Audi and Mattias Ekstrm unbeaten so far at ValenciaHome race for Audi driver Miguel Molina

On the last September weekend, the DTM is returning to the venue that in previous years was firmly in Audis hands: at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo on the outskirts of the Spanish coastal city Valencia, the brand with the four rings has been unbeaten in the DTM thus far. The DTM has visited the race track that is primarily known from the MotoGP racing series twice before. And both times, Audi had something to celebrate. Mattias Ekstrm won in 2010 and 2011 after having started from the pole position at both events. Last year, the brand even achieved a 1-2-3-4-5-6 result and thus an early title win by Martin Tomczyk.This year, after the unfortunate race at Oschersleben, Audi no longer has any chance of winning the drivers championship. The battle for the manufacturers championship in which Audi is the runner-up with a deficit of only 29 points is still open though. A total of 202 points are yet to be awarded in the two remaining races at Valencia and Hockenheim.Mike Rockenfeller is traveling to Valencia as the Audi driver with the highest points score. For his Spanish team-mate Miguel Molina, the race on the 4.005-kilometer track that is driven counter-clockwise is a home round. For the Audi A5 DTM, the circuit is not new territory. Before the season started, several DTM tests were held at Valencia, which means that the three Audi teams have basic data they can build on. However, the further technical development has not come to a halt since then - not even in the short time span between the races at Oschersleben and Valencia.ARD will broadcast the qualifying session (Saturday, September 29, starting at 13:35 local time) and the race (Sunday, September 30, starting at 13:45 local time) live as usual. Tickets for the Spanish round of the most popular international touring car racing series are available in advance for prices starting as low as three euros. Quotes by the officialsDr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "After the disappointing weekend at Oschersleben were looking ahead to the race at Valencia. This is a track with completely different characteristics than the circuit at Oschersleben. Were hoping to be able to draw on a similar performance from our cars as we last did at Zandvoort. Our maxim is: hard work and full concentration on the race at Valencia."

Hans-Jrgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "Weve got fond memories of Valencia where we clinched victories in both races of the past two years with Mattias Ekstrm. Since weve been lacking fortune in racing this year weve got to be careful about making predictions. But our aim is to prove that were capable of winning. We wont give up until weve brought the first victory home."Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "Naturally, were looking forward to Valencia because thats where we became champion last year. Eki won there both times. If we can find the speed again that we had there well be in contention again. Well try and do our homework as best we can."

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "Ive got fond memories of Valencia as well. Last year, we finished in second place there with Filipe (Albuquerque). Maybe we can repeat that. In any event, well be giving our maximum.Facts and quotes by the Audi driversFilipe Albuquerque (27/P), TV Movie Audi A5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)- Was the runner-up last year at Valencia- Scored points six times this season"Ive got fond memories of Valencia and think the track should be suiting our A5 better than Oschersleben did. Last year, I took my first podium there. I havent managed to do that yet this year. Im going to continue to fight for that."Mattias Ekstrm (34/S), Red Bull Audi A5 DTM #3 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)- Has not been beaten in qualifying and the races at Valencia to date- Scored his 600th point in the DTM at Oschersleben"Ive had two fantastic weekends at Valencia: pole twice and winning twice. A hat-trick this year would of course be a dream. But at the moment, were very very much rooted to the soil. Thats why it would simply be nice to have a solid weekend from the beginning through to the end." Rahel Frey (26/CH), E-POSTBRIEF Audi A5 DTM #17 (Audi Sport Team Abt)- Took 14th place at Valencia last year- Most recently showed strong performances particularly in qualifying"Valencia will be a challenge for the Audi team that we enjoy taking up, and this also goes for me personally. Im happy to be returning to Valencia. Last year, I drove a good race there. Unfortunately, Ive now had two consecutive retirements, so Ive got quite a bit to make up for at Valencia."Miguel Molina (23/E), Red Bull Audi A5 DTM #10 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)- Is the only one of the two Spaniards in the 2012 DTM with points to his tally - Is contesting his 30th DTM race at Valencia "Of course Im particularly looking forward to Valencia. Its my home round and that always gives me a lot of additional motivation. A large number of Spanish fans will be there to support me. We know that itll be another tough weekend. But at the last race at Oschersleben we made some progress in qualifying. Im starting into my home race with a good feeling."Edoardo Mortara (25/I/F), Playboy Audi A5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)- Experienced a difficult weekend last year at Valencia- Has already won two DTM races this season"After a difficult race at Oschersleben Im hoping for things to go better again at Valencia and that we can score a good result. Im pretty optimistic that thisll be the case."Mike Rockenfeller (28/D), Schaeffler Audi A5 DTM #9 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)- Before the last two races is the Audi driver with the best points score- Is tackling his 60th DTM race at Valencia "Im happy to be traveling to Valencia - especially after the weekend at Oschersleben. Im hoping that the track will suit us better than Oschersleben - hopefully as well as Zandvoort did. Im going to give everything again to clinch the best result for Audi. And obviously Id love to be in contention for victory."Timo Scheider (33/D), AUTO TEST Audi A5 DTM #4 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)- Clinched the pole position for Audi at Zandvoort- Finished the races at Valencia in the top five each time so far"Valencia was the weekend on which we clinched the title for Audi last year - so from that point of view weve got positive memories. But when comparing the character of the race tracks at Valencia and Oschersleben I do have a bit of respect for the race. Of course we want to do better than we did last weekend."Adrien Tambay (F/21), Audi ultra A5 DTM #18 (Audi Sport Team Abt) - Scored his first DTM points at Zandvoort- Knows the circuit at Valencia from tests in the Audi A5 DTM"Oschersleben was disappointing for me because we were very unfortunate despite our good work and didnt achieve the deserved result. At Valencia, I drove the Audi A5 DTM for the first time - Ive got positive memories of that. Plus, the race is held in the south - I always like that."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: 18; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 23; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Valencia: 2Mattias 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: 122; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 600; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result, DTM Valencia: 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: 18; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 12th place); fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Valencia: 14Miguel 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: 29; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 34; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Valencia: 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: 18; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 95; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Valencia: 16Mike 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: 59; pole positions: 1; victories: 1; fastest laps: 2; points: 149; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Valencia: 7Timo 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: 127; pole positions: 10; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 373; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result, DTM Valencia: 4Adrien 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: 8; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; (best result: 5th place); fastest laps: 0; points: 10; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Valencia: -DTM drivers standings after 8 of 10 rounds1 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 127 points2 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 116 points3 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz) 108 points4 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 75 points5 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 74 points 6 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 69 points 7 Mattias Ekstrm (Audi) 66 points8 August Farfus (BMW) 29 points9 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 24 points10 Timo Scheider (Audi) 19 points 11 Dirk Werner (BMW) 17 points12 David Coulthard (Mercedes-Benz) 14 points13 Andy Priaulx (BMW) 14 points14 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 14 points15 Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) 14 points16 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 10 points17 Miguel Molina (Audi) 8 points18 Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz) 8 points19 Joey Hand (BMW) 2 pointsDTM manufacturers standings1 Mercedes-Benz 295 points2 Audi 266 points3 BMW 247 pointsDTM team standings1 THOMAS SABO/Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG 151 points2 BMW Team Schnitzer 133 points3 Mercedes AMG 116 points4 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 88 points5 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 85 points6 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 83 points7 BMW Team RMG 71 points8 BMW Team RBM 43 points9 DHL Paket/stern Mercedes AMG 28 points10 Audi Sport Team Abt 10 points