Sights set on lead of manufacturers' classification

◾Many Audi fans traditionally turn out at the Lausitzring

Ingolstadt, September 8, 2014 – Motorsport fans can look forward to a thrilling battle for the crown in the manufacturers' classification in the remaining three races. Before round eight at the Lausitzring next weekend (September 12 to 14) Audi is within striking distance of the leader of the standings, BMW, and aims to make up the gap with a strong team performance.

With its impressive grandstands, challenging track configuration and enthusiastic fans the Lausitzring is one of the highlights on the DTM calendar. Around the circuit, Audi has traditionally been standing high with the spectators – as a result, the motivation of the eight drivers and three teams to thrill their fans with a party on the podium is particularly high.

The 3.478-kilometer circuit about 130 kilometers south of Berlin features a mix of extremely fast, medium and slow corners. On the long start-finish straight, the drivers reach a top speed of about 240 km/h before braking to enter the narrow first turn – an ideal place for using the Drag Reduction System (DRS) that allows them to flatten the rear wing angle by pushing a button and improves their ability to start an overtaking maneuver.

The sights of the Audi squad are mainly set on capturing the manufacturers' championship. With a gap of just 18 points to BMW the four rings are within striking distance and could take the lead of the standings through perfect teamwork. In the teams' classification, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline is lying in wait but, with a score of 67 points, is facing a major recovery.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): 'We used the short break to concentrate and intensively prepare for the Lausitzring. The performance in qualifying at the Nürburgring has shown that we're heading in the right direction. Our aim has remained the same: we're set on winning the first race for Audi this season and are fully focused on the manufacturers' classification.'

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): 'No matter how clear the standings may look we're traveling to the Lausitzring with higher motivation than ever and intend to treat the many Audi fans there to a great race and, hopefully, the first victory this year.'

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): 'With the tailwind from Mike Rockenfeller's second place at the Nürburgring and Timo Scheider's strong performance in qualifying we're set on delivering a good show and entertainment again to the fans at Lausitz.'

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): 'The small summer break was good for the guys and gave all of us the opportunity to optimally prepare for the next race. It's time to break our duck and to finally clinch the first victory this year.'

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Mattias Ekström (36/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #7 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)

-Has been on podium at the Lausitzring seven times before – the field record

-With equal points, shares second place on the leaderboard with Edoardo Mortara

'Counting all the track tests and events, there's arguably no other race track I've been to more often than the Lausitzring. Most of my memories are positive, that's why I'm optimistic for the race as well. My aim is victory or at least a place on the podium because the battle for second place in the championship will still be fierce.'

Jamie Green (32/GB), Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM #21 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)

-Has contested ten DTM races at the Lausitzring so far

-Started from pole twice and set the fastest lap twice

'Although I've contested many races at the Lausitzring a victory there is still missing in my collection. Without the many incidents I might have been on podium again at the Nürburgring. I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to make up for that at Lausitz.'

Miguel Molina (25/E), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #8 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)

-Is starting at the Lausitzring for the fifth time in his career

-Switched back to Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline before the season

'My last four races weren't exactly something to write home about, so I can hardly wait to finally be driving again. The Lausitzring wasn't necessarily a really good track for Audi in the past. Our joint aim is to go ahead and change this.'

Edoardo Mortara (27/I), Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Abt)

-Got married after the Nürburgring race

-With the same score, shares second place in the standings with Mattias Ekström

'The place on the podium and the champagne shower at the Nürburgring felt very good. We're going to try and further optimize the set-up of our RS 5 and to clinch the next trophy at Lausitz.'

Nico Müller (22/CH), Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)

-Is contesting his first race at the Lausitzring

-At the Nürburgring failed to see the checkered flag for the first time this year

'Another new track and therefore a new challenge for me. Together with my team I used the small break to analyze what we can still do better. We're going to put that into action now and score the points we last failed to score.'

Mike Rockenfeller (30/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #1 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)

-Was on podium for the second time this year at the Nürburgring

-Is contesting his seventh DTM event at the Lausitzring

'I'd like to continue the upwards trend from the Nürburgring and again score some decent points at Lausitz. If we stay focused, make no mistakes and manage a flawless weekend we'll be in contention at the very front.'

Timo Scheider (35/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #2 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)

-Has finished in the top five at the Lausitzring five times to date

-Has scored points in 83 races so far in his DTM career

'The weekend at the Lausitzring is a good opportunity for me to live down the unfortunate Nürburgring race. I hope that my misfortune has finally been used for this season. In the past, Lausitz was a difficult track for Audi. Still, we're set on clinching important points for Audi in the manufacturers' classification with a strong and cohesive team performance.'

Adrien Tambay (23/F), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #16 (Audi Sport Team Abt)

-Is in second place of the teams' classification together with Edoardo Mortara

-Drove the second-fastest lap of all drivers at the Nürburgring

'After the last race weekend things can only get better for me. I'd like to return to my old form particularly in qualifying in order to have a better starting base in the race. In the past two years, that worked out well at Lausitz. This time, I'm aiming to battle for points and trophies.'

The Audi drivers in the 2014 DTM

Mattias Ekström (S): * July 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single (partner Heidi), one son (Mats); one daughter (Hanna); height: 1.83 m; weight: 79 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 141; pole positions: 19; victories: 17; fastest laps: 13; points: 739; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result DTM Lausitzring: 1 (2004, 2008)

Jamie Green (GB): * June 14, 1982 in Leicester (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Ginny, two sons (Zachary and William); height: 1.78 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2013; DTM races: 100; pole positions: 7; victories: 8; fastest laps: 13; points: 424.5; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 3

Miguel Molina (E): * February 17, 1989 in Barcelona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 48; pole positions: 2; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 3; points: 79; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 13

Edoardo Mortara (I): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); married to Montserrat; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 37; pole positions: 1; victories: 2; fastest laps: 0; points: 162; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 8

Nico Müller (CH): * Feb 25, 1992 in Thun (CH); residence: Blumenstein (CH); single (partner Lara); height: 1.85 m; weight: 73 kg; Audi driver since 2014; DTM races: 7; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; fastest laps: 1; points: 10; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: -

Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Landschlacht (CH); married to Susanne; one son (Phil); height: 1.75 m; weight: 68 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 78; pole positions: 3; victories: 3; fastest laps: 4; points: 354; DTM titles: 1 (2013); best result DTM Lausitzring: 2

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 10, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single (partner Jessica), one son (Loris-Romeo); height: 1.78 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 146; pole positions: 11; victories: 6; fastest laps: 9; points: 429; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result DTM Lausitzring: 2

Adrien Tambay (F): * Feb 25, 1991 in Paris (F); residence: Lochau (A); single; height: 1.81 m; weight: 69 kg; Audi driver since 2012; DTM races: 27; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 94; DTM titles: 0; best result DTM Lausitzring: 11

DTM drivers' standings after seven of ten rounds

1 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 120 points

2 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 56 points

3 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 56 points

4 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 53 points

5 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 42 points

6 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 41 points

7 Maxime Martin (BMW) 39 points

8 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 36 points

9 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 33 points

10 Timo Glock (BMW) 33 points

11 Jamie Green (Audi) 28 points

12 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 27 points

13 Miguel Molina (Audi) 26 points

14 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) 24 points

15 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 24 points

16 Timo Scheider (Audi) 19 points

17 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 15 points

18 Nico Müller (Audi) 10 points

19 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 10 points

20 Joey Hand (BMW) 7 points

21 António Félix da Costa (BMW) 4 points

22 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 4 points

DTM manufacturers' standings

1 BMW 302 points

2 Audi 284 points

3 Mercedes-Benz 121 points

DTM teams' standings

1 BMW Team RMG 159 points

2 Audi Sport Team Abt 92 points

3 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 82 points

4 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 72 points

5 BMW Team Schnitzer 66 points

6 Original-Teile Mercedes AMG 65 points

7 BMW Team RBM 40 points

8 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 38 points

9 BMW Team MTEK 37 points

10 EURONICS/FREE MAN'S WORLD Mercedes AMG 31 points

11 gooix Mercedes AMG 15 points

12 Petronas AMG Mercedes 10 points

Audi statistics in the DTM (since 1990)

Champion's titles: 9 (in 16 years)

Victories: 65 (in 215 races)

Pole positions: 72 (in 179 qualifying sessions)

Fastest laps: 61 (in 215 races)

Podium positions: 216 (in 215 races)

All Lausitzring winners since 2001

2001 Peter Dumbreck (Mercedes-Benz)

2002 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)

2003 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)

2004 Mattias Ekström (Audi)

2005 (1) Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)

2005 (2) Mattias Ekström (Audi)

2006 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)

2007 Mika Hakkinen (Mercedes-Benz)

2008 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz)

2009 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)

2010 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)

2011 Martin Tomczyk (Audi)

2012 Bruno Spengler (BMW)

2013 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)

2013 flashback: Mike Rockenfeller takes lead of the standings

With second place at the Lausitzring Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller, in front of 65,000 spectators, took the lead of the DTM standings. After starting from position six on the grid, 'Rocky' switched from standard to option tires after just four laps and from that time on was the fastest driver in the field. He overtook Mercedes driver Robert Wickens and subsequently put Gary Paffett under pressure. After the second pit stop, the Audi driver concentrated on bringing home second place, and thus the lead of the standings.

Track info

Track length: 3.478 km

Race distance: 52 laps = 180.856 km

DTM qualifying record on this track: Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), 1m 17.463s (Jun 15, 2013)

DTM race record on this track: Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), 1m 18.268s (Jun 16, 2013)

Pole position 2013: Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz), 1m 17.715s

Fastest lap 2013: Mike Rockenfeller (Audi), 1m 18.268s

Turnout 2013: 65,000 (throughout the weekend)

TV live rating 2013: 1.10 million / 10.4 % market share (source: ARD)

Adrien Tambay about the Lausitzring: 'Actually, the tracks race drivers like best are the ones they've been successful on. The Lausitzring has not been one of those for me yet. I like the circuit anyway because it's always a challenge to find the right rhythm there. It has an unusual configuration because we're driving on part of the oval and then return to the infield. The walls are very close, so you should approach the limit with caution. For the spectators, it's great. They've got a unique view from the grandstands. And at the end of the long straight, there's a good overtaking opportunity so that they get to see a lot of action.'

Timetable (CEST)

Friday, September 12

16.30 – 17.05 roll-out

Saturday, September 13

09.20 – 10.20 Free practice

12.15 – 13.15 Free practice

16.45 – 17.35 Qualifying

Sunday, September 14

08.30 – 09.05 Pit stop practice

13.30 Race

TV schedule ('Das Erste' live)

Saturday, September 13

16.40 Qualifying

Sunday, September 14

13.15 Race

Photo credit: Audi Motorsport
posted on conceptcarz.com

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