DTM visit to the Dutch North Sea coastFive Audi victories in the past eight years Favorite track of many Audi drivers

Only one week after the "heat battle" at the Nrburgring the next DTM race is on the agenda. At Zandvoort, though, completely different conditions are awaiting the Audi racers. On the Dutch North Sea Coast, much cooler temperatures and changeable weather have been predicted for next weekend. The circuit in the dunes of Zandvoort has been on the calendar of the most popular international touring car series since 2001 and is the favorite track of many Audi racers. The Audi A4 DTM always felt comfortable on the particularly challenging roller-coaster circuit as well, having scored five victories at eight events - the most recent one last year with Mike Rockenfeller at the wheel. Now the Audi A5 DTM is celebrating its Zandvoort premiere. At the DTMs first event after the summer break, at the Nrburgring, the coup left a strong impression. The Audi Sport squad wants to continue this performance and is setting its sights on the second victory of the season. As the Audi drivers with the best point scores Spielberg winner Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) and last years winner Mike Rockenfeller (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) are traveling to Zandvoort, each with 49 points to their tally. Following just two points behind them is Mattias Ekstrm (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline), who decided the race on the North Sea Coast in his favor as many as three times in the past. Timo Scheider is considered a Zandvoort specialist too. The two-time DTM Champion started from the pole position there three times. Two DTM races within the space of eight days mean that the teams have to work overtime. After the race at the Nrburgring, the cars were prepared right on location and subsequently taken directly to Zandvoort. The next round of the 2012 DTM will be started on Sunday at 14:00. ARD will broadcast live on "Das Erste" starting at 13:45, local time. Quotes by the officialsDr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "Were traveling directly from the Nrburgring to Zandvoort. In the Eifel we saw that we made a step forward. Our next aim is to convert this into a victory. The track at Zandvoort has provided us with a number of good results before - we work to ensure that things will be going so well also this year."

Hans-Jrgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "The break between the Nrburgring and Zandvoort is extremely short. Obviously, this puts an extreme strain on everyone. But we like Zandvoort and are hoping to regain our old strength there and to be in contention for victory." Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "Zandvoort has always suited Team Phoenix well somehow. Weve always clinched good results there. Audi, the drivers and the team love Zandvoort - these are optimum prerequisites for achieving a good result."Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "After the strong results at the Nrburgring with positions two and three in qualifying and Edos second place in the race were obviously highly motivated. We want to take this momentum to Zandvoort next weekend and are hoping to be able to continue these successes."Facts and quotes by the Audi driversFilipe Albuquerque (27/P), TV Movie Audi A5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)- Has scored points as many as five times this year- Started from the second row last weekend"Zandvoort is a nice track. I really like it and am fully motivated to rectify my starting mistake at the Nrburgring. My speed, though, was good there both in qualifying and in the race. Im also gaining an increasingly better understanding of the Audi A5 DTM - and Audi Sport Team Rosberg is doing a superb job." Mattias Ekstrm (34/S), Red Bull Audi A5 DTM #3 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)- In 2002, celebrated his first DTM victory at Zandvoort- Has won the race race on the North Sea coast as many as three times before "Zandvoort is one of my favorite tracks. Ive driven many races there and have a lot of fond memories - for instance of my first DTM victory in 2002. After a few weekends on which we found ourselves struggling Im hoping for a straightforward and solid race." Rahel Frey (26/CH), E-POSTBRIEF Audi A5 DTM #17 (Audi Sport Team Abt)- Drove the second-fastest lap at the Nrburgring last Sunday- Missed Q2 at the Nrburgring by merely 18 thousandths"Honestly speaking, I dont have the fondest memories of Zandvoort because the race last year was difficult. But Ill be taking the momentum from the Nrburgring to the North Sea and will try and continue that."Miguel Molina (23/E), Red Bull Audi A5 DTM #10 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)- In 2010, started from the second row at Zandvoort- Has scored points twice in the 2012 season"Zandvoort is one of my favorite tracks. In 2010, I made it all the way into the final qualifying segment for the first time in my first DTM season. So Ive got positive memories and am looking forward to the race. My car was very fast at the Nrburgring. The improvements are proving to be effective. I think Zandvoort can turn into a good weekend for us." Edoardo Mortara (25/I/F), Playboy Audi A5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)- In 2011, scored his first points in the DTM at Zandvoort- For the first time, is arriving at a DTM race as the best Audi driver in the standings"Itll be interesting to run again at Zandvoort so shortly after the result at the Nrburgring - on the track I like best in the DTM. I think many drivers feels that way. The circuit has many quick corners and is a challenge. In the past, it suited Audi very well too. Im hoping this will continue to be the case."Mike Rockenfeller (28/D), Schaeffler Audi A5 DTM #9 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)- Celebrated his first DTM victory at Zandvoort last year- Has the same point score in the standings as Edoardo Mortara"Zandvoort is one of the nicest tracks - very, very fast. That suits me, I like that. Last year, I had a fantastic experience there with my first victory. If were in a good position again this time and the car runs well a similar success should be possible. But in the DTM you start every weekend from zero. Youve got to fight for every thousandth - and thats what Im looking forward to."Timo Scheider (33/D), AUTO TEST Audi A5 DTM #4 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)- Has started at Zandvoort from the pole position as many as three times- Clinched the DTM title for Audi in 2008 and 2009"Zandvoort has been my favorite track for years. Ive already been on the pole position there three times but havent won a race yet. Maybe, of all times, everything will fit together in this strange year. Im eager to see how the weather will develop. At the moment, the forecast isnt so good, which could make for an especially thrilling race."Adrien Tambay (F/21), Audi ultra A5 DTM #18 (Audi Sport Team Abt) - Has moved his residence to Austria - Is contesting his first DTM season"Zandvoort is a very challenging race track - both for the driver and the car. I last ran there at the Formula 3 Masters and am looking forward to returning to this track."The Audi drivers in the 2012 DTMFilipe Albuquerque (P): * Jun 13, 1985 in Coimbra (P); residence: Coimbra (P); single; height: 1.74 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 16; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 21; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Zandvoort: -Mattias Ekstrm (S): * Jul 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single (partner Heidi), one son (Mats); height: 1.83 m; weight: 77 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 120; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 581; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result, DTM Zandvoort: 1Rahel Frey (CH): * Feb 23, 1986 in Niederbipp (CH); residence: Aedermannsdorf (CH); single; height: 1.63 m; weight: 50 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 16; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 12th place); fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Zandvoort: 17Miguel Molina (E): * Feb 17, 1989 in Girona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 62 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 27; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 34; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Zandvoort: 5Edoardo Mortara (I/F): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); single; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 16; pole positions: 1; victories: 1; fastest laps: 0; points: 70; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Zandvoort: 6Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Altnau (CH); single (partner Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 67 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 57; pole positions: 1; victories: 1; fastest laps: 2; points: 123; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Zandvoort: 1Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 10, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single (partner Jessica), one son (Loris); height: 1.78 m; weight: 74 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 125; pole positions: 9; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 372; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result, DTM Zandvoort: 2Adrien 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: 6; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; (best result: 12th place); fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Zandvoort: -DTM drivers standings after 6 of 10 rounds1 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 103 points2 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 83 points3 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz) 81 points4 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 69 points 5 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 49 points 6 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 49 points7 Mattias Ekstrm (Audi) 47 points8 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 24 points9 Timo Scheider (Audi) 18 points 10 August Farfus (BMW) 17 points11 David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) 14 points12 Andy Priaulx (BMW) 14 points13 Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) 12 points14 Miguel Molina (Audi) 8 points15 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 8 points16 Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz) 7 points17 Joey Hand (BMW) 2 points18 Dirk Werner (BMW) 1 pointDTM manufacturers standings1 Mercedes-Benz 237 points2 BMW 186 points3 Audi 183 pointsDTM team standings1 THOMAS SABO/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG 127 points2 Mercedes AMG 88 points3 BMW Team Schnitzer 84 points4 BMW Team RMG 71 points5 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 65 points6 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 61 points 7 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 57 points8 BMW Team RBM 31 points9 DHL Paket/stern Mercedes AMG 22 points