Audi targets third successive Zandvoort win

If there is one track on which Audi feels particularly at home then it is Zandvoort. Audi won three of the last four DTM races on the circuit around the sand dunes on the North Sea coast of Holland. Last year Audi even filled the top-four positions. The anticipation for the sixth race of the 2008 DTM season is correspondingly great in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.

Three of the four Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline drivers have already won a DTM race in Zandvoort: Mattias Ekström celebrated his first DTM victory there in 2002. In 2004 he triumphed again on the way to clinching his first DTM title. In 2006 Tom Kristensen won and in 2007 the winner was Martin Tomczyk.

Only Timo Scheider has yet to mount the DTM podium in Zandvoort. The current championship leader is, however, regarded as a Zandvoort specialist: He has already claimed pole position twice on the extremely challenging circuit. Last year he dominated every practice session. For this reason, Scheider travels to the North Sea with a clear goal: He aims to increase his series lead by taking his maiden Zandvoort win.

The foundations are good: The new Audi A4 DTM, which started its 2008 campaign with a one-two-three in April at Hockenheim, should be able to exploit its technical advantages to the maximum around circuits with many corners – and there are enough corners at Zandvoort. Additionally, the 2008 A4 will be lighter than the current Mercedes for the first time.

The drivers of last year’s A4 also expect to have a much better chance in Zandvoort than last time out at the Norisring. Oliver Jarvis, Alexandre Prémat, Mike Rockenfeller and Markus Winkelhock judge the Netherlands track to be one of their favourites.

Christijan Albers won the Zandvoort DTM race in 2003. However, with his two-year-old Audi A4 DTM he is considered an outside bet this time around; despite this, the Dutchman aims to shine in front of his local fans. Zandvoort is new terrain for his team mate Katherine Legge. She will certainly have one reason to celebrate on the North Sea: It is the Briton’s birthday on qualifying day.

Due to TV coverage of the Tour de France the battle for pole position begins on Saturday at 5:43 p.m. local time, the race on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. local – therefore an hour earlier than usual. ARD broadcasts qualifying and the race live on "Das Erste". Free practice is broadcast on dtm.tv in the internet. Highlights and background stories can be seen on audi.tv