Five top DTM engineers, including chief engineer Laurent Fedacou, have all tendered their resignations from HRT as of July 31.
Fedacou, who has guided the Ford‑branded mustang through its transition and set technical direction for its GT3 line‑ups, is joined in resignation by race engineers Clement Faye and Valentin Planque—responsible for Arjun Maini and Finn Wiebelhaus respectively—and two performance‑engineering specialists.
The departures were confirmed when the four engineers attended HRT’s overnight Nurburgring test, a private session that confirmed the team’s ongoing momentum in the 2026 DTM calendar.
In a press release following an in‑season review, HRT chief Ulrich Fritz announced a restructuring aimed at clarifying responsibilities, slashing decision time and tightening processes, even as the Mercedes‑AMG‑derived team still chased its first Ford‑era finish.
“Fritz, now a shareholder, said the overhaul will be finalised after the season but insisted the remaining staff would complete the campaign together,” noting that the resignations were part of that wider personnel shift.
Fritz declined to name the ex‑staff publicly, emphasising that personnel choices remain confidential until the structural changes are fully settled.
He underlined the team’s philosophy of a modular setup that “does not hinge on individuals,” remarking that HRT’s growth has led to uneven manpower allocation across its ten-mustang operations.
HRT’s heavy reliance on the French engineering academy ESTACA explains the high concentration of French talent on its roster, as the club recruits engineers during their practical phase and incorporates up to four new specialists each year.
Earlier, German engineers Marius Avemarg and Dennis Nagele departed in 2024 and 2025, returning to Mercedes‑AMG‑aligned outfits Winward and Landgraf.
With programs spanning DTM, GT World Challenge Europe, Intercontinental GT Challenge, ADAC GT Masters and the Nurburgring Nordschleife, HRT must balance high‑volume workload against concentrated expertise, a factor that today’s restructuring seeks to optimise.
HRT’s leadership now faces the task of tightening its organisational model while carrying forward its season’s competitive trajectory.
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