After considering a return to Formula One, Hakkinen tested a Mercedes- Benz DTM car and truly enjoyed the experience. "Right from the start I realised that I still love racing," added the Finn on DTM's official website.
Mika decided to extend his career and signed a contract to drive in the 2005 DTM championship. "Quite obviously I know that I will have to adapt to a DTM car before having the chance of battling at the front end of the grid," said Hakkinen. "But the AMG-Mercedes C-Class is a great car to drive and I’m keen on soon being competitive with this car, any time."
Hakkinen's motivation continues to grow after testing the car once again: "The more I drive, the more I learn. I’m already really comfortable with last year’s car and I’m sure, I will further improve with the new AMG Mercedes C-Class. The co-operation within the HWA team is great and I look forward to an exciting season."