Heavy wind at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben made DTM qualifying a huge challenge for the 20 drivers. Like last year already, Audi-driver Tom Kristensen secured himself pole-position for tomorrow’s race at 14.00 h (ARD live from 13.45 h). With his Audi A4 DTM, the Dane crossed the 3.667 kilometres long track in the region of Magdeburg in 1.19.264 minutes and thus will be starting from the first position for a DTM race for the third time in his career. For Audi, it was the 30th pole-position in the DTM.
Audi-driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen, will start from fifth position.
Most prominent victim of the new shoot-out qualifying was the 2004 DTM champion. In the second of the three sessions, Mattias Ekström failed to make it among the best eight. He was just 0.021 seconds down on fellow-Audi-driver Frank Stippler.
Tom Kristensen (1st place, Audi Sport Team Abt):
“Pole-position was exactly what I needed. I am really happy. It would have been nice to have a few more Audis standing behind me, as it then would be a little more comfortable for me in tomorrow’s race. In the race on Sunday, we will be stronger over the entire distance than today.”
Audi Motor sport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich:
“Of course, I am really happy with Tom Kristensen’s pole. He has been showing a strong performance throughout the weekend and also in previous years at the Oschersleben circuit. I am not so happy with the result of the other three. But that shows that you have to have everything spot-on in qualifying. This type of qualifying is merciless, that was motor sport at its best. For us, standing on the pit wall, this new format is really thrilling and that is getting across to the spectators as well.”
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