Audi RS 5 heads to DTM at Lausitz

DTM round about 130 kilometers south of Berlin Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller in second place of the standingsDTM more thrilling than in a long time thanks to DRS and option tires

Three races, three winners, eight different drivers on the podium: The 2013 DTM season has so far surpassed all expectations. From June 14 to 16, Europes fastest touring cars, including the Audi RS 5 DTM, will visit the Lausitzring, which is located about 130 kilometers south of Berlin.72,000 spectators watched the DTM round at the Lausitzring last year. This year, the crowd may even be larger, as option tires and DRS wing flaps add further spice to the race. The DTM has not seen such a large number of really fierce duels, overtaking maneuvers and tussles in a long time. Particularly coveted are the seats in the grandstands at the end of the start-finish straight. At a speed of 240 km/h, the drivers possibility to flatten the angle of the rear wing by pushing a button during the race should be particularly effective and make for plenty of overtaking action. The increase in speed that can be gained by the Drag Reduction System (DRS) amounts to around 6 km/h, according to simulations performed by the engineers at Audi Sport.Among the eight drivers who are competing for Audi in the DTM this year are the three that have been on podium at the Lausitzring before: Mattias Ekstrm (winner in 2004 and 2005), Timo Scheider and Jamie Green. Mike Rockenfeller, the runner-up in the standings with his Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM after three races, was the best Audi driver in qualifying at Lausitz in 2012. His Audi Sport Team Phoenix, in 2011, celebrated one of four DTM victories so far.Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. Fans around the world can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTMs 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 (June 15) starting at 14:30, the race on Sunday (June 16) starting at 13:15.Quotes by the officialsDieter Gass (Head of DTM): The first three races were incredibly close. This means that its crucial to be perfectly prepared, concentrate on the smallest detail and to get everything together at the decisive moment in order to achieve a good race result in the end. That the performance of the Audi RS 5 DTM is basically on the mark was obvious at Hockenheim, Brands Hatch and Spielberg.

Hans-Jrgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): My wish for the Lausitzring is that well be showing a cohesive team performance, be on the button in every respect, that racing luck will return and that the drivers will be making use of their real potentialif thats the case, a top result should finally be possible for us again.

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): The Lausitzring has never been an Audi track but two years ago we managed to break this spell and win there. Wed like to continue this. In any case, we aim to be in contention for the Championship, thats why weve got to position Rocky as far at the front as possible at Lausitzand to score the first points with Miguel (Molina), whose curve is pointing upward. That would also be important with a view toward the team classification.

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): So far, our season has been marked by plenty of mishaps and misfortune. But weve also had a few positive things. At the last event at Spielberg, we were at least able to show that we can still be fast. At the Lausitzring, we aim to convert that into results and score our first points of the year.Facts and quotes by the Audi driversFilipe Albuquerque (27/P), Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) At Lausitz in 2011, scored his first point in a DTM race Most recently, started from the third row at the Red Bull Ring in SpielbergAt the Lausitzring, I clinched my first DTM points, so Im particularly motivated. In Team Rosberg, we now know how to set up the car in qualifying as well. Now its about running the right strategy in the race. My aim is to score the first points this season.Mattias Ekstrom (34/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #11 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) Celebrated two victories (2004 and 2005) before at Lausitz Most recently, shone with a recovery in the race at the Red Bull RingIve got many fond memories of the Lausitzring. Subjectively, I feel like its the track Ive raced on more often than on any other one in my DTM careerand I was always running well there. The aim is to have a good, clean race weekend from the beginning to the end for the first time this yearirrespective of the position.Jamie Green (30/GB), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #12 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) Drove the fastest race lap at the Lausitzring last year Last mounted the podium at Lausitz, in third place, in 2010 Im not sure whats awaiting me at Lausitz. Im driving there with Audi for the first time, but I think that if were as fast there as we last were at Spielberg in the race well have a good chance of achieving a top-ten result and thus score points. In any case, thats my aim.Miguel Molina (24/E), Audi RS 5 DTM #20 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) Is advertising the 2013 Audi Cup in Munich on his Audi RS 5 DTM Lives near his team at the Nrburgring during the seasonI know that the Lausitzring wasnt the best track for Audi in the past, but I like the layout of the Lausitzring. Ive got a good feeling and and hope that Ill be able to show our potential there. Edoardo Mortara (26/F/I), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg) Was the fastest Audi driver in qualifying at Spielberg In 2012, celebrated two victories with the Audi A5 DTMI really dont know what to expect of the Lausitzring. I think its the DTM track I like the least. Still, we were really competitive there last yearand of course thats what I want to be again this year.Mike Rockenfeller (29/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #19 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) Made it into Q4 in qualifying last year Won at Brands Hatch this seasonQualifying at the Lausitzring was pretty good for me last year, but the race wasnt at allaside from my retirement at the Hockenheim finale, it was the worst race of the year. The season has been going pretty well so far, the car has been functioning well. Lets see what result well be clinching at Lausitz.Timo Scheider (34/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #23 (Audi Sport Team Abt) Was on the podium several times before at the Lausitzring Started from the pole position at the 2013 season openerAfter three difficult weekends, its really about time to score a good result. The positive thing is: in terms of performance, we were in contention for a podium finish in all three races. The negative part: we werent able to convert this into good results. At the Lausitzring, Ive experienced everything, from good to bad. I like the track as a driver. I hope my RS 5 DTM will like it too. Adrien Tambay (22/F), Audi ultra RS 5 DTM #24 (Audi Sport Team Abt) At 22 years of age is the youngest Audi factory driver Finished in the top ten in qualifying at the Lausitzring in 2012Last year, I made it into Q3 at the Lausitzring. Id like to continue where I left off there as well as the good race speed we had at Spielberg. There, I just barely missed scoring points due to misfortune.The Audi drivers in the 2013 DTMFilipe 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: 23; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 35; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 8 (2011)Mattias Ekstrm (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: 127; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 12; points: 631; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result DTM Lausitzring: 1 (2004/2005)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: 86; pole positions: 6; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 361.5; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 3 (2010)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: 34; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd); fastest laps: 1; points: 34; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Lausitzring: 13 (2010)Edoardo Mortara (I/F): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); engaged; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 23; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 103; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 8 (2012)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: 64; pole positions: 2; victories: 2; fastest laps: 2; points: 200; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 4 (2010)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: 132; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 383; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result DTM Lausitzring: 2 (2008/2011)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: 13; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd); fastest laps: 0; points: 28; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 18 (2012)DTM drivers standings after three of ten rounds1 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 53 points2 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 41 points3 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 33 points4 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 32 points5 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 25 points6 Dirk Werner (BMW) 22 points7 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 22 points8 Mattias Ekstrm (Audi) 16 points9 Joey Hand (BMW) 16 points10 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 15 points11 Timo Glock (BMW) 15 points12 Timo Scheider (Audi) 10 points13 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 2 points14 Roberto Merhi (Mercedes-Benz) 1 pointDTM manufacturers standings1 BMW 171 points2 Audi 67 points3 Mercedes-Benz 65 pointsDTM team standings1 BMW Team Schnitzer 75 points2 BMW Team RBM 49 points3 BMW Team MTEK 47 points4 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 41 points5 STIHL/AMG Mercedes 40 points6 EURONICS/THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG 23 points7 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 16 points8 Audi Sport Team Abt 10 points9 stern/AMG Mercedes 2 points


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