DTM: Audi drivers fired up for DTM finale

Audi Press Release

•     Victory in the manufacturers classification is joint aim at Hockenheim
•     Tailwind due to Mattias Ekström’s triumph at Zandvoort
•     Audi with the world’s sportiest piloted driving car

Ingolstadt, October 13, 2014 – For Audi, the season finale next weekend (October 17 to 19) at Hockenheim will be more than an ‘exhibition event’ before the winter break. Together, the eight Audi drivers are set on showing a strong team performance and bringing the title of the best manufacturer home to Ingolstadt. The race starts on Sunday at 14.00 (live on ARD). Before the race, the fans will be treated to a premiere, as Audi will be taking the world’s sportiest piloted driving car to the starting line.

21 is the magic number before the DTM season finale at Hockenheim to which Audi will be traveling as the hunter. These points must be recovered to capture the title of the best manufacturer in the DTM from BMW. The squad will also be assisted in this effort by the tailwind gained in the weekend before last at Zandvoort where Mike Rockenfeller on setting the fastest qualifying time and Mattias Ekström on clinching victory in the race again demonstrated the potential of the Audi RS 5 DTM. Audi had started the season from the top spot of the grid at the Hockenheim opening race in May and was represented on the podium with two drivers.

The new DTM will be holding its 32nd race at Hockenheim next weekend. The 4.574-kilometer track a little less than an hour’s drive south of Frankfurt has traditionally been on the calendar as the venue for the opener and finale of each season. The Motodrom with its large grandstands located directly alongside the track creates a stadium-like character and the resulting unique atmosphere. The current stage of advance ticket sales shows that the drivers can again look forward to an impressive finale with a large turnout of fans.

In a sporting sense, the tradition-steeped track with approximately 65 percent of full-throttle driving poses an exciting challenge. The long ‘Parabolika’ is one of the fastest sectors on the entire calendar on which the drivers reach a speed of up to 260 km/h. The subsequent hairpin turn offers an ideal overtaking opportunity and is also optimally suited for using the Drag Reduction System (DRS) that allows the drivers to flatten the rear wing angle by pushing a button on the steering wheel. In addition, there are some fast and semi-fast corners, plus the narrow ‘Motodrom’ in front of the start-finish straight – a technically demanding mix for which the engineers have to work out the perfect setup.

Hockenheim suits the Audi drivers well. Mattias Ekström, Jamie Green and Timo Scheider have won several races here. Since the DTM’s comeback in 2000, the current Audi drivers have mounted the very top of the podium an amazing five times, started from the pole position 13 times and clinched a total of 26 podium places. Heading the list is the two-time Champion Ekström who has won ten trophies at Hockenheim alone.

Before the race, Audi will be taking the world’s sportiest piloted driving car to the starting line. The driverless Audi RS 7 piloted driving concept* laps the circuit almost as fast as it would with a race driver at the wheel. The tests give reason to expect a lap time of a little more than two minutes. With this demonstration Audi will be showing the great potential of piloted driving which the premium manufacturer has in store for the future. The drive will be broadcast live and exclusively on the internet on Audi MediaTV on October 19 starting at 12.45 (www.audimedia.tv/en).

TV viewers can watch the DTM live. ‘Das Erste’ will be airing live coverage on Saturday at 14.30 and on Sunday starting at 13.30 directly from Hockenheim.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “The victory at Zandvoort has given us additional tailwind for attacking again at Hockenheim. The title of the best manufacturer is our aim – we’re going to jointly battle for it. The pole position clinched by Adrien (Tambay) in the season opener at Hockenheim showed that our RS 5 DTM works well on this track.”

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “Mattias’ (Ekström) victory was a great relief for all of us, as well as great motivation for the finale. It’s about the title of the best manufacturer, as well as the runner-up’s spot in the teams’ and drivers’ classifications. We’re determined to do our bit in this effort – preferably by clinching the next victory.”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “The finale is the last opportunity for everybody to feature again. The first Audi victory has been clinched, so we’re going to hit the track with a load off our minds. In Timo (Scheider) and Mike (Rockenfeller) we’ve got two hot irons in the fire.”

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “The finale is a highlight of the season for all of us and for our team it’s another home round as well. Despite many setbacks during the course of the year we remain fully motivated and are sticking to our aim of winning this race.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Mattias Ekström (36/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #7 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Won his 18th DTM race at Zandvoort
• Is the runner-up in the championship standings
“It was a great feeling to wake up as the winner on the morning after Zandvoort. I’d like to enjoy this moment again after the finale at Hockenheim. In second place, I had a good start of the season in May. Now I’d like to finish another place further at the front.”

Jamie Green (32/GB), Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Won the finale at Hockenheim in 2007 and 2011
• Is in his tenth DTM season
“The last race of the year is a special event for all of us with a unique atmosphere. I’ve won the finale twice before in my career. We’ve got a strong car and have got what it takes to win if everything perfectly fits together. As on any weekend, we’re going to give our best.”

Miguel Molina (25/E), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #8 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Drove his 50th DTM race at Zandvoort
• Is in second place of the team championship together with Mattias Ekström
“The season opener in May was positive for our team, and so was the past race weekend – that’s why we’re tackling the finale on a positive note as well. I promise: we’re going to work hard in order to score a lot of points for Audi.”

Edoardo Mortara (27/I), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Is battling for the runner-up’s spot in the championship at Hockenheim
• Has scored points in six rounds of the season so far
“The weekend at Zandvoort was turbulent and successful. That further stimulates our excitement about an impressive finale with a large crowd of fans.”

Nico Müller (22/CH), Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Is in his first DTM season
• At age 22, is the youngest driver in Audi’s DTM line-up
“I’ve got special memories of Hockenheim because that’s where I contested my first DTM race in May. For me, it’s also a kind of home race which additionally pleases me. I’d like to continue the good qualifying performance from Zandvoort and convert it into a good race result at the end of the season.”

Mike Rockenfeller (30/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #1 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Set the fastest lap of all Audi drivers at Zandvoort
• Started from the pole position at Zandvoort
“Hockenheim marks the end of a season of which I obviously had completely different expectations. This doesn’t change my motivation in any way: I’d like to give everything again in the finale. I’ve long digested the frustration from Zandvoort where a victory would have been possible.”

Timo Scheider (35/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #2 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Made the quickest pit stop of all Audi drivers at Zandvoort
• Has celebrated a DTM title twice in the finale at Hockenheim
“We all know: a good race, a good result or maybe even a victory makes life a lot more pleasant during the winter break. A podium position would already have been possible in the season opener. It shows us that our car is strong at Hockenheim. I’d like to show a strong weekend for Audi, for my team and for all the fans.”

Adrien Tambay (23/F), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #16 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Started from the pole position at Hockenheim in May
• Was on podium in the opening race
“With the pole position and third place in the first race this was a bit of a dream start of the season for me. Consequently, I’m particularly eager to return to Hockenheim now after a long and exciting season.”

The Audi drivers in the 2014 DTM

Mattias Ekström (S): * July 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single (partner Heidi), one son (Mats); one daughter (Hanna); height: 1.83 m; weight: 79 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 143; pole positions: 19; victories: 18; fastest laps: 13; points: 764; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result DTM Hockenheim: 1 (2007, 2008)

Jamie Green (GB): * June 14, 1982 in Leicester (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Ginny, two sons (Zachary and William); height: 1.78 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2013; DTM races: 102; pole positions: 7; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 424.5; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Hockenheim: 1 (2007, 2011)

Miguel Molina (E): * February 17, 1989 in Barcelona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 50; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 3; points: 81; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Hockenheim: 3

Edoardo Mortara (I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); married to Montserrat; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 39; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 174; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Hockenheim: 6

Nico Müller (CH): * Feb 25, 1992 in Thun (CH); residence: Blumenstein (CH); single (partner Lara); height: 1.85 m; weight: 73 kg; Audi driver since 2014; DTM races: 9; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; fastest laps: 1; points: 10; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Hockenheim: 16

Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); married to Susanne; one son (Phil); height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 80; pole positions: 4; victories: 3; fastest laps: 4; points: 355; DTM titles: 1 (2013); best result DTM Hockenheim: 3

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 10, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single (partner Jessica), one son (Loris-Romeo); height: 1.78 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 148; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 10; points: 446; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result DTM Hockenheim: 1 (2008)

Adrien Tambay (F): * Feb 25, 1991 in Paris (F); residence: Lochau (A); single; height: 1.81 m; weight: 69 kg; Audi driver since 2012; DTM races: 29; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 94; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Hockenheim: 3

DTM drivers’ standings after nine of ten rounds

1 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 146 points
2 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 81 points
3 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 69 points
4 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 68 points
5 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 54 points
6 Maxime Martin (BMW) 47 points
7 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 46 points
8 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 43 points
9 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 42 points
10 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 41 points
11 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 39 points
12 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 36 points
13 Timo Scheider (Audi) 36 points
14 Timo Glock (BMW) 33 points
15 Miguel Molina (Audi) 28 points
16 Jamie Green (Audi) 28 points
17 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) 24 points
18 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 22 points
19 Nico Müller (Audi) 10 points
20 Joey Hand (BMW) 8 points
21 António Félix da Costa (BMW) 4 points
22 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 4 points

DTM manufacturers’ standings

1 BMW 362 points
2 Audi 341 points
3 Mercedes-Benz 206 points

DTM teams’ standings

1 BMW Team RMG 193 points
2 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 109 points
3 Audi Sport Team Abt 104 points
4 Original-Teile Mercedes AMG 93 points
5 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 90 points
6 BMW Team Schnitzer 85 points
7 BMW Team RBM 47 points
8 gooix Mercedes AMG 46 points
9 EURONICS/FREE MAN’S WORLD Mercedes AMG 45 points
10 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 38 points
11 BMW Team MTEK 37 points
12 Petronas AMG Mercedes 22 points

Audi statistics in the DTM (since 1990)

Champion’s titles: 9 (in 16 years)
Victories: 66 (in 217 races)
Pole positions: 73 (in 181 qualifying sessions)
Fastest laps: 62 (in 217 races)
Podium positions: 220 (in 217 races)

All Hockenheim winners since 2000 (finale)

2000 Uwe Alzen (Opel), Uwe Alzen (Opel)

2001 Bernd Mayländer (Mercedes-Benz)

2002 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)

2003 Jean Alesi (Mercedes-Benz)

2004 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2005 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)

2006 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)

2007 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2008 Timo Scheider (Audi)
2009 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2010 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz)
2011 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2012 Bruno Spengler (BMW)
2013 Timo Glock (BMW)

All Hockenheim winners since 2000 (opener)

2000 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz), Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2001 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2002 Laurent Aiello (Abt-Audi)
2003 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2004 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2005 Jean Alesi (Mercedes-Benz)
2006 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2007 Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2008 Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2009 Tom Kristensen (Audi)
2010 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2011 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2012 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2013 Augusto Farfus (BMW)
2014 Marco Wittmann (BMW)

2013 flashback: team championship win for Audi Sport Team Phoenix

Following Mike Rockenfeller’s early title win, the fans saw an extremely thrilling finale that was held on a wet track and marked by duels, overtaking maneuvers and contacts. One of the protagonists was Mattias Ekström, who, after starting from grid position seven, drove an impressive race. The Swede was clearly headed for a podium finish and trailing the subsequent winner Timo Glock by just a few car lengths when he was sent spinning in the hairpin turn on the 28th of 41 laps. In fourth place, Ekström, after making a recovery, missed the podium by merely 1.245 seconds. Miguel Molina in fifth place secured Audi Sport Team Phoenix the crucial points in the battle for the teams’ classification at Hockenheim.

Track info

Track length: 4.574 km
Race distance: 42 laps = 192.108 km
DTM qualifying record on this track: Mattias Ekström (Audi), Oct 25, 2008, 1m 32.244s (178.509 km/h)
DTM race record on this track: Martin Tomczyk (BMW), May 04, 2014, 1m 32.532s (177.954 km/h)
Pole position season opener 2014: Adrien Tambay (Audi), May 03, 2014, 1m 32.272s
Fastest lap season opener 2014: Martin Tomczyk (BMW), May 04, 2014, 1m 32.532s (177.954 km/h)
Spectator turnout finale 2013: 122,000

Mike Rockenfeller about Hockenheim: “The finale at Hockenheim is sheer tradition and a very special race for us as drivers. You’re either in contention for the title, in which case it’s the ultimate battle in front of full grandstands, or you’ve got nothing to do with the championship anymore, in which case you’d at least like to finish the season with a great result. As we’re driving at Hockenheim in the season opener as well as testing there, everybody is optimally prepared for and adjusted to this circuit – and, as a result, the fight on track is really close. The stadium atmosphere is unique and the entrance to the Motodrom is also the nicest section of the track for me. I’ve got many memories of Hockenheim. My fondest one is the moment when I received my trophy in 2013 as the champion being showered by gold.”

Timetable (CEST)

Friday, October 17
16.45 – 17.20 Roll-out

Saturday, October 18
09.00 – 10.00 Free practice
11.15 – 12.15 Free practice
14.45 – 15.35 Qualifying

Sunday, October 19
09.00 – 09.40 Pit stop practice
12.55 – 13.05 Demo lap Audi RS 7 piloted driving concept
14.00 Race

TV schedule (‘Das Erste’ live)

Saturday, October 18
14.30 Qualifying

Sunday, October 19
13.30 Race

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

Audi Sport press conference with world premiere at DTM finale at Hockenheim

By Johan Laubscher

On Thursday Audi Sport revealed that there will be a world premiere at the DTM finale at Hockenheim.

Currently Audi Sport is built on three pillars: the Prototype LMP1 program, DTM and customer racing. Audi Sport will be hosting a special press conference at the DTM finale at Hockenheim on Friday 17 October, where they will be announcing the addition of a new pillar being added to the Audi Sport program.

Currently very little is known about the new project, but Audi has released one image which reveals what looks to be a new generation Audi TT based project. However, all will be revealed next week.

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

DTM: Audi wins DTM thriller at Zandvoort

Audi Press Release  

• Mattias Ekström clinches first season victory for Audi
• Edoardo Mortara in fourth place after recovery
• Mike Rockenfeller and Nico Müller struck by misfortune

Ingolstadt/Zandvoort, September 28, 2014 – In what was arguably the most thrilling race of the year Mattias Ekström kept a cool head and gave Audi its first victory of the DTM season at Zandvoort. For the Swede, this marked an amazing fourth triumph at Zandvoort, for Audi, it was the seventh success in eleven runs on the challenging track in the Dutch dunes.

Ekström in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM started from position eight on standard tires and had the perfect strategy for the turbulent race that saw a total of four safety car periods. After changing to option tires, the Swede, within the space of just nine laps, managed to battle his way forward from position 15, overtake the BMW of Marco Wittmann, and ultimately cross the finish line as the commanding winner with an advantage of 7.414 seconds.

For Audi, this marked the 66th victory in total in a DTM race, for Ekström and Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline it was the first win since Valencia in October 2011. “A victory is always very special,” said Mattias Ekström. “But this victory is also a very special one because the last one was such a long time ago – for me, as well as for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. We had to wait for it for a long time, so now our joy of taking home the biggest trophy is even greater. We had a lot of misfortune in recent months. Today, we had the necessary fortune. It was important that I didn’t lose too much time in the beginning on standard tires. Afterwards, the safety cars played into our hands – and my car was very fast today.”

In fourth place, Edoardo Mortara in the Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM completed the successful day for Audi. The Italian had to tackle the race from the rear of the starting grid due to a violation of the rules in qualifying, recovered position by position in the beginning on option tires, and in the end successfully defended his position.

With Timo Scheider in the AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix in tenth place, another Audi driver finished in the points. In contrast, his team-mate Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix was the tragic hero of the race. The quickest driver in qualifying was headed for victory for a long time, but deprived of all chances due to the safety cars, and in the end took only 16th place.

Youngster Nico Müller in the Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg was struck by major misfortune as well. Running in second place behind Rockenfeller some of the time, he was bumped off track on lap 26 by Mercedes driver Christian Vietoris. His team-mate Jamie Green in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM shortly before the end of the race lost possible points after being hit by BMW driver Bruno Spengler. Miguel Molina (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM) and Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) were forced to retire after excursions.

“Obviously, we’re happy to have finally clinched our first season victory,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “We often had the opportunity this year but something always got in the way. Today, we again had the jitters for a long time. But Mattias (Ekström) had the right strategy for this crazy race and in the end was extremely strong on option tires. The recovery by Edo Mortara from the last to fourth place was fantastic too, also because of the way he successfully defended himself on standard tires against the attacks by Vietoris. You could tell how comfortable the Audi RS 5 DTM feels at Zandvoort. The drivers who were struck by the greatest misfortune today were Nico Müller and Mike Rockenfeller. The second safety car was deployed at exactly the wrong moment for them. ‘Rocky’ would only have been hard to beat today.”

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

DTM: Audi shines in qualifying at Zandvoort

Audi Press Release

•          Strong showing: four Audi RS 5 DTM cars in the top five
•          First pole position since the Hockenheim season opener
•          Grid position one for last year’s Champion Mike Rockenfeller

Ingolstadt/Zandvoort, September 27, 2014 – This is a very rare occurrence in the DTM: With four RS 5 DTM cars in the top five, Audi managed a brilliant performance in qualifying for the DTM race at Zandvoort (the Netherlands). Particularly remarkable was Mike Rockenfeller’s showing, who clinched the pole position in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM. 

A year ago, ‘Rocky’ won his first DTM title early at Zandvoort. This time, it was questionable whether the Audi driver would even be able to start at all, as the 2011 Zandvoort winner was bedridden for several days due to a gastrointestinal infection.

Not least thanks to the help from Audi Sport’s team doctors ‘Rocky’ was fit again at the right moment. In the thrilling battle for the best grid positions, he defeated BMW driver Marco Wittmann by 26 thousandths of a second. “We’ve always been strong Zandvoort,” said Rockenfeller. “We know that we’re good here and the track suits me. As always in the DTM, it was extremely close, but I prevailed today – that’s great. ‘Thank you’ to everybody at Audi and Team Phoenix, who worked on this. I’m on pole tomorrow, am set on taking the bull by the horns and winning the race. We’ve got to do our homework and see to making this work out. I need a good start for this to happen.” 

For Rockenfeller and Audi Sport Team Phoenix, this marks the first pole position since Moscow in 2013 and the first one for Audi since the season opener at Hockenheim, as well as the seventh one in the DTM race at Zandvoort in the past eleven years. 

Third place on the grid was secured by Edoardo Mortara in the Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. The 2012 Zandvoort winner was merely 18 thousandths of a second slower than Marco Wittmann. The fourth-fastest time was achieved by his team-mate Mattias Ekström in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM, who, however, due to an unintentional obstruction of a competitor, received a grid penalty, which retroactively relegated him by five places to grid position nine. 

The Audi show in qualifying was completed by the two drivers of Audi Sport Team Rosberg. Jamie Green in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM took grid position four and Nico Müller in the Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM position five. The two team-mates are separated by eleven thousandths of a second. Müller had previously attracted attention by setting a best time in free practice. 

Miguel Molina (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM), Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) and Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM) finished qualifying in positions ten, twelve and 16. 

“Zandvoort is one of the most challenging tracks in the DTM. Having four of our cars in the top five here makes us very proud,” commented Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “Particularly remarkable is the performance by Mike Rockenfeller, who was sick in bed for a few days and clinched pole anyhow. The new and the old Champion will be side by side on the front row tomorrow – that’ll be a thriller.”

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

DTM: Eager anticipation of Audi drivers favorite track

Audi Press Release

•          DTM to visit Zandvoort on the North Sea coast this weekend
•          Many Audi drivers have special memories of the track
•          Dieter Gass, Head of DTM: “Manufacturers’ title remains our goal”

Ingolstadt, September 22, 2014 – The battle for the prestigious title of the best manufacturer is intensifying. Before the penultimate round of the DTM at Zandvoort next weekend (September 27 to 28) Audi and BMW are separated by only 18 points. The advantage for the four rings: There is no other track of which the Audi drivers have as many fond memories as of the circuit located on the North Sea Coast about an hour’s drive from Amsterdam.

Two championship titles, seven race victories, 15 podium places, seven pole positions and five fastest race laps: Even the statistics show how comfortable the eight Audi drivers feel on the circuit at Zandvoort. They are determined to take advantage of all these positive memories in order to clinch the manufacturers’ title for their brand. Two races before the end of the season Audi is trailing BMW by a very narrow margin in the manufacturers’ standings.

Zandvoort is inseparably linked to the career of Mattias Ekström. Almost exactly twelve years ago the Swede, on September 29, 2002, in his second DTM year, clinched his first victory there, which meant the title win for his team-mate Laurent Aiello – marking the first of seven driver championship wins for Audi in the new DTM. The most recent title was won at Zandvoort as well. In 2013, Mike Rockenfeller sealed the deal early by finishing the race as the runner-up. Two years before, the German had celebrated his first ever DTM victory in the Netherlands.

Four times on pole but no victory scored to date: Timo Scheider has a very special relationship with Zandvoort. Particularly the 2003 race day is remembered by many motorsport fans as one of the most tragic moments in the new DTM. After starting from the pole position, Scheider commandingly led the race. Victory for the German, who at the time was still racing for another brand, seemed to be certain but then his team bungled the pit stop and the car was released on three wheels. Even today, Scheider has goose bumps when he talks about the encouraging applause by the crowd, and even by the mechanics in the pits of other manufacturers, while he was walking back to his team.

The 4.307-kilometer circuit has been on the race calendar every year since 2001 and in this season replaces the round in China that was cancelled. Zandvoort is regarded as one of the most challenging circuits in terms of driving skills due to its characteristics featuring crests, fast corners and several overtaking opportunities. Fine sand from the dunes often makes the tarmac alongside the racing line extremely slippery.

TV viewers can watch the DTM live: ‘Das Erste’ will be airing live coverage from Zandvoort on Saturday starting at 14.30 and on Sunday starting at 13.15 (CEST). Tickets for the entire 2014 DTM season can be purchased online at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm or telephonically on +49 841 89-47777.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “Zandvoort is a track that suited us really well in the past. We’re aiming to clinch the good team result we’d been wishing for at the Lausitzring and that certainly would have been possible following our good performance in qualifying. The title in the manufacturers’ classification remains our aim – that’s why bringing as many of our cars as possible into the points will be crucial.”

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “Our team and our drivers have many fond memories of Zandvoort. Mattias (Ekström) won at Zandvoort three times and clinched his first ever victory there as well. As a team we celebrated Laurent Aiello’s title in the championship at Zandvoort in 2002. The track suits us well and we’re going to do everything we can to attack in the manufacturers’ classification for Audi.”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “Following a second and a third place in the past two races, the logical conclusion would be victory at Zandvoort. Both of our drivers love the track and our car is fast there – so all the prerequisites for winning the race exist.”

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “Zandvoort is a really beautiful circuit and very demanding. We’re looking forward to it and will leave no stone unturned so that our squad and our drivers will experience success.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Mattias Ekström (36/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #7 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Has won the race at Zandvoort three times before
• Won for the first time in the DTM at Zandvoort in 2002
“It’s no secret that Zandvoort is one of my absolutely favorite tracks. I’ve won there three times and always enjoy traveling there. Not just because of my previous success but also because the track is simply great fun. My aim: I’ll take the qualifying performance from the Lausitzring and the performance from the previous races and combine them into a perfect weekend.”

Jamie Green (32/GB), Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Started from the second row at the Lausitzring
• Is contesting his tenth DTM race at Zandvoort
“Zandvoort is a really cool track. Not as modern as many others, but with a lot of character. The fast corners are a real challenge for any race driver. I’m looking forward to them. If the weekend goes smoothly then by all means a place on the podium or perhaps even my first victory for Audi will finally be possible.”

Miguel Molina (25/E), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #8 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Is contesting his 50th DTM race at Zandvoort
• Made the second-fastest pit stop of the Audi drivers at the Lausitzring
“A good race track for Audi on which we’ve always been in contention for victory so far. It’s an old-school circuit that all the drivers – including me – are looking forward to.”

Edoardo Mortara (27/I), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Won the race at Zandvoort in 2012
• Drove the second-fastest race lap of all Audi drivers at the Lausitzring
“The weekend at Lausitz was disappointing for me, so it’s perfect that we’re racing again in just two weeks from now – and at Zandvoort of all places where I’ve won before. We’ve still got two more chances of scoring points and victories this year – and we’re going to use them.”

Nico Müller (22/CH), Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Is contesting his first car race at Zandvoort
• Is the youngest member of Audi’s driver squad
“The next new track for me this year: I’m looking forward to it because all of my driver colleagues have only positive things to say about Zandvoort. I’d like to finally finish in the points again. The speed has long been right, so being able to convert it into results again is only a question of time.”

Mike Rockenfeller (30/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #1 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Is driving his 80th DTM race at Zandvoort
• Secured his championship title early last year at Zandvoort
“My first DTM victory and my first title win last year: I’ve had many great moments at Zandvoort. It would be great if I could again achieve something special there this year. I really enjoy the track. Hopefully, we’re going to have good weather so that the fans in the dunes will have a nice weekend as well.”

Timo Scheider (35/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #2 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Celebrated his first podium finish in the 2014 season at Lausitz
• Set the fastest race lap in the process and made the quickest pit stop
“I’ve got a very special relationship with Zandvoort. I’ve clinched the majority of the pole positions in my career there but, at the same time, have some major unfinished business there because victory was within reach. This year would be a good time to finish this business. We’re going to take the positive energy from the podium at the Lausitzring with us to the North Sea coast.”

Adrien Tambay (23/F), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #16 (Audi Sport Team Abt) 
• Is in his third year of racing in the DTM
• Is sharing second place in the teams’ standings with Edoardo Mortara
“A nice and fast track which suits both Audi and me equally well. So it’s the perfect place for striking back after a fair to middling weekend.”

The Audi drivers in the 2014 DTM

Mattias Ekström (S): * July 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single (partner Heidi), one son (Mats); one daughter (Hanna); height: 1.83 m; weight: 79 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 142; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 13; points: 739; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result DTM Zandvoort: 1 (2002, 2004, 2008)

Jamie Green (GB): * June 14, 1982 in Leicester (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Ginny, two sons (Zachary and William); height: 1.78 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2013; DTM races: 101; pole positions: 7; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 424.5; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 4

Miguel Molina (E): * February 17, 1989 in Barcelona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 49; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 3; points: 81; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 5

Edoardo Mortara (I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); married to Montserrat; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 38; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 162; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 1 (2012)

Nico Müller (CH): * Feb 25, 1992 in Thun (CH); residence: Blumenstein (CH); single (partner Lara); height: 1.85 m; weight: 73 kg; Audi driver since 2014; DTM races: 8; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; fastest laps: 1; points: 10; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: –

Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); married to Susanne; one son (Phil); height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 79; pole positions: 3; victories: 3; fastest laps: 4; points: 355; DTM titles: 1 (2013); best result DTM Zandvoort: 1 (2011)

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 10, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single (partner Jessica), one son (Loris-Romeo); height: 1.78 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 147; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 10; points: 444; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result DTM Zandvoort: 2

Adrien Tambay (F): * Feb 25, 1991 in Paris (F); residence: Lochau (A); single; height: 1.81 m; weight: 69 kg; Audi driver since 2012; DTM races: 28; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 94; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 5

DTM drivers’ standings after eight of ten rounds

1 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 128 points
2 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 59 points
3 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 56 points
4 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 56 points
5 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 54 points
6 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 42 points
7 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 40 points
8 Maxime Martin (BMW) 39 points
9 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 39 points
10 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 37 points
11 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 36 points
12 Timo Scheider (Audi) 34 points
13 Timo Glock (BMW) 33 points
14 Miguel Molina (Audi) 28 points
15 Jamie Green (Audi) 28 points
16 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 28 points
17 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) 24 points
18 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 22 points
19 Nico Müller (Audi) 10 points
20 Joey Hand (BMW) 7 points
21 António Félix da Costa (BMW) 4 points
22 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 4 points

DTM manufacturers’ standings

1 BMW 320 points
2 Audi 302 points
3 Mercedes-Benz 186 points

DTM teams’ standings

1 BMW Team RMG 167 points
2 Audi Sport Team Abt 92 points
3 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 88 points
4 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 84 points
5 Original-Teile Mercedes AMG 83 points
6 BMW Team Schnitzer 70 points
7 BMW Team RBM 46 points
8 EURONICS/FREE MAN’S WORLD Mercedes AMG 41 points
9 gooix Mercedes AMG 40 points
10 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 38 points
11 BMW Team MTEK 37 points
12 Petronas AMG Mercedes 22 points

Audi statistics in the DTM (since 1990)

Champion’s titles: 9 (in 16 years)
Victories: 65 (in 216 races)
Pole positions: 72 (in 180 qualifying sessions)
Fastest laps: 62 (in 216 races)
Podium positions: 219 (in 216 races)

All Zandvoort winners since 2001

2001 Uwe Alzen (Mercedes-Benz)
2002 Mattias Ekström (Abt-Audi)
2003 Christijan Albers (Mercedes-Benz)
2004 Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2005 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2006 Tom Kristensen (Audi)
2007 Martin Tomczyk (Audi)
2008 Mattias Ekström (Audi)
2009 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2010 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2011 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi)
2012 Edoardo Mortara (Audi)
2013 Augusto Farfus (BMW)

2013 flashback: early title win for Mike Rockenfeller 

The preliminary decision was made on the starting lap, on which Mike Rockenfeller overtook the BMW of pole setter Marco Wittmann, advancing to the second place he needed to secure an early title win. After being able to attack the leading BMW of his title rival Augusto Farfus on option tires he concentrated on bringing home second place after switching to the harder standard tires – also with help by his brand colleague Timo Scheider, who let Rockenfeller pass following his second pit stop and subsequently gave him rear cover.

Track info

Track length: 4.307 km
Race distance: 44 laps = 189.508 km
DTM qualifying record on this track: Marco Wittmann (BMW), Sep 28, 2013, 1m 30.894s
DTM race record on this track: Marco Wittmann (BMW), Sep 29, 2013, 1m 32.296s
Pole position 2013: Marco Wittmann (BMW), 1m 30.894s
Fastest lap 2013: Marco Wittmann (BMW), 1m 32.296s (167.994 km/h)
Turnout 2013: 41,000
TV live rating 2013: 0.92 million / 8.1 % market share (source: ARD)

Adrien Tambay about Zandvoort: “In the Audi RS 5 DTM, the track at Zandvoort is really good fun. I suppose everyone knows the Tarzan Corner at the end of the start-finish straight. It’s cool too. But my favorite section is the fast downhill double right-hander at the other end of the track. This section is extremely fast, very bumpy. You drive at the limit and have adrenaline surges. I like that! The old, long track must have been similar. I’ve seen onboard footage from my father – very impressive, but dangerous too ...”

Timetable (CEST)

Saturday, September 27
08.45 – 09.45 Free practice
11.05 – 12.05 Free practice
14.45 – 15.35 Qualifying

Sunday, September 28
09.00 – 09.30 Pit stop practice
13.30 Race

TV schedule (‘Das Erste’ live)

Saturday, September 27
14.30 Qualifying

Sunday, September 28
13.15 Race

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport

DTM: Audi drivers score with recoveries

Audi Press Release

• Four Audi RS 5 DTM cars in the points at the Red Bull Ring
• Scheider, Tambay, Ekström and Green capture places 5 to 8
• Green loses podium chance due to communications problem

Ingolstadt/Spielberg, August 3, 2014 – As expected: The Red Bull Ring at Spielberg (Austria) guarantees particularly spectacular DTM races. 47,500 spectators (throughout the weekend) saw gripping duels, strange incidents and, in spite of a difficult starting base, four Audi RS 5 DTM cars in the top eight.

Following the first half of a season that was less than perfect for him, Timo Scheider had a reason to cheer for the first time this year. The two-time DTM Champion had started on the softer option tires and within just a few laps worked his way forward from grid position 14 to join the pack at the front. In the AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix, after 47 laps, he crossed the finish line as the best Audi in fifth place – trailing the winner by only 6.666 seconds.

“Advancing from 14th place to fifth in the race is a great feeling for me and the squad,” said the two-time DTM Champion. “We had enough trouble and problems in the first five races. I hope that we’ll be able to turn this around now and to have fortune on our side in the second half of the season.”

Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) and Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM, both Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) treated the Austrian crowd to impressive recoveries as well. Tambay, like Scheider, had started on option tires and from position 20 on the grid advanced to sixth place. Ekström had started the race on harder standard tires and was ultimately the best driver using this strategy. The Swede made up ground from grid position 15 to seventh place and thus maintained his second place in the overall DTM standings.

Jamie Green in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg was the tragic hero of the day. The Briton had been the only driver to make it into the top ten in qualifying and was in contention in the group of front runners from the outset. Up to the race’s midpoint, he was running in front of the subsequent winner Marco Wittmann. However, due to a communications problem with his pit crew Green switched from option to standard tires one lap too late. As a result, the Audi driver, while leading the race, was forced to pit for a drive-through penalty and in the end had to settle for eighth place.

In eleventh place, Miguel Molina in the Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM missed scoring a point by only 0.410 seconds. Title defender Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM dropped to the back of the field in the early stage. After switching to option tires, he was the quickest man in the field, advanced to 13th place and with 1m 25.266s (182.647 km/h) set a new DTM track record.

Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM) and Nico Müller (Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM) received drive-through penalties for failing to sufficiently reduce speed under yellow flags. They finished in positions 16 and 19.

“Following yesterday’s qualifying, we couldn’t necessarily expect to bring four cars into the points,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport, summing up the race. “Today, the performance was right. Mike Rockenfeller drove the fastest race lap, Jamie Green battled for the podium, and Timo Scheider, Adrien Tambay and Mattias Ekström advanced from positions at the far rear of the field to finish in the top seven. It’s a shame that Jamie lost the chance of a possible podium due to a communications error with his pit crew. As a result, it was easy for BMW to bring Marco Wittmann to the front and to provide him with a major advantage in the championship. In two weeks from now, at the Nürburgring, we’ve got to regain our old strength in qualifying.”

Photo credit: Audi Media

DTM: Miguel Molina shines for Audi in Hungary

Audi Press Release

• Second place for the Spaniard in the DTM race at the Hungaroring
• Six Audi RS 5 DTM cars in the top ten
• Audi defends lead in the manufacturers’ standings

Ingolstadt/Budapest, June 1, 2014 – 33,000 spectators, including a large number of employees of the Audi plant Győr, experienced a spectacular DTM weekend at the Hungaroring near Budapest and another strong showing by the Audi RS 5 DTM. Miguel Molina, on finishing the race as the runner-up, managed to clinch the best result in his DTM career so far. With six cars in the top ten Audi defended its lead in the manufacturers’ standings. The fastest lap in the race went to the RS 5 DTM as well.

The man of the day from Audi’s perspective was Miguel Molina in the Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. The Spaniard, through no fault of his own, had been relegated to the rear-most position on the grid in the first DTM races. At the Hungaroring, Molina, as the best Audi driver, started the race from position three and finished in second place after 41 thrilling laps, despite having dropped to eighth place at the start.

On the first lap, Molina recovered four positions. On lap 13, the Audi driver overtook the BMW of António Felix da Costa and immediately before his mandatory pit stop on lap 19 the BMW of ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock. Afterwards, ‘Magic’ Molina was the only driver in the field who was able to keep the pace of the subsequent winner Marco Wittmann.

“I’m very happy about this second place after all the misfortune I suffered in the first two races,” said the Spaniard. “I’d like to thank Audi Sport and Team Abt very much for giving me such a fantastic car. Unfortunately, the start wasn’t so great or else an even better result might have been possible. That I still managed to advance to second place is great and shows how strong the RS 5 DTM is.”

An impressive race was also driven by his team-mate Edoardo Mortara. The Italian, like Molina, had started on the softer option tires and, from position twelve on the grid, quickly advanced to fourth place. Following his change to standard tires, he fought a spectacular duel with Timo Glock which Mortara was able to decide in his favor. Only three laps before the end of the race, the Audi driver lost third place to
Bruno Spengler who was one of the drivers to make up position by position on option tires in the second half of the race.

The same strategy was used by Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM), Jamie Green (Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM/Audi Sport Team Rosberg) and Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM), who in a spectacular final stage captured positions five, seven and nine. In contrast, title defender Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM/Audi Sport Team Phoenix), running on the hard standard tires, dropped from sixth to tenth place on the last four laps.

Nico Müller in the Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM just barely missed scoring his first points in the DTM. The young Swiss posted the fastest lap of the race by a large margin and was running in eighth place before being ‘turned around’ by Timo Glock on the last lap and dropping to twelfth place.

Timo Scheider was hit by a BMW just shortly after the start and had to park his AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM on lap eleven with a damaged rear suspension.

“I promised the employees of our plant in Györ a thrilling and action-packed race – and I think we kept our word,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “There were some hot battles fought on track and we can definitely live with positions two, four and five, considering the qualifying session that was less than perfect for us. I’m particularly happy for Miguel (Molina), who shook off the misfortune from the first two races and deservingly clinched second place. He was the only one today who could have posed a danger to Marco Wittmann. Now we’re traveling to our home round in Nuremberg as the front runners – and are aiming to clinch our first victory of the season there.”

Photo credit: Audi Media

DTM: Miguel Molina clinches grid position three for Audi

Audi Press Release

• Spaniard from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline shines again
• Just 26 thousandths of a second short of front row
• Youngster Nico Müller in top eight for the first time

Ingolstadt/Budapest, May 31, 2014 – Miguel Molina will start the Hungarian round of the DTM at the Hungaroring near Budapest (starting at 13.15, CEST, live on ‘Das Erste’) as the best Audi driver from position three.

Just like he did two weeks ago at Oschersleben, the Spaniard from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline in his Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM showed a compelling performance again in Hungary on setting the fastest time in the morning’s free practice. In the first qualifying segment, the Audi driver only had to go out once and was thus able to save a set of tires for Q3. In the end, ‘Magic’ Molina missed the front row by merely 26 thousandths of a second.

“I believe that’s all we had in our quiver today,” said the Spaniard following the time chase on the 4.381-kilometer Hungaroring. “The BMW were very fast. But we did everything right and have good chances of being in contention for victory tomorrow.”

His team-mate Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) in the third DTM qualifying session of the year managed the leap into the top eight for the third time – despite a spin in Q1 and a cancelled lap time in the third qualifying segment. The Swiss Nico Müller in the Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM will start the race alongside the Frenchman from the fourth row. At his third DTM event, the rookie from Audi Sport Team Rosberg made it into the final qualifying segment for the first time.

“Congratulations to Miguel (Molina), who is extremely strong this year and has not been discouraged by the misfortune he suffered in the first two races. This clearly speaks for him,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “Adrien (Tambay) has shown another good performance too and our youngster Nico Müller made it into the top eight for the first time. Obviously we’re not happy with the qualifying results though. But the DTM always has surprises in store. We’re going to leave no stone unturned to show a good race to the large number of employees from our plant in Győr who are traveling to the Hungaroring tomorrow.”

Jamie Green, the hero who went unrewarded in the turbulent rain race at Oschersleben two weeks ago, secured grid position ten in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM. Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) and Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM) are sharing the sixth row.

The two drivers from Audi Sport Team Phoenix are facing a major challenge. Leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM) and team-mate Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM), like Molina, made it into Q2 on only one set of tires but had to settle for grid positions 13 and 15 – on a track on which overtaking is regarded as being particularly difficult.

Photo credit: Audi Media

DTM: Miguel Molina fastest in Budapest practice session

By Tarek Ramchani

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is moving to Hungary for the very first time, Budapest is hosting the third round of the 2014 season.

Action has started at the Hungarian track with very strong performances from the Audi drivers. An Audi RS 5 DTM lead the field and five other cars made it into the Top 10.

Miguel Molina lead the field with a best time of 1:37.558. The Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline driver was 0.028s faster than the second placed Marco Wittmann and his BMW M4 DTM.

Strong fourth place for Audi Sport Team Rosberg driver Nico Müller with best time of 1:37.972. DTM points leader and 2013 champion Mike Rockenfeller was sixth fastet, the Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver with a best time of 1:38.050. Jaime Green (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) finished in eighth place ahead of two Audi Sport Team Abt drivers Edoardo Mortata in ninth place and Adrien Tambay in tenth.

Only two Audi drivers were outside the Top 10 with Timo Scheider (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) eleventh, and Mattias Ekstrom (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) twelfth.

The qualifying session will follow next, we whish the best of luck to Audi teams and drivers.

Photo credit: Audi Media

DTM: Audi captures DTM lead

Audi Press Release

• Curious DTM round at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
• Mike Rockenfeller drives to the top of the standings
• Audi leads manufacturers’ and teams’ standings as well

Ingolstadt/Oschersleben, May 18, 2014 – 65,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben saw an action-packed DTM race of the curious kind in which rain and safety car periods made for a tire gamble. The big winners of the day included title defender Mike Rockenfeller, who as the runner-up in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix took the lead of the drivers’ standings. Audi moved to the top in the manufacturers’ and teams’ standings as well.

Right in time for the start of the race the sky above the Motorsport Arena opened its floodgates. The drivers who started the race on harder standard tires lost position by position as the track became increasingly wet. They also included Mike Rockenfeller, who dropped as far back as 19th place. The decision of his team to call the reigning Champion in for an early mandatory pit stop proved to be a fortunate move. Favored by a total of three safety car periods Rockenfeller was able to recover the previously lost ground and in the end crossed the finish line in second place, trailing the winner Christian Vietoris by a gap of only 0.674 seconds.

“It was a chaotic race,” Rockenfeller said after the race. “I started on standard tires and that wasn’t a good choice for the initial conditions. For me, the race seemed to be over at that time. But then Team Phoenix made a superb decision and called me in for the tire change at exactly the right moment. Even victory would have still been possible. But second place is good, too. We scored a lot of points and clinched the lead of the standings. It was a great day for us. ‘Many thanks’ to Audi and to Team Phoenix.”

With Edoardo Mortara in the Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline two Audi drivers were on podium just like in the season opener at Hockenheim two weeks ago. The Italian was touched by Pascal Wehrlein in the hectic early phase, spun and dropped to 21st place. Mortara moved up his mandatory pit stop as well and thus took third place following a fierce battle with Vietoris and Rockenfeller.

An impressive recovery was also achieved by Miguel Molina, who in his Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM had retroactively lost his commandingly clinched pole position on Saturday due to a violation of the Technical Regulations and had to start the race from the last position on the grid. With the fastest race lap and sixth place the Spaniard confirmed Saturday’s performance.

The tragic hero of the race was Jamie Green, who in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg was in a class of his own in the race, advanced to the front from tenth place on the grid and gained an advantage of more than ten seconds that was subsequently ruined by the safety car periods. In the end, Green took a gamble, switched to slicks but on the last lap slipped and lost a possible seventh place.

Green together with Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) and Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM) had made for an Audi one-two-three lead for large parts of the race. The safety cars destroyed their race as well. Positions seven (Scheider) and ten (Tambay) were only little consolation.

Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) and Nico Müller (Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM) in positions 13 and 16 finished out of the points.

“It was a crazy race with an unexpected outcome,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “When you’ve got the fastest car in the field, are leading the race for some time with three cars and have more than a ten-second advantage it’s obviously a bit disappointing to take second and third place in the end. But today was a gamble that favored those who were able to take the biggest risks. It’s great that we again had two drivers on the podium and have taken the lead in the drivers’, manufacturers’ and the teams’ standings. The race also had two tragic heroes: Jamie Green, who was in a class of his own in the rain today and in the end went unrewarded. Plus: Miguel Molina, who drove the fastest lap. If he hadn’t been forced to start from the last position a lot more than sixth place would probably have been possible. He’s extremely fast this year.”

Photo credit: Audi Media

DTM: Audi accepts decision of the DMSB

Audi Press Release

he DMSB retroactively excluded Miguel Molina from the qualifying session of the DTM race at Oschersleben.

The reason: The position of the two lateral end plates of the rear wing on the Audi RS 5 DTM of the Spaniard, who had previously clinched the pole position, did not conform to the Technical Regulations. The differences to the prescribed position were in the range of millimeters: 1.5 millimeters on the left and 2.7 millimeters on the right.

Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport: “We accept the decision of the DMSB and apologize to Miguel. The difference apparently stems from an oversight in quality assurance at Audi Sport and definitely had no influence on Miguel’s strong performance.”

Molina will start round two of the season on Sunday from the last position on the grid.

Photo credit: DTM

DTM: ‘Magic’ Molina: Record lap in an Audi

Audi Press Release

• New track record in DTM qualifying at Oschersleben
• Third pole position in the DTM for Spaniard Miguel Molina
• Four Audi RS 5 DTM cars on the first three rows of the grid

Ingolstadt/Oschersleben, May 17, 2014 – ‘Magic’ Molina is back. Miguel Molina in the Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline achieved a record lap and a possibly record-breaking advantage in qualifying for the DTM race at Oschersleben. The Spaniard outperformed the second-placed BMW of Hockenheim winner Marco Wittmann by more than half a second.

At 1m 20.007s, Molina set a new track record and was the first DTM driver ever to have nearly broken the magic ‘sound barrier’ of 1m 20s at the Motorsport Arena. The Spaniard had immediately presented himself in top form at Oschersleben on Saturday. He was the fastest driver in the free practice session and the fastest one in two of three qualifying sections. Right at the beginning of the decisive third segment (Q3), he managed to set the record lap that all of his competitors were subsequently unable to match.

“Today, we again saw ‘Magic Molina,’ as Miguel used to be nicknamed in his team,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “Taking grid position one with an advantage of half a second is a very rare occurrence in the DTM. This achievement and this lap deserve respect! Miguel was immediately strong here and, as before at Hockenheim, our RS 5 DTM is running really well too. Two qualifying sessions and two pole positions in succession – you can’t wish for more than that. With four cars on the first three rows we’ve got a very good starting base. But we’re not going to underestimate the competition – and the weather could also be making for additional suspense tomorrow.”

“My third pole position in the DTM, my third one with Audi and Abt: I’m overjoyed,” beamed the 25-year-old Catalonian. “Everybody knows how difficult the DTM is. That makes us even happier. Audi Sport and Team Abt Sportsline did an outstanding job and gave me a fantastic car. My RS 5 DTM was perfect on each lap and very easy to drive – as a result, this lap time and the unusually large advantage almost happened automatically. I’d like to thank everyone who worked so hard for this.”

His team-mate Adrien Tambay, who had secured the pole position two weeks ago at the Hockenheim season opener, in the Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM missed the front row by only three thousandths of a second. The Frenchman was the only one who was able to snatch a best time from Molina on Saturday. In Q2, Tambay was ahead of the Spaniard by a narrow margin – then setting a track record which Miguel Molina improved once more in Q3.

Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM) and Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM) secured the whole third row for Audi Sport Team Phoenix and completed Audi’s strong showing in the second DTM qualifying session of the year. Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM) was another Audi driver to finish in the top eight but on his fast lap in Q3 was obstructed by a rival and therefore had to settle for position eight on the grid.

Jamie Green (Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM), Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) and Green’s team-mate in Audi Sport Team Rosberg Nico Müller (Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM) are starting the race from grid positions eleven, twelve and 15. The race will start on Sunday at 13.30, local time. ARD’s live broadcast from Oschersleben on ‘Das Erste’ will begin at 13.15. For the race day, changeable weather has been forecast at the venue near Magdeburg.

Photo credit: Audi Media