Audi DTM team wins Slot Car Challenge
During the DTM at Oschersleben a duel was fought between the DTM and the Audi Sport TT Cup – on a slot car race track set up at the Audi Team Media Hospitality. Frank Biela, Dominik Peitz and Shaun Thong formed the TT squad, Mattias Ekström, Miguel Molina and Mike Rockenfeller’s race engineer Jürgen Jungklaus competed for the DTM team. Although Audi Sport TT Cup guest entrant Frank Biela won the race of the 1-24-scale true-to-the original Audi TT cup cars, overall victory went to the DTM crew. In the subsequent RCCO championship race, Jan Hennen (Audi R8 LMS) and Michael Niemas (Audi S1 EKS RX), trailing Jürgen Stüdemann (Porsche), clinched positions two and three for Audi.
World champions visit Audi Sport TT Cup
During the Audi Sport TT Cup at Oschersleben, German sports stars got into the passenger’s seat of the Cup race car. Ski jumper Richard Freitag, world champion in the mixed competition of the 2015 Nordic World Ski Championships, Katharina Molitor, javelin throw world champion in the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, and Cindy Roleder, silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles in the 2015 World Championships in Athletics, rode a lap in the 210-hp race taxi alongside TT Cup instructor Marco Werner and obviously had fun in unusual terrain. Their beaming faces following the test drive spoke volumes.
Audi Sport TT Cup meets Audi Sport customer racing
As part of the race weekend at Oschersleben, the permanent entrants of the Audi Sport TT Cup received an introduction to the successful GT3 sports car program at Audi Sport. Jürgen Zürn, Head of Racing Commitments at Audi Sport customer racing, provided the young drivers with insights into the GT program at AUDI AG. In addition to information about how test days are conducted and the tasks of a race driver during the course of the season, Zürn shared some anecdotes from his long career. The winner of the Audi Sport TT Cup can look forward to support within the GT3 program of the brand with the four rings.
A word from … Hans-Joachim Stuck
The 1990 DTM Champion about his experiences at the wheel of the Audi RS 5 DTM race taxi.
As part of the DTM weekend at Oschersleben you had your first opportunity to drive a modern DTM race car. Your impressions?
It was simply incredible. If I had a hundred thumbs, all of them would be pointing upwards. I wouldn’t have imagined a modern DTM car to be so impressive. On Friday, I drove a few laps to get used to the car. At that time, the tires and the brakes didn’t have the right temperature yet. On Sunday, it was really great: the longer you drive, the better the brakes work and the tires reach their operating temperature as well. You get even more grip and can accelerate even earlier. I even managed a couple of cool drifts. But it’s also clear that a race driver would always like more power output. About 100 hp more wouldn’t hurt a DTM car.
Do you see the DTM with different eyes following this experience?
As far as driving goes, there’s no doubt about it. It’s extremely tough for the drivers. There’s not a lot of room for making your personal mark. This is about the famous thousandth. You can’t afford to make a single mistake, but if you do you’ll be in fifth place before you know it. I take my hat off to the young guys in this series. They’re fantastic. But I’ve got to say: I had a great time, too!
During the weekend at Oschersleben, you also had to sign a lot of autographs. Were you happy about the response?
I really appreciate that my fans were there – ‘thank you’ to all of them! As the saying goes, applause is the artist’s reward.
Would you drive the Audi RS 5 DTM race taxi again?
Absolutely! Always with pleasure. Audi just needs to call me. Unfortunately, this year it’s not possible anymore, but next year: yes, yes, yes!
Coming up next week
19/09 Austin (USA), round 5, WEC
19/09 Austin (USA), round 9, Tudor United SportsCar Championship
19–20/09 Zandvoort (NL), rounds 13 and 14, ADAC GT Masters
19–20/09 Zandvoort (NL), rounds 9 and 10, Spezial Tourenwagen Trophy
19–20/09 Donington (GB), rounds 18 19 and 20, GT Cup Championship
20/09 Nürburgring (D), round 5, Blancpain Endurance Series
20/09 Sugo (J), round 6, Super GT
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