From this Monday to Thursday, all eight Audi factory drivers are participating in the preparation for the DTM season opener on May 4. The drivers forming a squad together with DTM Champion Mike Rockenfeller and the two-time DTM Champions Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider are sharing the testing time in four Audi RS 5 DTM cars. Following the successful track tests at Budapest, in which Audi set five out of eight possible best times, the main focus at the Hockenheimring will be placed on perfecting the processes, plus race simulations and set-up work for the first race.
“The level of excitement about the season opener is rising. You can clearly tell that’s the case with all the drivers, engineers and mechanics,” says Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport. “We’re happy with the way the preparations have gone so far and are definitely a step further ahead than we were at this time last year. We’ve still got our plate full though just for Hockenheim. As the race weekends only give us one practice session before qualifying anymore, the final track tests will also be about achieving the best possible basic set-up for the first weekend in May. So we’re in for a heavy workload on these four days.”
Adrien Tambay is tackling the ‘rehearsal’ with special motivation. The graphics on his Audi RS 5 DTM make the 23-year-old Frenchman the new ‘Playboy’ in the DTM. “For a young sportsman like me that’s obviously the perfect sponsor,” says Tambay with a smile. “I’m proud of running with the Bunny adorning my roof. But being fast is even more important.”
Edoardo Mortara’s race car that advertises Audi’s sporty RS models with striking red elements features spectacular graphics as well. Newcomer Nico Müller will be starting from the grid in the 2014 season with the Audi Financial Services logo. Well-known graphics, not least due to the 2011 and 2013 title wins, are the colors of the Schaeffler Group with which Mike Rockenfeller will be running again.
During the Hockenheim track tests the grandstands will be open to spectators. Tickets for the 2014 DTM can be purchased online at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm or by calling +49 (0)841 8947777.
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