Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “This was a great ending of the season for Audi with an impressive performance. We proved that we’ve got a strong team. We clinched many second and third places this year but it took a long time for us to win a race – that was tough for the squad that never gave up. The title in the manufacturers’ championship is a great reward for all the work. On the whole, it was a tremendous weekend for Audi with the world premiere of the Audi Sport TT Cup on Friday, the fast lap of the driverless RS 7 and culminating in an impressive performance in the DTM finale. We’ve now got a very good base for 2015 because at the end of the season the Audi RS 5 DTM was the car to be beaten.”
Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): “Today, Audi showed ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’: before the start of the race with the driverless RS 7 and in the DTM finale with a one-two-three victory in front of a fantastic turnout of 155,000 spectators. Our aim this weekend was to win the manufacturers’ championship. And in the end we clearly decided it in Audi’s favor – not least thanks to a brilliant team performance. That drivers from all three Audi Sport Teams mounted the podium today speaks a clear language. On this weekend everyone could see how strong the Audi RS 5 DTM is. 15 in 30 possible podium places this year are an impressive tally. Congratulations also to Mattias (Ekström) and Mike (Rockenfeller) on taking the runner-up’s spot and third place in the drivers’ championship. We’re already looking forward to 2015 when we’re aiming to recover car number 1 as well.”
Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM), 1st place
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“My Audi was fantastic again today. Ever since things have been going better in qualifying, the races have been working out as well. This was a great season finale for Audi, Team Abt Sportsline and also for me in front of a fantastic crowd. You can’t wish for a better farewell before the winter break.”
Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM), 2nd place
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“This was a superb race today. I started from position seven and finished in second place. In the end, it was about who’d be winning: Mattias (Ekström) or I. I tried to take it easy on the tires in his slipstream in order to attack later. Then the safety car was deployed and mixed things up a bit. Afterwards, I no longer had a chance to overtake. But I still assess the race positively: Audi has won the manufacturers’ championship and I still took third place in the drivers’ championship, although I’d obviously been hoping for more than that before the season. We’re returning in 2015 and then will be giving it our all to have number one back on the car again.”
Jamie Green (Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM), 3rd place
Tires: option/standard
“I’m happy about finishing the season with a podium result. I think I drove a good race, was running in front after the first lap and managed to pull clear of Pascal Wehrlein. But even without the safety car I wouldn’t have won the race because ‘Eki’ (Mattias Ekström) and ‘Rocky’ (Mike Rockenfeller) were faster on soft tires towards the end of the race. Due to the safety car I had to work a bit harder at the end to finish on the podium. It was a perfect day for me and for Audi.”
Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM), 6th place
Tires: option/standard
“A good race with a good performance and a season that has ended on a positive note for Audi. Unfortunately, I was caught behind Pascal Wehrlein and Miguel Molina too long at the beginning so that Jamie (Green) was able to drive away at the front. In the end, as a driver on standard tires, the safety car cost me another two positions.”
Miguel Molina (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM), 9th place
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“I started from the pole position but made a braking mistake in turn two and lost ground. That was really a shame and I’m going to learn my lesson from that. Next year I’m going to come back stronger. Now I’m happy with my team about a good Hockenheim result and with Audi about winning the manufacturers’ championship.”
Nico Müller (Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM), 14th place
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“Above anything else, Audi managed winning the manufacturers’ championship. We were able to make use of the good starting base we created in qualifying. It’s nice to see a team-mate – Jamie (Green) – on the podium. Unfortunately, my race wasn’t quite as good. I had problems with the clutch right from the beginning. In my first season, I’ve been able to gather a lot of experience that will help me next year. But now I’m going to start the winter break without any worries.”
Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM), 19th place
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“Congratulations to Audi on winning the manufacturers’ championship. For me personally, it didn’t go so well. At the start, the car moved by itself and, as a result, I received a drive-through penalty for jump starting. That ruined my race. But I didn’t give up and managed to advance a little. Then, shortly before the end of the race, I had a collision with Vitaly (Petrov). It’s a shame it had to end like this. But the most important part about it is that both of us are okay. Now the season’s over – it didn’t really go well for me, but I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM), 22nd place
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“A difficult race because I had some problems with the clutch, and then I had a few contacts with rivals.”
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “This was an outstanding race today. Our mission was to clinch the manufacturers’ championship for Audi. We accomplished that with a victory and we’re very happy that both of these aims have been achieved. It’s great to end the season like this. It provides a lot of strength for the coming year.”
Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “We’re overjoyed about Audi’s title win and one-two-three victory. A driver from each team was on the podium, you can’t do any better than that. Both of our cars were in contention at the front. Our pit stops were good. We’re perfectly happy. ‘Well done’ to the squad, to Audi, to the drivers and to the great car.”
Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “I’m incredibly happy about Audi’s win of the manufacturers’ championship. The large crowd at Hockenheim got to see a great race. Jamie (Green) had a superb start and deservedly clinched a podium place. ‘Thank you very much’ to the whole squad for a tremendous year. We had highs and lows but the finale here ended on a positive note. I’m already looking forward to 2015.”
– End –