International debut of the new Audi A4 DTM

Demonstrating "Vorsprung durch Technik" in the DTM is extremely difficult due to the tight regulations. Nevertheless, this is exactly what AUDI AG did at the first two DTM races in 2008: with two commanding victories at Hockenheim and Oschersleben, the new Audi A4 DTM hit the headlines. The same is true for Timo Scheider, who celebrated his first DTM win and, on the first weekend in May, will go to a DTM race as the leader of the standings for the first time in his career.

The 29-year-old German, who lives in Lochau, Austria, on Lake Constance, together with his fiancée Jasmin Rubatto and their son Loris-Romeo, is now regarded as the "man to beat" in the DTM. In his eighth DTM year he has made his début as a member of the small circle of title candidates. A self-professed fan of Italy, he is particularly looking forward to the DTM’s Italian round at Mugello – although his memories of the circuit in Tuscany are not necessarily the best: last year he retired after a collision on the first lap, in March the German slid off the track in the new A4 DTM while testing in rainy weather.

But that’s history. The perfect start to the season has given Scheider as much self-confidence as it has to the entire Audi squad. Meanwhile, their rivals as well as the media, tend to be more puzzled by the question of why the new Audi A4 DTM is so fast. At Audi Sport in Ingolstadt the answer is pretty clear, but the squad intends to keep it on close hold for as long as possible in order to retain its advantage.

Despite the technological advantage, conditions at the new Audi A4 DTM’s first international showing will be anything but easy: the cars driven by Mattias Ekström, Tom Kristensen, Timo Scheider and Martin Tomczyk will weigh 20 kilograms more than the 08-spec cars of Mercedes-Benz at Mugello – as required by the DTM regulations. And – according to computer simulations performed by Audi Sport – 20 kilograms at Mugello cost about five tenths of a second per lap.

On the other hand, the new A4 DTM should be able to play out its strengths in the areas of aerodynamics and weight distribution particularly on the longest - and arguably most demanding – circuit on the DTM’s schedule. Last year, Audi was the dominating brand at Mugello as well – even though, due to a safety car period, Mika Häkkinen in a Mercedes won. This means that Audi still has a score to settle.

The quickest driver at the pre-season tests at Mugello was Markus Winkelhock, who thereby suggested that the A4 cars from last year can still be counted on as well.

Who will actually have the best chances at Mugello will be revealed no later than at Saturday’s (3 May) qualifying practice, which will be broadcast live on "Das Erste" starting at 1:30 p.m. (local time). Live coverage of the race on Sunday will begin at 1:45 p.m. The free practice session on Saturday morning will be broadcast live on dtm.tv.