Share this article on LinkedIn Email

Joey Hand will not be part of BMW's DTM programme during the 2015 season.

The American first joined the Bavarian car maker's DTM driver line-up when it returned to the series in 2012, racing first for Team RMG, before switching to team RBM alongside August Farfus for 2013 and 2014.

However, it was confirmed on Saturday that Hand will not be back in the DTM for BMW next season.

He is the only of BMW's seven drivers from 2014 that will not be returning, with Marco Wittmann, Martin Tomczyk, Maxime Martin, Bruno Spengler, Farfus, Timo Glock, and Antonio Felix da Costa all set for another season in the M4.

"In the DTM we will once again field eight BMW M4 DTMs, with which we obviously want to follow on from the great success we have enjoyed in recent years," said BMW's motorsport boss Jens Marquardt.

"Our driver line-up remains largely unchanged. Seven of our eight DTM drivers from last season will also be on track in the BMW M4 DTM in 2015. Joey Hand will go in search of new challenges in 2015.

"We would like to thank him for the great commitment he has shown to BMW in recent years, and wish him all the best for the future."

Hand's best season in the DTM was 2013, when he finished 12th in the standings. In 2014 he finished the season 20th, with a best result of seventh at the Norisring.

Hand's departure means that there is still one seat up for grabs at BMW for 2015. The brand tested a group of young drivers - including four Britons - at Jerez during the week.