Audi is hoping for third victory at Valencia

Audi and Mattias Ekström unbeaten so far at Valencia
Home race for Audi driver Miguel Molina

On the last September weekend, the DTM is returning to the venue that in previous years was firmly in Audi’s hands: at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo on the outskirts of the Spanish coastal city Valencia, the brand with the four rings has been unbeaten in the DTM thus far.

The DTM has visited the race track that is primarily known from the MotoGP racing series twice before. And both times, Audi had something to celebrate. Mattias Ekström won in 2010 and 2011 after having started from the pole position at both events. Last year, the brand even achieved a 1-2-3-4-5-6 result and thus an early title win by Martin Tomczyk.

This year, after the unfortunate race at Oschersleben, Audi no longer has any chance of winning the drivers’ championship. The battle for the manufacturers’ championship in which Audi is the runner-up with a deficit of only 29 points is still open though. A total of 202 points are yet to be awarded in the two remaining races at Valencia and Hockenheim.

Mike Rockenfeller is traveling to Valencia as the Audi driver with the highest points score. For his Spanish team-mate Miguel Molina, the race on the 4.005-kilometer track that is driven counter-clockwise is a home round.

For the Audi A5 DTM, the circuit is not new territory. Before the season started, several DTM tests were held at Valencia, which means that the three Audi teams have basic data they can build on. However, the further technical development has not come to a halt since then - not even in the short time span between the races at Oschersleben and Valencia.

ARD will broadcast the qualifying session (Saturday, September 29, starting at 13:35 local time) and the race (Sunday, September 30, starting at 13:45 local time) live as usual. Tickets for the Spanish round of the most popular international touring car racing series are available in advance for prices starting as low as three euros.

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "After the disappointing weekend at Oschersleben we’re looking ahead to the race at Valencia. This is a track with completely different characteristics than the circuit at Oschersleben. We’re hoping to be able to draw on a similar performance from our cars as we last did at Zandvoort. Our maxim is: hard work and full concentration on the race at Valencia."

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "We’ve got fond memories of Valencia where we clinched victories in both races of the past two years with Mattias Ekström. Since we’ve been lacking fortune in racing this year we’ve got to be careful about making predictions. But our aim is to prove that we’re capable of winning. We won’t give up until we’ve brought the first victory home."

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "Naturally, we’re looking forward to Valencia because that’s where we became champion last year. ‘Eki’ won there both times. If we can find the speed again that we had there we’ll be in contention again. We’ll try and do our homework as best we can."

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "I’ve got fond memories of Valencia as well. Last year, we finished in second place there with Filipe (Albuquerque). Maybe we can repeat that. In any event, we’ll be giving our maximum.

Quotes by the Audi drivers

Filipe Albuquerque (27/P), TV Movie Audi A5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) "I’ve got fond memories of Valencia and think the track should be suiting our A5 better than Oschersleben did. Last year, I took my first podium there. I haven’t managed to do that yet this year. I’m going to continue to fight for that."

Mattias Ekström (34/S), Red Bull Audi A5 DTM #3 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) "I’ve had two fantastic weekends at Valencia: pole twice and winning twice. A hat-trick this year would of course be a dream. But at the moment, we’re very very much rooted to the soil. That’s why it would simply be nice to have a solid weekend from the beginning through to the end."

Rahel Frey (26/CH), E-POSTBRIEF Audi A5 DTM #17 (Audi Sport Team Abt) "Valencia will be a challenge for the Audi team that we enjoy taking up, and this also goes for me personally. I’m happy to be returning to Valencia. Last year, I drove a good race there. Unfortunately, I’ve now had two consecutive retirements, so I’ve got quite a bit to make up for at Valencia."

Miguel Molina (23/E), Red Bull Audi A5 DTM #10 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) "Of course I’m particularly looking forward to Valencia. It’s my home round and that always gives me a lot of additional motivation. A large number of Spanish fans will be there to support me. We know that it’ll be another tough weekend. But at the last race at Oschersleben we made some progress in qualifying. I’m starting into my home race with a good feeling."

Edoardo Mortara (25/I/F), Playboy Audi A5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) "After a difficult race at Oschersleben I’m hoping for things to go better again at Valencia and that we can score a good result. I’m pretty optimistic that this’ll be the case."

Mike Rockenfeller (28/D), Schaeffler Audi A5 DTM #9 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) "I’m happy to be traveling to Valencia - especially after the weekend at Oschersleben. I’m hoping that the track will suit us better than Oschersleben - hopefully as well as Zandvoort did. I’m going to give everything again to clinch the best result for Audi. And obviously I’d love to be in contention for victory."

Timo Scheider (33/D), AUTO TEST Audi A5 DTM #4 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) "Valencia was the weekend on which we clinched the title for Audi last year - so from that point of view we’ve got positive memories. But when comparing the character of the race tracks at Valencia and Oschersleben I do have a bit of respect for the race. Of course we want to do better than we did last weekend."

Adrien Tambay (F/21), Audi ultra A5 DTM #18 (Audi Sport Team Abt) "Oschersleben was disappointing for me because we were very unfortunate despite our good work and didn’t achieve the deserved result. At Valencia, I drove the Audi A5 DTM for the first time - I’ve got positive memories of that. Plus, the race is held in the south - I always like that."

Source: Audi