DTM: Audi RS 5 DTM before race debut in Moscow

Audi Press Release

•          Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller leads DTM standings
•          Moscow Raceway is new territory for drivers and teams
•          DMSB has scheduled appeal court session in Ekström case

    

Ingolstadt/Moscow, July 26, 2013 – Audi drivers visited Moscow on several occasions in the past few months to promote the DTM visit, which gave them the opportunity to intensively experience the enthusiasm of the fans on location. Now the race is just around the corner: From August 2 to August 4, the Audi RS 5 DTM and leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller are making their race debut in Russia. 

The DTM’s premiere in Russia is a calculation with many unknown quantities. None of the drivers has ever competed in a race at Moscow Raceway and the track layout with a length of only 2.555 kilometers has never been used by any racing series at all. Consequently, there is no experience available with respect to set-up or strategy on the third-shortest circuit featured on the 2013 DTM calendar. How fast the Audi Sport Teams Abt Sportsline, Phoenix and Rosberg and their drivers will be able to adjust to the new challenge will be a key success factor.

An Audi driver – Mike Rockenfeller – is traveling to Russia as the leader of the standings. The German has scored points in each race so far, claimed victory at one round and, at the beginning of the second half of the season, has a two-point advantage over the reigning Champion Bruno Spengler. The DTM has not experienced a season as thrilling and hard to predict as 2013 in a long time, with five different winners in the first five races – a tally like this at the season’s midpoint was last seen six years ago.

Before heading for Moscow, the Audi squad has another date on its agenda. The German Motorsport Federation (DMSB) has scheduled the court session to hear the appeal of Mattias Ekström’s exclusion from the fifth round of the season at the Norisring for July 30. The Swede had initially won the city street race in Nuremberg but was subsequently excluded due to an alleged breach of parc fermé rules. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline immediately appealed this decision.

Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 season are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. Fans in many countries of the world can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTM’s new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dtmint live. A total of 39 TV channels air live DTM coverage in 141 countries.

In Germany, as usual, ARD will broadcast live on “Das Erste:” Qualifying on Saturday (August 3) starting at 14:30, the race on Sunday (August 4) starting at 13:15.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “The race in Moscow marks the DTM’s start into a new adventure. I think all the teams and drivers are looking forward to the experiences to be gained in Russia. The Moscow Raceway is new territory for everybody. We’re racing on a track layout there that has never been used before. The track is very short and, at first glance, doesn’t offer a lot of opportunities to use DRS, so achieving an optimum result in qualifying will be particularly important.”

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “Moscow is a great challenge for all of us. After the weekend at the Norisring, our team is traveling to Russia with huge motivation and is naturally aiming to up the ante. Nobody knows the track – maybe that’s a small advantage for the seasoned campaigners, three of whom are part of our squad.”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “It feels nice to be traveling to Russia with Mike (Rockenfeller) as the leader of the standings. We don’t know what’s awaiting us there, so it’ll be a bit of an adventure. But we’ve packed a certain basic set-up in our bags that we’ll be fine-tuning in practice.”

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “We don’t know the country, the city or the race track. So it’ll be a new experience and a challenge we’re very much looking forward to.”

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Filipe Albuquerque (28/P), Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Is contesting a GRAND-AM round at Indianapolis before the weekend in Moscow
• Did the third-fastest pit stop of the race in Nuremberg
“After the race at the Norisring, I’m traveling to Moscow with optimism. In practice and qualifying, we found our speed again and on the new track in Russia want to continue exactly where we left off.”

Mattias Ekström (35/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #11 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Visited Moscow in February together with Edoardo Mortara
• Contests the Spa 24 Hours in an Audi R8 LMS ultra on the weekend before Moscow
“On my first visit to Moscow I could tell how enthusiastic the Russian fans are about motorsport and particularly the DTM. The 24-hour race is the perfect way for me to gear up for a weekend that has a lot of unknown factors. I normally cope well with that, so my aim for Moscow is clear: victory.”

Jamie Green (31/GB), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #12 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• As a big bicycle racing fan, intensively watched the Tour de France
• After the DTM race in China and vacations in the USA and Turkey, is leaving Western Europe only for the fourth time
“I’ve never been to Russia before and am looking forward to this trip with the DTM family. We’ve had a lot of continuity on our calendar for years, so it’s great getting to know a new track again for a change. Nobody has driven there before, so everybody will be starting with the same chances. I’m going to take a close look at the track on location and then give everything to finish at the far front of the field.”

Miguel Molina (24/E), Audi RS 5 DTM #20 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Is receiving the original graphics with the RS 5 logo again on his RS 5 DTM
• Has his main residence where others spend their vacation: in Lloret de Mar
“I’m very much looking forward to the race in Moscow. It’s a bit like the visit to Shanghai three years ago when nobody knew what to expect either.”

Edoardo Mortara (26/F/I), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Together with Mattias Ekström visited Moscow in February
• Is contesting a GRAND-AM round at Indianapolis before the weekend in Moscow
“The race will be a great challenge for all of us. We’re arriving at Moscow with the same opportunities. I’m wishing for us to be just as competitive there as we last were at the Norisring.”

Mike Rockenfeller (29/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #19 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Before the race, promoted the DTM at Moscow City Racing
• Extended his lead of the standings at the Norisring to two points
“I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the country and the people a bit before the event. I’m looking forward to the race and excited to see if our RS 5 DTM will feel comfortable on the short track. It’s the first race in a long time at which everybody is starting from scratch – that makes it a thriller.”

Timo Scheider (34/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #23 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Visited Moscow at the beginning of July for a press conference and autograph session
• Most recently, celebrated three birthdays – his mother’s, son’s and brother’s – within the space of one week
“Considering the amount of misfortune I’ve had in the first half of the season it can now just be followed by a huge string of fortune, preferably starting right in Moscow if it were up to me. A new track, a new challenge, the same opportunities for all of us – that sounds like an exciting weekend for fans and drivers.”

Adrien Tambay (22/F), Audi ultra RS 5 DTM #24 (Audi Sport Team Abt) 
• Is planning a sightseeing tour of Moscow around the race weekend
• Is only contesting his second DTM season and is the youngest driver in the Audi team
“A new race track can be beneficial for a young driver because nobody’s got an advantage based on experience. I’d like to use this opportunity and force my luck a bit. It’s high time to start scoring some points.”

The Audi drivers in the 2013 DTM*

Filipe Albuquerque (P): * June 13, 1985 in Coimbra (P); residence: Coimbra (P); single (partner Joana); height: 1.74 m; weight: 65 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 25; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 35; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Moscow: –

Mattias Ekström (S): * July 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single (partner Heidi), one son (Mats); one daughter (Hanna); height: 1.83 m; weight: 79 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 129; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 635; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result DTM Moscow: –

Jamie Green (GB): * June 14, 1982 in Leicester (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Ginny, two sons (Zachary and William); height: 1.78 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2013; DTM races: 88; pole positions: 6; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 371.5; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Moscow: –

Miguel Molina (E): * February 17, 1989 in Barcelona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 36; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 34; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Moscow: –

Edoardo Mortara (F/I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); engaged; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 25; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 105; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Moscow: –

Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); single (partner Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 66; pole positions: 2; victories: 2; fastest laps: 3; points: 230; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Moscow: -

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 10, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single (partner Jessica), one son (Loris-Romeo); height: 1.78 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 134; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 383; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result DTM Moscow: -

Adrien Tambay (F): * Feb 25, 1991 in Paris (F); residence: Lochau (A); single; height: 1.81 m; weight: 69 kg; Audi driver since 2012; DTM races: 15; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 28; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Moscow: -

DTM drivers’ standings after five of ten rounds*
1 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 71 points 
2 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 69 points
3 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 58 points
4 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 52 points
5 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 47 points
6 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 34 points
7 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 33 points
8 Dirk Werner (BMW) 23 points
9 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 23 points
10 Joey Hand (BMW) 22 points
11 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 20 points
12 Timo Glock (BMW) 15 points
13 Jamie Green (Audi) 10 points
14 Timo Scheider (Audi) 10 points
15 Roberto Merhi (Mercedes-Benz) 10 points
16 Andy Priaulx (BMW) 4 points
17 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 2 points
18 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 2 points

DTM manufacturers’ standings*
1 BMW 200 points
2 Mercedes-Benz 192 points
3 Audi 113 points

DTM team standings*
1 STIHL/AMG Mercedes 110 points
2 BMW Team Schnitzer 92 points
3 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 71 points
4 EURONICS/THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG 57 points
5 BMW Team RBM 55 points
6 BMW Team MTEK 49 points
7 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 30 points
8 stern/AMG Mercedes 25 points
9 Audi Sport Team Abt 10 points
10 BMW Team RMG 4 points
11 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 2 points

Audi DTM statistics in the DTM (since 1990)*

Champion’s titles: 8 (in 16 years)
Victories: 64 (in 203 races)
Pole positions: 69 (in 167 qualifying sessions)
Fastest laps: 55 (in 203 races)
Podium positions: 202 (in 203 races)

* All statistics are provisional and subject to the decision of the appeal by the sport tribunal on the exclusion of Mattias Ekström at the Norisring.

Track info

Track length: 2.555 km
Race distance: 74 laps = 189.070 km

The DTM is running at Moscow Raceway for the first time.

Timetable (local time, CEST +2hours)

Friday, August 2
17:45–18:00 Roll-out

Saturday, August 3
10:45–12:15 Free practice
16:40–17:50 Qualifying

Sunday, August 4
09:40–10:20 Pit stop practice
15:30 Race

TV schedule (“Das Erste” live, CEST)

Saturday, August 3
14:30–16:00 Qualifying

Sunday, August 4
13:15–15:00 Race 

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media