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David Coulthard will spend a third year in the DTM with Mercedes this season.

The 13-time grand prix winner is staying with Mucke Motorsport, but will, for the first time in his DTM career, have a current-spec car as the series moves into a new set of technical regulations aimed at increasing driver safety and cutting costs.

Coulthard, who finished 16th in last year's championship, has started 21 DTM races and believes that the experience he can now fall back on will help him move up the order this year.

"In 2012, the DTM enters a new era. New cars, new technical regulations and a third manufacturer [BMW] promise to make the championship more exciting than ever before. That's why I'm looking forward even more to my third year with Mercedes-Benz in this highly competitive championship," Coulthard said.

"My first impressions of our DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe are very positive - especially the paddle shift on the steering wheel, which I know very well from my time in Formula 1.

"In the past two years, I've had to learn a lot about the engineering, the driving technique and about DTM racing in general. I know my team well now and, after 15 years as a member of the Mercedes-Benz family, I feel really at home. In 2012, I want to continue my progress and post some respectable results."

Coulthard's team-mate has yet to be announced. Last year he was partnered by German Maro Engel.