With a market share of 5.5 percent (2010) Audi is the most successful premium brand in Austria. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich was born in Vienna. The two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider lives in Austria. And in Red Bull Audi Sport has a strong Austrian partner. These are four good reasons for Audi to shine at the DTM’s grand Austrian comeback at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on June 5.
- The DTM returns to Austria and to the Red Bull Ring
- The four Audi drivers with the best point scores have raced there before
- Audi is the most successful premium brand in Austria
Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler is traveling to the Austrian province of Styria as the leader of the standings. But breathing down his neck are four Audi drivers, Mike Rockenfeller, Martin Tomczyk, Mattias Ekstrom and Timo Scheider. Some of them have already contested several races at Spielberg before. During the tests on Thursday most of the other racers have to first get to know the track, which has been rebuilt in true-to-the-original fashion by energy drink manufacturer Red Bull after the dismantling of the former A1 Ring.
Zandvoort winner Mike Rockenfeller remembers the track from the Porsche Carrera Cup. Martin Tomczyk, Mattias Ekstrom and Timo Scheider, in 2001, 2002 and 2003, were part of the field when the DTM paid three successful visits to Austria. The turbulent last lap in 2002 that went down as one of the craziest in DTM history remains unforgotten.
All three Audi factory drivers still have very fond memories of the spectacular races at Spielberg and the impressive crowd there. And on the first weekend in June DTM fans can again look forward to seeing an absolute highlight. The track layout has remained as impressive as it was before and the demand for tickets has been huge.
So, all of these aspects combined provide optimum prerequisites for a strong comeback of the most popular international touring car series in Austria. For Audi it will be the first Austrian race since the Supertouring car rounds at the Salzburgring held at the end of the 1990s. Accordingly, the Austrian Audi partners, who will support the Audi team at Spielberg, have keen interest in the event.
On TV the DTM races at Spielberg were always spectacular too. ARD will deliver the DTM live to living rooms in HD quality on “Das Erste.” Qualifying coverage on Saturday (June 4) will start at 1:30 p.m., race coverage on Sunday (June 5) at 1:45 p.m. (local times).
- Audi Motorsports
