensive wealth of experience and expertise of two of motorsport’s greatest professionals.

Bernd Schneider, who competed in his last DTM race at the season’s finale on 26 October 2008 at the Hockenheimring circuit, will now provide support to the AMG development team as a test driver and will also pass on his know-how as an expert instructor at the AMG Driving Academy. The record-breaking DTM champion will also be much in demand as a conversation partner at both customer and press events. His duties with AMG began officially on 1 January 2009.