Busy schedule for Audi Sport
A busy schedule for Audi Sport: The DTM season opener at Hockenheim, the debut of the Audi R18 TDI at Spa-Francorchamps and the next DTM race immediately following at Zandvoort (The Netherlands) on May 15 - the squad around Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich is certainly not suffering from boredom these days.
Audi has fond memories of the DTM’s Dutch round on the outskirts of Amsterdam. The brand with the four rings has always been strong on the track in the dunes along the North Sea coast in the past. Particularly impressive was Audi’s showing in 2008 when the four current-specification Audi A4 DTM cars of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline occupied the top four places and the best Mercedes-Benz finished with more than a 20-second gap.
In 2009 (pole position for Oliver Jarvis) and 2010 (pole position for Timo Scheider) Audi again set the benchmark at Zandvoort. That it was a Mercedes-Benz driver - Gary Paffett - who won nonetheless still upsets the Audi squad. Therefore, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich has clearly stated the aim for this round: victory.
The Hockenheim season opener has shown that the Audi A4 DTM apparently harmonizes well with the tyres of the new exclusive DTM supplier Hankook. Based on the experience gathered at Hockenheim with respect to optimum inflation pressures it should be possible at Zandvoort to make even better use of the new tyres’ potential - as this continues to be the key to success in the DTM.
In addition, Hockenheim has suggested that in 2011 Audi not only has the youngest driver line-up in its DTM history but possibly the strongest one as well.
The two-time DTM champions Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider both lived up to their leading roles by clinching positions two and four. And both are regarded as absolute Zandvoort specialists. Mattias Ekström has already won there three times. Timo Scheider took the pole position an equal number of times and is now set on finally claiming his first victory on his favourite track.
Martin Tomczyk, who made a strong initial showing as a member of Audi Sport Team Phoenix, has previously been on the top of the podium at Zandvoort (in 2007). Given that his team has a tradition of being particularly strong on the dune circuit the idea of Tomczyk clinching victory in a year-old car is not far-fetched at all.
Mike Rockenfeller and Oliver Jarvis struggled with the set-up of their cars at Hockenheim. Both have performed in-depth analyses of the data together with their vehicle engineers and aim to show at Zandvoort that they are sitting in two current Audi A4 DTM cars for a good reason. Particularly so as they have a strong team-mate in Miguel Molina who in last year’s A4 was very quick at Hockenheim yet again.
Filipe Albuquerque and Edoardo Mortara paid dearly on their DTM debuts at Hockenheim. Team Director Arno Zensen (Audi Sport Team Rosberg), however, continues to be fully convinced of having two uncut diamonds in his team. Mortara was in a class of his own in the Formula 3 Euro Series at Zandvoort last year.
And last but not least there is Rahel Frey. At Hockenheim the young Swiss not only thrilled the paddock with her charm. She also showed a solid performance at the wheel of her Audi A4 DTM and aims to further improve at Zandvoort.
So, all nine Audi racers can hardly wait to start from the grid at Zandvoort. They want to deliver a similar amount of action as they did at Hockenheim and capture the top of the standings for Audi. For those who cannot travel to the venue, ARD will air live coverage from Zandvoort starting at 1:55 p.m. (local time) on Sunday (May 15).
