Early title win for Mike Rockenfeller at Zandvoort
Fifth DTM title for Audi in seven years
Chairman Rupert Stadler: “Proof of our RS models’ powerful performance”
Ingolstadt/Zandvoort, September 29, 2013 – The DTM Champion of the year 2013 drives an Audi. At the penultimate race of the season, Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM secured an early win of the drivers’ title in the prestigious touring car racing series in front of 41,000 spectators (throughout the weekend). At the same time, Audi and Audi Sport Team Phoenix took the lead of the manufacturers’ and team standings.
“Audi is providing the DTM Champion for an amazing ninth time and for the fifth time in seven years. This provides proof yet again of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ and the powerful performance of our RS models,” commented the Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Rupert Stadler, who, like his management board colleague Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, was keeping his fingers crossed for Mike Rockenfeller on location and subsequently joined the celebration in the pits. “We’re competing against two of our strongest competitors in the DTM – the success, which every ‘Audian’ can be proud of, has corresponding value.”
Before the finale at the Hockenheimring, Rockenfeller has a 26-point advantage and is thus ranking at the top of the standings, out of reach by any rival. The starting lap, on which Rockenfeller overtook the BMW of pole setter Marco Wittmann and thus advanced to the second place he needed for his early title win, produced a preliminary decision at Zandvoort. Following the successful attack against the leading BMW of his title rival Augusto Farfus while running on option tires, he concentrated, after switching to the harder standard tires, on safely bringing home second place – assisted in the process by his brand colleague Timo Scheider, who let Rockenfeller pass after his second pit stop and subsequently backed him. Rockenfeller mastered a safety car period shortly before the end of the race and a restart before the last lap in his typical, commanding manner as well.
“Winning the DTM title one race before the end of the season is fantastic. I think it’ll take me a while to realize what we managed to do,” said the new DTM Champion after the race. “I’d like to thank Audi, Audi Sport Team Phoenix and Timo (Scheider) as well, who helped me today, very much. On option tires, I was very fast at the beginning of the race but after Augusto’s first stop not fast enough anymore. After switching to standard tires, it wasn’t going quite as well anymore but it was still enough in the end. I’m very proud of Audi and the team. After the difficult last year, we worked hard in the winter and improved the car. Being consistently quick and to score points was the key to success.”
Timo Scheider in the AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, in third place, managed to clinch his first podium result of the season on his favorite track. The two-time DTM Champion switched from standard to option tires early and, by using this strategy, moved in front of Rockenfeller and Wittmann. After letting his brand colleague go ahead, Scheider concentrated on shielding Rockenfeller toward the rear.
A fast-and-furious race was driven by Mattias Ekström in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM, who saved the softer option tires for the final attack and battled his way forward position by position with spectacular overtaking maneuvers. On the final lap alone, the Swede made up three places and thus secured fourth place.
Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra RS 5 DTM), Filipe Albuquerque (Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM/Audi Sport Team Rosberg) and Miguel Molina (Audi RS 5 DTM), by claiming positions six, eight and ten, contributed their share to Audi, with a score of 325 points, taking the lead in the manufacturers’ standings as well, in front of BMW (317) and Mercedes-Benz (239). In the team classification, Audi Sport Team Phoenix has a three-point advantage over BMW Team RBM before the finale.
“Congratulations and a sincere ‘thank you’ to Mike (Rockenfeller), Audi Sport Team Phoenix and the entire Audi squad!” said Dieter Gass, who has been Head of DTM at Audi Sport since the 2013 season. “Mike secured the drivers’ title early. In the manufacturers’ and team standings, we’re now in front as well. You really can’t wish for more than that. Mike’s a worthy Champion, who made no mistakes today even under high pressure. Timo (Scheider) backed him and deserves having clinched his first podium this season. The recovery by Mattias (Ekström) was sensational as well. There are many reasons for celebrating tonight – and that’s what we’re definitely going to do. ‘Thank you’ also to everyone in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, with the teams and with the suppliers who have made this DTM title possible for Audi.”
Mike Rockenfeller crowns strong season with early title win
Country life decelerates the Audi factory driver
Head of Audi Sport Ullrich: “Everyone’s delighted for him to have won the title”
Ingolstadt/Zandvoort, September 29, 2013 – Mike Rockenfeller has extended his biography by a decisive item in the second from last round of the 2013 DTM season at Zandvoort (the Netherlands). The 29-year-old Audi factory driver clinched an early title win in the most popular international touring car series DTM. A portrait of ‘Rocky.’
“My aim this year is simple: Of course I want to become champion,” said Mike Rockenfeller at the beginning of the season. The absence of the mischievous grin that is typically found on his face showed that he was not uttering a hackneyed phrase but was dead-serious. And now, after six DTM years, he has actually made it happen. Mike Rockenfeller from Audi Sport Team Phoenix sealed the title one race before the finale at Hockenheim on October 20. Following triumphs in the Porsche Carrera Cup (2004) and in the FIA GT Championship (2005) plus victories in the classic 24-hour races at Le Mans and Daytona (2010), this marks the next success in his career.
A surprise Champion? Not really. Last year – his second one in a current-generation DTM car – in fourth place of the standings, he was the best Audi driver and thus finally joined the group of favorites for the title. In the current season, he underpinned his Championship ambitions at an early stage. On winning round two at Brands Hatch (GB), the driver of the yellow-green Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM captured the top spot in the standings for the first time and is the only driver who has scored points in all nine races of the season so far – consistency having been one of the keys to success.
Even when, for a change, Rockenfeller was not cheering on the podium – as he was as the runner-up at Lausitz and on clinching his historic victory at the DTM’s premiere at Moscow – he set exclamation marks as a race driver. At the Red Bull Ring, ‘Rocky’ battled his way forward from 13th to fourth place. The city street race at the Norisring he tackled from the last row on the grid following a transmission change and in the end took a strong fifth place. On a wet track at the Nürburgring, Rockenfeller had to get out of a rival’s way in turn one and as a result found himself running at the rear of the field. Thanks to a tactical move by his squad at the command post ‘Rocky’ recovered and saw the checkered flag in fourth place.
Stay calm and relaxed even when all seems to be lost. Never lose your cool. Never give up. An exceptionally high basic speed, combined with a healthy dose of self-confidence and optimism that inspires the team even in difficult times – aside from his high level of technical knowledge, strong team spirit and, naturally, plenty of talent are the major strengths of the new DTM Champion.
“Rocky not only has the speed you need for titles in the DTM but drives in an incredibly clever way as well,” says Team Director Ernst Moser as he praises the level-headedness of his fast protégé. “Obviously, he’d love to win every race. But, not least thanks to his wealth of experience, Mike knows when it’s more prudent not to force the issue in a situation.” The perfect interaction between Rockenfeller and the engineers of Audi Sport and Audi Sport Team Phoenix is another element of success that Moser has identified. “Rocky has the ability to provide very precise descriptions of how the Audi RS 5 DTM performs in different track sectors and thus can squeeze the optimum out of the car together with the technical crew,” explains the team boss and, this said, goes on to name one of Rockenfeller’s weaknesses. “Sometimes he goes overboard with his tendency toward perfectionism and puts himself under nervous pressure. But whenever this happens his engineer Jürgen Jungklaus quickly brings him back to reality.”
Mike Rockenfeller gathered initial experience in a car at the tender age of eight when he was driving a VW beetle around the grounds of his grandparents’ farm. When, at the age of ten, he climbed into a kart for the first time just for fun he immediately realized: “Racing is my great passion.” Following six years in karting, Rockenfeller switched to Formula König and immediately made a strong showing on clinching the pole position and fourth place in the first-ever car race in his life. Just a little later, Porsche secured the services of the budding talent that had just come of age. Together with the Swabian marque ‘Rocky’ competed in the USA as well and developed a liking for the country and its traditional race tracks such as Laguna Seca that has lasted to this day. December 2006 marked the beginning of a new chapter in Rockenfeller’s career. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich signed the German, thus paving the way for him to achieve the biggest successes his career.
“Mike’s not only a fast race driver but a perfect fit for Audi outside the cockpit as well,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. With his on-track performances – above all, obviously, his victory at Le Mans and now his DTM title – he has more than fulfilled all the hopes we’ve pinned on him. In all his years with Audi, Mike’s had to cope with a few setbacks, so that makes our joy about his title even greater. Everybody at Audi Sport is delighted for him to have achieved this success.”
As a way of balancing his turbulent daily life as a race driver, Rockenfeller values the decelerating effect of country life. Rockenfeller, who grew up in Neuwied in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate with both sets of grandparents being farmers, is now living in Landschlacht on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance with his partner Susanne. Enjoying a meal at a good restaurant, watching a movie at a theater or simply lounging around all day wearing shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops – these are the ways in which he prefers to recharge his batteries for the next races in the little bit of free time he has. An environment he is used to, a home – is important to him. That is why he takes his ‘own four walls’ in the form of his motorhome to the track whenever he can. There is just one catch about it: He does not have the right driver’s license that would allow him to move the large vehicle. Finally getting this license, besides winning the DTM title, has been at the very top of his agenda for 2013. So his sights are now set on the next aim.
Round 9 of the DTM is about to start at Zandvoort. Mike Rockenfeller will start from third on the grid and he stands a chance to clinch the driver's title today. Live timing is available HERE. Twitter updates from the official Audi Sport twitter account are available HERE. You can watch the race right here, embedded from the live YouTube stream:
Leader of the standings best Audi driver in qualifying at Zandvoort
Grid position three directly behind title rival Farfus
Seven of the eight Audi RS 5 DTM cars among the top eleven
Ingolstadt/Zandvoort, September 28, 2013 – The starting base before the penultimate race of the 2013 DTM season could hardly be more thrilling than this, as Augusto Farfus (BMW) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) – the two candidates for the title – are directly behind one another on grid positions two and three at Zandvoort (the Netherlands) on Sunday.
The 4.307-kilometer circuit on the Dutch North Sea Coast is regarded as one of the most challenging race tracks on which Audi, since its comeback with a factory-backed commitment in 2004, has achieved six out of nine possible victories. The track is regarded as putting extreme demands on the tires and offers only limited overtaking possibilities. That is why, more than at other races, good grid positions, the right strategy and a set-up that is gentle on the tires are crucial.
Leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix has checked off the first part and, by clinching grid position three, secured a good starting base for the 44-lap race. “Naturally, I’d have wished to be starting in front of Augusto (Farfus) tomorrow,” said the 29-year-old. “But even in this morning’s free practice he showed that he’s very strong here. Now we’ve got to see to us being fast enough in the race tomorrow to crack him. It was a difficult qualifying session for us, so I’m pleased with grid position three. My thanks go to Audi and my team. I’m the best Audi driver on the grid and my aim of winning the race remains unchanged. I need a good start and then we’ll see what happens.”
Alongside the leader of the standings, Timo Scheider in the AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline will be starting the race from grid position four. Filipe Albuquerque in the Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg, by taking position six, made for drivers from all three Audi teams to start from the first three rows.
Audi’s qualifying performance that was strong on the whole was completed by Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM), Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra RS 5 DTM), Miguel Molina (Audi RS 5 DTM) and Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) with grid positions seven, nine, ten and eleven.
With that, seven of the eight Audi RS 5 DTM cars are starting from the best eleven grid positions on Sunday. Only Jamie Green in his Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM, in 18th place, was eliminated by just a very narrow margin right in the first qualifying segment. As last year’s winner Bruno Spengler received a two-position grid penalty, Green will start the race from 17th place.
“The two candidates for the title are directly behind one another tomorrow on the first two rows of the grid – it can hardly be more thrilling than this,” said Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “Mike (Rockenfeller) drove a strong qualifying session yet again and Timo (Scheider), as always, was very fast at Zandvoort again. With six Audi cars in the top ten, we’ve got a good overall starting base for the race in which the right strategy will play a crucial role – there are many different variants that can be driven here. It’ll be a very exciting race.”
Mike Rockenfeller will have the chance to secure an early DTM title win by achieving a good result on Sunday. ARD will broadcast live on ‘Das Erste’ starting at 13:15 from. The race can be watched live on YouTube in many countries as well.
Quotes after qualifying at Zandvoort:
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport):“Mike Rockenfeller achieved a good starting base for the race on his own power. Now, making the right decisions in the race tomorrow will be very important. Nobody knows yet how the option tires are going to perform here – and overtaking isn’t easy at Zandvoort. The DTM fans can look forward to a thrilling race at which the start and the first turn will already be explosive, as both candidates for the title are close together on the grid.”
Dieter Gass (Head of DTM):“It can’t get much better than this. We’ve got two Audi and two BMW cars in the top four. Both candidates for the title are in contention at the front; that’s a promising situation for the race tomorrow. Thinking about our performances, we can be pleased as well. We’ve got seven Audi cars among the top eleven and can come up with something in terms of strategy for the race. We’re going to try and win tomorrow.”
Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM), grid position 3 “It’s a good starting order, it’s got spice. I’m pleased with my position but not with my pace in qualifying. I gave everything but was struggling a bit with the car. Cracking Augusto (Farfus) tomorrow won’t be easy. But my aim of winning the race remains unchanged.”
Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM), grid position 4 “A clean qualifying session without any problems and with a good way of making it into Q4. When I heard of Marco Wittmann’s time over the radio I knew that this lap could only be beaten with a lot of risk. And the risk in my case was a bit too high. Compared with my personal best time I was faster initially. I then tried to give everything and took too much of a risk. In the end, it was the second row. We can help Mike (Rockenfeller) and finish on the podium ourselves – that’ll be our aim tomorrow.”
Filipe Albuquerque (Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM), grid position 6 “It was a very close qualifying session. The team did a great job after free practice because I wasn’t completely happy with the car this morning. I’m hoping that, like at Oschersleben, I’ll be able to make up four places again. The race will be very long and it’ll be very close.”
Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM), grid position 7 “It was a disappointing qualifying session for us. We were quick in Q2 and there was greater potential. Then, in Q3, we had lower grip than in Q2 and didn’t make it into the last qualifying qualifying segment.”
Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra RS 5 DTM), grid position 9 “I’m not completely happy with my performance. Q4 was possible today but I made a mistake in the penultimate turn. I’m sorry for the team. But ninth place isn’t bad. We’re going to battle in the race!”
Miguel Molina (Audi RS 5 DTM), grid position 10 “As always in the DTM, it was very close. We were always at the limit: 16th place in Q1, tenth in Q2, and always barely another lap forward. Subsequently, I wasn’t completely happy with Q3. But it’s always good to make it into the top ten. With that, we’ve got a good chance to help ‘Rocky’ (Mike Rockenfeller) and Phoenix in the battle for the title.”
Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM), grid position 11 “I’m looking forward to the race. But starting from position eleven is more difficult than when you’re further at the front. Half the field is in front of me, the other half is behind me. My aim is to overtake as many cars as possible. Those who know me know that we’ll only give up after the checkered flag has come out.”
Jamie Green (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM), grid position 17 “It was a short qualifying session. We only went out twice; the best lap came in the first outing. Before qualifying, we’d changed the set-up a bit and that didn’t pay off. Some of the changes weren’t positive. I first had to get used to the car in qualifying, which isn’t ideal. On such a short weekend, you’ve only got little time for changes.”
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “It was a close qualifying session again. But we’re pleased with our starting base because we believe that we’ve got a good race set-up. We’ll see to supporting ‘Rocky’ (Mike Rockenfeller) tomorrow; we’re starting from the same row.”
Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix):“A good qualifying session with both cars among the top ten. That’ll help us a lot in the team classification, as the two Mercedes, which are leading the standings, are far at the rear. We’ve achieved a lot and are closely trailing Augusto Farfus. We’re going to try and stay on his heels in the race or to overtake him. ‘Thanks’ to the team and the two drivers who showed very strong nerves.”
Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “Positions six and seven aren’t so bad. In Q2, Edo (Mortara) drove the best time. But afterward he didn’t manage to do that well anymore. In each sector, he lost some time although everything on the car was the same. We’ve got a good base; we can build on that for the race tomorrow.”
The German DTM series is at Zandvoort in the Netherlands this weekend. Saturday got off to a good start for the Audi teams during the free practice session.
A total of five Audi RS 5 DTM cars made it into the top ten this morning. The leading Audi was that of Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Team Rosberg), who placed second, a mere 0.184 seconds behind Augusto Farfus, who was fastest in his BMW M3 DTM. Adrien Tambay (Audi Sport Team Abt) was the next Audi in the times, placing third. He was followed by Mike Rockenfeller (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) in sixth, Timo Scheider (Audi Sport Team Abt) in eighth and Miguel Molina (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) in ninth. The Audi runners outside of the top ten were Filipe Albuquerque (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) in twelfth, Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) in thirteenth and Jamie Green (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) in fourteenth. The entire top ten was covered by less than one second, and to emphasize how close it was, positions five through seven were all clocked at 1:32.204.
33-point advantage: Rockenfeller can become Champion at Zandvoort
Circuit on the North Sea coast is favorite track of the Audi drivers
Head of DTM Dieter Gass: “Zandvoort is good territory for Audi”
Ingolstadt, September 20, 2013 – Motorsport fans are in for a thrilling weekend on the Dutch North Sea Coast. Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller is traveling to round nine of the DTM at Zandvoort (September 27 to 29) with an advantage of 33 points and can thus secure an early win of the first DTM title in his career at the season’s penultimate round.
Eight drivers, one opinion: Zandvoort is one of the absolutely favorite tracks of the Audi drivers due to the circuit’s characteristics with hilltops, fast turns and several overtaking opportunities plus the unique location in the dunes directly on the Dutch North Sea Coast. The statistics confirm the positive feeling of the drivers. There is no other track on the race calendar that Audi has been more successful on ever since the DTM’s comeback in 2000 than Zandvoort. Seven times a driver of the four rings was on the top of the podium, with Mattias Ekström, who has a total of three victories in the Netherlands under his belt, heading the list.
This year, the eyes of the motorsport fans are focused on the duel of Mike Rockenfeller vs. BMW driver Augusto Farfus, the only remaining rival in the battle for the Championship. The Audi driver is traveling to Zandvoort with a 33-point advantage and, in case of taking victory or second place, would be determined early as the new DTM Champion. Augusto Farfus has to shorten the gap to the German to a maximum of 25 points to still have a chance of claiming the title in the finale at Hockenheim on October 20.
In addition to leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller, his brand colleagues Mattias Ekström, Tom Kristensen and Edoardo Mortara have previously entered their names on the winners’ list at this race track. The former Audi driver Laurent Aiello celebrated his early title win at Zandvoort in 2002. The two-time DTM Champion Timo Scheider started here from the pole position four times, although he has been deprived of a victory so far.
The 4.307-kilometer circuit is located around 45 minutes from Amsterdam, has been on the race calendar every year since 2001 and is considered one of the most challenging tracks of the season in terms of driving skills. Fine sand from the dunes often makes the tarmac extremely slippery off the racing line. Particularly the start-finish straight lends itself to the use of the Drag Reduction System (DRS) with which the drivers flatten the rear wing angle by pushing a button on the steering wheel. But Mattias Ekström sees a possibility in the fast combination following turn three as well: “If the system can be used there, it’lll be the most thrilling DRS section of the whole year.”
Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 season are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. In many countries of the world fans can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTM’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dtmint.
In Germany, ARD will broadcast qualifying live on “Das Erste” on Saturday (September 28) starting at 14:30 and the race on Sunday (September 29) starting at 13:15.
Quotes by the officials
Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “According to past experience Zandvoort is good territory for us. Although the season has shown that the relative strengths from the previous year don’t necessarily have to apply we’re still traveling with optimism to the penultimate race of the season. At Oschersleben, we saw how a solid team performance is reflected in the various classifications of the DTM. Consequently, a good team result is again our aim at Zandvoort.”
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “Our team has special memories of Zandvoort. On September 29, 2002, in other words exactly eleven years ago, we won our first DTM title there with Laurent Aiello. This year, Mike (Rockenfeller) is battling for the Championship. We’re going to give everything to support him in this. And the best way to do that is by scoring as many points as possible.”
Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “Zandvoort is one of our favorite tracks. With Mike (Rockenfeller) at the front and a good position in the team classification we’ve got our sights set on two titles. Maybe we can lock it all in right here on the North Sea Coast.”
Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “After the result at Oschersleben, we’re traveling to Zandvoort with confidence. Filipe (Albuquerque) has finally shaken off his misfortune – that’s what we’d like to build on.”
Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
Filipe Albuquerque (28/P), Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) • Scored his first points of the 2013 season at Oschersleben • In fourth place, just barely missed the podium “I’ve always been fast at Zandvoort so far but have never been able to clinch a real result. For my team and me, things are going better and better, which gives me motivation for the next two races. The podium continues to be my aim.”
Mattias Ekström (35/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #11 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) • Celebrated his first DTM victory at Zandvoort on September29 • Won the race at Zandvoort three times and was on the podium eight times “Thinking about the track at Zandvoort immediately puts me in a good mood. I really like driving there. In addition, I’ve got many positive experiences, for instance my first victory many years ago. In the race back then, a brand colleague celebrated his Champion’s title at the same time – that would be a nice combination this year again.”
Jamie Green (31/GB), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #12 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) • Was on the podium at Oschersleben for the first time as an Audi driver • Has scored points in 56 percent of his previous DTM races “Zandvoort is one of the fastest tracks on the calendar where you can make really good use of the RS 5 DTM’s aerodynamics. There aren’t many circuits with such characteristics, so I particularly look forward to his race every year.”
Miguel Molina (24/E), Audi RS 5 DTM #20 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) • Has scored points in the past two races of the season • Together with Mike Rockenfeller is battling for victory in the team classification “Zandvoort is a great place. I’ve got fond memories of the track because that’s where I managed the leap into the last qualifying segment for the first time. I’d like to continue the upward trend of the past few races.”
Edoardo Mortara (26/F/I), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) • Won the race at Zandvoort last year • Achieved his second-best result of the season at Oschersleben “After the relatively decent race at Oschersleben, I’m hoping for us to make the next step at Zandvoort and to finally put the streak of misfortune behind us. I won at Zandvoort in 2012 and have often raced there at other events as well. Now we’ve got to manage a flawless weekend and then we’ll achieve better results again too.”
Mike Rockenfeller (29/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #19 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) • Is the only driver in the field to have scored in all of the 2013 races • Is starting the penultimate race of the season with an advantage of 33 points “Zandvoort is my favorite track. I’m looking forward to the race with huge anticipation and would obviously like to win the Championship there as well. Although you can’t force that to happen we know it works: We’ve got to do our job with high concentration and then see if that’s enough or not. If it isn’t, then we’ll just be experiencing a hot finale at Hockenheim. But with Zandvoort being such a great track, which also suits us well, I‘m traveling to the North Sea coast with guarded optimism.”
Timo Scheider (34/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #23 (Audi Sport Team Abt) • Has started from the pole position an amazing four times at Zandvoort • Has finished in the top five five times in the Netherlands “I’ve got so many memories of Zandvoort. For instance, I’ve clinched four pole positions there – but not a single victory. That’s quite a bit of unfinished business for me. It would be nice to finish it this year with the positive momentum from Oschersleben. I’m very much looking forward to Zandvoort because it’s my absolutely favorite track.”
Adrien Tambay (22/F), Audi ultra RS 5 DTM #24 (Audi Sport Team Abt) • In fifth place, scored his first DTM points last year • Most recently, finished in the points three times in succession in the 2013 season “At Zandvoort, I took my first-ever DTM points last year, so I’m pleased to return to this venue. I’ve finished in the top ten three consecutive times most recently and want to continue this string at all cost in Holland.”
The Audi drivers in the 2013 DTM
Filipe Albuquerque (P): * June 13, 1985 in Coimbra (P); residence: Coimbra (P); single (partner Joana); height: 1.74 m; weight: 65 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 28; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 47; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 15
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: 132; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 659; 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: 91; pole positions: 7; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 396,5; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 4
Miguel Molina (E): * Feb 17, 1989 in Barcelona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 39; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 42; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 5
Edoardo Mortara (F/I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); engaged; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 28; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 106; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 1 (2012)
Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); single (partner Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 69; pole positions: 3; victories: 3; fastest laps: 3; points: 283; DTM titles: 0; 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: 137; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 395; 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: 18; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 50; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Zandvoort: 5
DTM drivers’ standings after eight of ten rounds 1 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 124 points 2 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 91 points 3 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 71 points 4 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 70 points 5 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 67 points 6 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 65 points 7 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 44 points 8 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 39 points 9 Jamie Green (Audi) 35 points 10 Dirk Werner (BMW) 26 points 11 Joey Hand (BMW) 26 points 12 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 22 points 13 Timo Scheider (Audi) 22 points 14 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 20 points 15 Timo Glock (BMW) 15 points 16 Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) 12 points 17 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 10 points 18 Roberto Merhi (Mercedes-Benz) 8 points 19 Miguel Molina (Audi) 8 points 20 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 3 points 21 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 3 points 22 Andy Priaulx (BMW) 2 points
DTM manufacturers’ standings 1 BMW 276 points 2 Audi 267 points 3 Mercedes-Benz 237 points
DTM team standings 1 STIHL/AMG Mercedes 141 points 2 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 132 points 3 BMW Team RBM 117 points 4 BMW Team Schnitzer 93 points 5 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 79 points 6 EURONICS/THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG 73 points 7 BMW Team MTEK 54 points 8 Audi Sport Team Abt 44 points 9 stern/AMG Mercedes 23 points 10 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 15 points 11 BMW Team RMG 12 points
Audi statistics in the DTM (since 1990)
Champion’s titles: 8 (in 16 years) Victories: 65 (in 206 races) Pole positions: 71 (in 170 qualifying sessions) Fastest laps: 56 (in 206 races) Podium positions: 206 (in 206 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)
2012 flashback: Audi celebrates one-two-three win
39,000 spectators saw a spectacular DTM race in extremely difficult conditions. Rain showers from the nearby North Sea kept sweeping across the race track that was never wet enough though to switch to rain tires. In a tough duel, Edoardo Mortara prevailed against Mike Rockenfeller, who had taken the lead at the start and commandingly controlled the race for a long time. The Audi one-two-three win was perfected by Mattias Ekström. Across several laps, the Swede fought a thrilling duel with Mercedes driver Gary Paffett which he, not least thanks to a good strategy and quick pit stops by his team, decided in his favor.
Track info
Track length: 4.307 km Race distance: 44 laps = 189.508 km DTM qualifying record on this track: Mattias Ekström (Audi), July 12, 2008, 1m 31.012s (170.364 km/h) DTM race record on this track: Timo Scheider (Audi), Aug 22, 2010, 1m 32.967s (166.782 km/h) Pole position 2012: Timo Scheider (Audi), 1m 32.365s Fastest lap 2012: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), 1m 34.054s (164.854 km/h) Turnout 2012: 39,000 TV live rating 2012: 1.37 million / 9.0 % market share (source: ARD)
Adrien Tambay about Zandvoort: “In Formula 3, I had some problems at Zandvoort, so I arrived there with mixed feelings last year. But in the end, things went well for me. In a hard race, I was able able to keep Bruno Spengler and Martin Tomczyk behind me and score my first points. That was a great relief for me and like a small breakthrough in the DTM. In the Audi RS 5 DTM, the track at Zandvoort is really good fun. I think everybody 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-hand turn at the end of the track. This sector is extremely fast and very bumpy. You drive at the limit and get adrenalin surges. I like that! I suppose the old, long track must have been similar. I’ve watched onboard footage of my father – very impressive but dangerous as well …”
Timetable
Friday, September 27 18:45–19:00 Roll-out
Saturday, September 28 09:05–10:35 Free practice 14:40–15:50 Qualifying
Sunday, September 29 09:05–09:35 Pit stop practice 13:30 Race
Audi scores points at Oschersleben with all eight cars
Mike Rockenfeller makes further step toward the title
Jamie Green on podium for the first time with Audi
Ingolstadt/Oschersleben, September 15, 2013 – With a second-place finish at Oschersleben Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM) has made another big step toward the Champion’s title. Before the last two races at Zandvoort and Hockenheim the driver from Audi Sport Team Phoenix has a 33-point advantage over Augusto Farfus (BMW).
70,500 spectators (throughout the weekend) witnessed another flawless race of the leader of the standings and an impressive showing of the entire Audi squad at the venue near Magdeburg. All eight Audi RS 5 DTM cars finished in the top ten and thus in the points – a premiere.
Before the race at Oschersleben, eight drivers still had title chances. Now, only two are left: Rockenfeller and Farfus. The Brazilian was the only rival Rockenfeller had to admit defeat to. “He was extremely strong today,” commented the Audi driver. “On the option tires I was running relatively fast while things weren’t going quite as well on standard tires – that’s why I’m particularly pleased with second place and the important points we scored here again.”
Rockenfeller started on harder standard tires and in the early phase initially dropped back to fourth place. On the softer option tires, he subsequently improved to position two and brought the 18 points for the Championship home in typical, commanding style.
Jamie Green in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline achieved his first podium result as an Audi driver. The Briton made a good start but in the narrow first turn had to yield to the subsequent winner Farfus. After his second pit stop he hit the track again directly behind Rockenfeller and crossed the finish line in third place right behind the leader of the standings.
For the first time in the points this season was Filipe Albuquerque, who in the Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg drove a strong race which he finished in fourth place. In fifth place, Timo Scheider in the AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM managed to score his best result of the season as well. The two-time DTM Champion showed remarkable overtaking maneuvers, battling his way forward from ninth on the grid to fifth and thus into the top ten.
Even more cars were overtaken by Mattias Ekström, who in his Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM chose a different strategy than most of the other drivers, initially fitting standard tires twice. Toward the race’s midpoint the Swede switched to option tires and subsequently recovered one position after another. Having started from grid position 13, Ekström thus finished in seventh place.
Miguel Molina (Audi RS 5 DTM), Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra RS 5 DTM) and Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM), who initially had stopped at the start and dropped to the last position in the field, in eighth, ninth and tenth place completed the impressive Audi performance.
Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport, was pleased accordingly, as he commented: “This was the solid team performance we’d been wishing for. All eight Audi RS 5 DTM cars in the points – that’s never happened before. Obviously, we’d have liked to have won the race here as well but, more importantly, Mike Rockenfeller made another big step forward in the Championship. He’s now got an advantage of 33 points and only one rival left. But there are 50 points yet to be awarded. We’re going to continue to work with concentration in order to clinch the title.”
In just two weeks from now, at Zandvoort (Netherlands), the next race will be on the agenda. There, Mike Rockenfeller could secure an early title win. In the manufacturers’ standings, Audi, after the strong result achieved at Oschersleben, has a score of 267 points, trailing BMW (276) by only nine points and clearly ranking ahead of Mercedes-Benz (237).
Round 8 of the DTM is about to start at Oschersleben. Jamie Green will be starting from pole position today, followed by championship leader, Mike Rockenfeller, in third. Live timing is available HERE. Twitter updates from the official Audi Sport twitter account are available HERE. You can watch the race right here, embedded from the live YouTube stream:
Audi driver Jamie Green will be tackling the eighth race of the DTM season at Oschersleben in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline from the pole position after the fastest driver in qualifying, Bruno Spengler (BMW), received a five-place grid penalty due to a violation of the regulations in qualifying. For the 31-year-old, this marks the seventh pole position in the DTM in total and the first one as an Audi driver. Just like Miguel Molina and Adrien Tambay the Briton will start the race on option tires. All other Audi drivers will start on standard tires. “I’m doing increasingly well in handling the Audi RS 5 DTM and my engineer Alex (Stehlig) did a good job in qualifying yesterday because we were out on track at the right time. The pole position is a nice reward for this.”
Six Audi RS 5 DTM cars on the first five rows of the grid
Mike Rockenfeller achieves new track record at Oschersleben
Jamie Green on front row for the first time for Audi
Ingolstadt/Oschersleben, September 14, 2013 – With a strong qualifying performance Audi has worked out a good starting base for round eight of the DTM at Oschersleben (Sunday, starting at 13:15 live on ‘Das Erste’). Leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix, on position four, will be starting the race clearly in front of his two fiercest rivals in the battle for the title.
Rain showers in the first two qualifying segments made for changeable conditions when being out on track at the right moment was of paramount importance. Rockenfeller proved his strong nerves in this situation yet again. When at the end of Q1 the black and white checkered flag was shown the leader of the standings was only in 18th place and would thus have been eliminated early. But ‘Rocky’ only needed a single lap to improve to second place.
The leader of the standings confirmed his strong form with positions three, one and four in the subsequent segments of qualifying. Setting a time of 1m 20.129s in Q3, he achieved a new track record that was not equaled in Q4 – not even by the leader of the standings himself, who secured position four on the grid.
Right in front of Rockenfeller, Jamie Green (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) will be starting the race from the front row. The Briton from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline only had to admit defeat to title defender Bruno Spengler in the BMW. “I’m very pleased with position two on the grid,” said Green. “It wasn’t easy today, especially with the rain in Q1 and Q2. My engineer Alex (Stehlig) did a good job because we were always out on track at the right time – and that was crucial. My Q4 lap wasn’t perfect; in turn 10, I was running a bit far on the outside. That cost nearly a tenth of a second.”
Position six on the grid was secured by Filipe Albuquerque in the Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg. Miguel Molina (Audi RS 5 DTM), Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM) and Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra RS 5 DTM) took positions eight, ten and eleven but will all move up by one position as Mercedes-Benz driver Gary Paffett received a five-position grid penalty following a violation of the regulations. Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM) and Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) are starting the eighth DTM race of the year from positions 13 and 17.
“With six Audi cars in the top ten we can be very pleased,” commented Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “The RS 5 DTM was fast right from the beginning today and managed to set a new track record in qualifying. Mike (Rockenfeller) showed strong nerves throughout the qualifying session and has created a good starting base for tomorrow while his two fiercest rivals are relatively far at the rear. I’m happy for Jamie (Green) as well. He’ll be starting from the front row as an Audi driver for the first time.”
The German DTM is at Oschersleben for round eight this weekend. Saturday got off to a good start for the Audi teams during the free practice session.
A total of six Audi RS 5 DTM cars made it into the top ten this morning. The leading Audi was that of championship leader, Mike Rockenfeller (Audi Sport Team Phoenix), who topped the session. He was followed by Timo Scheider (Audi Sport Team Abt) in third, Adrien Tambay (Audi Sport Team Abt) in fourth, Filipe Albuquerque (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) in fifth, Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) in seventh and rounding out the top ten was Jamie Green (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) in tenth.
The Audi runners outside of the top ten were Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) in sixteenth and Miguel Molina (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) in eighteenth.
Mike Rockenfeller travels to Oschersleben as leader of the standings
Timo Scheider has won at venue near Magdeburg twice before
Head of DTM Dieter Gass: “Aiming for a solid team performance”
Ingolstadt, September 6, 2013 – Round eight now marks the beginning of the hot phase in the battle for the DTM title. Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller is traveling to Oschersleben (September 13 to 15) with an advantage of 35 points. The squad from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm is banking on a strong team performance in the final sprint of the season.
Mike Rockenfeller and his brand colleagues have fondest memories of the 3.696-kilometer track near Magdeburg – first and foremost, Timo Scheider. He has contested a total of 13 races at Oschersleben before and thus holds the top mark in the current driver field. Scheider won the race at Oschersleben in his two championship-winning years of 2008 and 2009. Mattias Ekström entered his name on the winners’ list in 2011 and Mike Rockenfeller, in his second race, celebrated his first-ever DTM podium position there in May 2007.
Now the 29-year-old German is traveling to Oschersleben as the leader of the standings. The parameters before the race are positive: Rockenfeller has a 35-point advantage over his closest rival Christian Vietoris and 75 points are yet to be awarded. If Rockenfeller consecutively scores again in the eighth race he will be able to create an optimum starting base for the remaining two races at Zandvoort and Hockenheim.
Since the DTM’s comeback in 2000 the circuit at Oschersleben has been a venue on the series’ calendar of events and has made for thrilling races on numerous occasions. A notorious track section is the narrow left-right combination at the end of the start-finish straight, which is conducive to extremely close maneuvers. Aside from the finish straight, the back-straight offers a good opportunity for using the Drag Reduction System (DRS) that flattens the rear wing flap angle when the driver pushes a button on the steering wheel. Ideal for the fans is the total view of the infield from several grandstands, which assures that they will not miss any of the actions by the DTM race drivers.
Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 season are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. In many countries of the world fans can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTM’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dtmint.
In Germany, ARD will broadcast live on ‘Das Erste:’ qualifying on Saturday (September 14) starting at 14:30 and the race on Sunday (September 15) starting at 13:15.
Quotes by the officials
Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “We’re looking toward Oschersleben with excitement. So far, we’ve been showing a consistently good performance this season and have always been far at the front with at least one driver. Building on this and putting as many cars as possible into the top group through a solid team performance has got to be the aim.”
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “We’re looking forward to Oschersleben. The track has suited our car well in the past and our drivers have clinched many victories there. We’d like to continue this and thus support Mike (Rockenfeller) in his battle for the DTM title as well.”
Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “Thinking of Oschersleben primarily brings back positive memories of this track. Mike (Rockenfeller) has mounted the podium there before and Miguel (Molina) has been on pole there once as well. Thus, I’m confident that we’ll be in contention in the race again.”
Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “We used the summer break to take a breather and to tackle the last three races with new momentum. My squad is looking forward to Oschersleben: New game, new luck.”
Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
Filipe Albuquerque (28/P), Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) • At the Nürburgring, just barely missed scoring the first points this year • Finished in the top ten at Oschersleben in 2012 “I know the track at Oschersleben well and drove there in junior categories before competing in the DTM. Our performance at the Nürburgring has encouraged us. I’m not giving up and will go all out to finally score my first points this season.”
Mattias Ekström (35/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #11 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) • Won the race at Oschersleben two years ago • Has mounted the podium four times in ten DTM runs at Oschersleben to date “Oschersleben has been both good and bad to me in all these years. With only three more races to go you can tell how the level of suspense is rising a bit with everybody – that’s good I think. I’m still lacking a real victory this year and I’m going to continue to battle for this.”
Jamie Green (31/GB), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #12 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) • Most recently finished in the points twice in succession • Has been on podium at Oschersleben three times before “Predictions are extremely difficult this season. I’d like to work with concentration, continue to improve and be back on podium as soon as possible.”
Miguel Molina (24/E), Audi RS 5 DTM #20 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) • Started from the pole position at Oschersleben in 2011 • Scored his first points in the 2013 season at the Nürburgring “Following the upward trend at the Nürburgring, I’m now all the more excited about Oschersleben. This track has a special meaning for me because this is where I clinched my first pole position two years ago.”
Edoardo Mortara (26/F/I), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) • Was on podium at Oschersleben in his debut year of 2011 • Started the race at the Nürburgring from the second row “Even though Oschersleben isn’t exactly my favorite track I believe that we’ll be competitive. I’m wishing for a better weekend than the first seven this year. The summer break has been good for taking a breather again.” Mike Rockenfeller (29/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #19 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) • Claimed the first podium position in his DTM career at Oschersleben • Has been one of the two drivers to score points in all races of the season to date “Oschersleben is very challenging in terms of driving skills and very rough on the car as well. I’ve always enjoyed the track. We’re working on being well sorted again and starting the weekend with a good basic set-up. I’m looking forward to Oschersleben and am eager to see how the relative strengths will pan out.”
Timo Scheider (34/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #23 (Audi Sport Team Abt) • Scored his first-ever DTM race win at Oschersleben in 2008 • Has 13 starts at Oschersleben under his belt – more than any other driver in the field “Of course Oschersleben immediately makes me think of my first DTM victory, which I clinched in 2008 and that was a big step toward the subsequent title win. I used the summer break to clear my mind again after all the previous misfortune. That has worked well, so I’m traveling to Oschersleben with the resulting motivation.”
Adrien Tambay (22/F), Audi ultra RS 5 DTM #24 (Audi Sport Team Abt) • At the Nürburgring, finished in the points for the second time in 2013 • Is the third-best Audi driver in the standings three races before the end of the season “Oschersleben is a nice race track. Last year, I was a bit unfortunate in the race. Hopefully, that’ll be different this time. My aim, again, is a good result in the points.”
The Audi drivers in the 2013 DTM
Filipe Albuquerque (P): * June 13, 1985 in Coimbra (P); residence: Coimbra (P); single (partner Joana); height: 1.74 m; weight: 65 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 27; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 35; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Oschersleben: 9
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: 131; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 653; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result DTM Oschersleben: 1 (2011)
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: 90; pole positions: 6; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 381; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Oschersleben: 3
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: 38; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 38; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Oschersleben: 8
Edoardo Mortara (F/I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); engaged; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 27; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 105; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Oschersleben: 3
Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); single (partner Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 68; pole positions: 3; victories: 3; fastest laps: 3; points: 265; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Oschersleben: 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: 136; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 385; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result DTM Oschersleben: 1 (2008, 2009)
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: 17; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 48; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Oschersleben: 16
DTM drivers’ standings after seven of ten rounds 1 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 106 points 2 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 71 points 3 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 70 points 4 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 67 points 5 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 66 points 6 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 57 points 7 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 39 points 8 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 38 points 9 Dirk Werner (BMW) 26 points 10 Joey Hand (BMW) 26 points 11 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 20 points 12 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 20 points 13 Jamie Green (Audi) 20 points 14 Timo Glock (BMW) 15 points 15 Timo Scheider (Audi) 12 points 16 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 10 points 17 Roberto Merhi (Mercedes-Benz) 8 points 18 Miguel Molina (Audi) 4 points 19 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 3 points 20 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 2 points 21 Andy Priaulx (BMW) 2 points
DTM manufacturers’ standings 1 BMW 251 points 2 Mercedes-Benz 229 points 3 Audi 202 points
DTM team standings 1 STIHL/AMG Mercedes 141 points 2 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 110 points 3 BMW Team Schnitzer 93 points 4 BMW Team RBM 92 points 5 EURONICS/THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG 65 points 6 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 58 points 7 BMW Team MTEK 54 points 8 Audi Sport Team Abt 32 points 9 stern/AMG Mercedes 23 points 10 BMW Team RMG 12 points 11 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 2 points
Audi DTM statistics in the DTM (since 1990)
Champion’s titles: 8 (in 16 years) Victories: 65 (in 205 races) Pole positions: 70 (in 169 qualifying sessions) Fastest laps: 56 (in 205 races) Podium positions: 204 (in 205 races)
All Oschersleben winners since 2000
2000 Manuel Reuter (Opel), Manuel Reuter (Opel), Uwe Alzen (Opel), Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz) 2001 Marcel Fässler (Mercedes-Benz) 2004 Tom Kristensen (Audi) 2005 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 2006 Tom Kristensen (Audi) 2007 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 2008 Timo Scheider (Audi) 2009 Timo Scheider (Audi) 2010 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) 2011 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 2012 Bruno Spengler (BMW)
2012 flashback: Audi without racing luck
Following the commanding one-two-three victory in the previous round at Zandvoort, Audi occupied positions six, eight, nine and ten after having suffered a lot of misfortune on the starting lap. In front of 71,000 spectators, Mike Rockenfeller, in sixth place, was the best-placed Audi driver. Mattias Ekström stopped at the start and dropped from fifth to 19th place. Afterward, he was the fastest driver in the field some of the time, recovered one position after another and advanced into the points again. In the end, Ekström took eighth place. Filipe Albuquerque, in ninth place, scored two points. One point, for tenth place, remained for Timo Scheider.
Track info
Track length: 3.696 km Race distance: 51 laps = 188.496 km DTM qualifying record on this track: Dirk Werner (BMW), Sep 15, 2012, 1m 20.632s (165.016 km/h) DTM race record on this track: Roberto Merhi (Mercedes-Benz), Sep 16, 2012, 1m 22.752s (160.789 km/h) Pole position 2012: Bruno Spengler (BMW), 1m 20.916s (Q4). Fastest lap 2012: Roberto Merhi (Mercedes-Benz), 1m 22.752s (160.789 km/h) Turnout 2012: 71,000 TV live rating 2012: 1.07 million / 9.3 % market share (source: ARD)
Timo Scheider about Oschersleben: “There’s hardly any other track in my book that combines so many different characters of turns. With the artificial braking chicane in turn 1 an additional opportunity for overtaking has been created. The ultra-fast right-left-right chicane on the other side of the track eats a lot of material but also requires great sensitivity. If you run the curbs a bit too hard you might damage the car or careen off the track. There’s a slow hairpin, an ultra-long 180-degree turn, a fast and a slow chicane and in the infield there’s even a banked corner. I’ll never forget the day of my first DTM victory at Oschersleben in 2008 – that’s when a big load came off my chest after all those years. All this combined makes Oschersleben so special for me.”
Timetable
Friday, September 13 18:00–18:15 Roll-out
Saturday, September 14 09:10–10:40 Free practice 14:40–15:50 Qualifying
Sunday, September 15 09:10–09:40 Pit stop practice 13:30 Race
