The new Audi A4 DTM left a strong impression on its debut and made it onto the podium at its very first race. At the 2004 season opener at Hockenheim, Mattias Ekström drove from sixth position on the grid to third place. His team mates in the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Martin Tomczyk and Tom Kristensen, completed the good result for Audi with fourth and fifth positions. Emanuele Pirro clawed his way impressively through the field: Having started in 13th place, the Italian made his way into the points and achieved seventh position.

"That was a great team effort for Audi at the beginning of the season, even if we are not able to win just yet," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. 118,000 fans visited over the course of the weekend, providing the first DTM race of the year with a fantastic backdrop.