Audi ready for final sprint in DTM title fight

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.

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.”

Audi Motorsport

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments