Audi comes to England as DTM leader

The Audi Sport team has had not much time to recover since the historical triumph with the Audi R10 TDI at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: On the first weekend in July, the next round of the DTM in Brands Hatch on the outskirts of London is on the agenda. The DTM and Sportscar projects run independently from one another within Audi Sport, however, many of the 150 employees are involved in both projects.

This also includes Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen, who travels to the British round of the most popular international touring car series as championship leader - and with the sweetest memories: At the official pre-season test, the Dane recorded the best time in Brands Hatch with a 41.587 second lap. The test doubled as a roll-out for his Siemens Audi A4 DTM, with which he has since gone on to claim a brace of second places and, more recently, the championship lead after taking victory at Oschersleben.

Just like his team mates, Kristensen is also looking forward to the short 1.973 kilometre "Indy Circuit”. The shortest track on the DTM calendar is considered to be one of the most spectacular and demanding of the year. The spectators can see almost the entire circuit, 82 laps around roller-coaster track will push man and machine to their limits. Strategy will play a major role, in qualifying hundredths and thousandths of a second will be decisive.

Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline tested with all four drivers at Magny-Cours (France) immediately after the race at Oschersleben, collecting valuable information which the team wants to implement at Brands Hatch. Audi Sport Team Phoenix and Audi Sport Team Rosberg also expect to show well with their year-old cars. The customer team Futurecom TME arrives at a track for the first time at which it has already tested with the Audi A4 DTM from the 2004 season.

Qualifying at Brands Hatch starts on Saturday, 1 July at 12:37 p.m. local time (1:37 p.m. in Germany). The race will be started at noon owing to the Football World Cup and the Tour de France - two hours earlier than normal. ARD broadcasts qualifying live on Saturday from 2:03 p.m. and the race on Sunday from 12:50 p.m.

Quotes from the Audi drivers before the race in Brands Hatch

Martin Tomczyk (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "Brands Hatch is a short but demanding circuit. There isn’t much time to relax when you are driving. I think that we’ll be good there - just how good is difficult to judge, since the test was held before the start of the season. Whatever the case I’m looking forward to the race and that things finally get rolling again after the five week break.”

Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "I’ll be racing for the first time at Brands Hatch. At the test there we had a good speed and the track was a lot of fun. With Tom winning at Oschersleben we have to drive with a few kilograms of ballast. On the other hand Tom leads the Championship. I think it’ll be a hard fight again with Mercedes. We’ll try to help Tom so that he can also leave Brands Hatch still leading the Championship.”

Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "The race at Brands Hatch will be wild. The circuit is spectacular and is unforgiving. The set-up isn’t actually very difficult, but nevertheless very important. Brands Hatch only has four corners - and the car has to be perfect in each one. The track is short, so the lap times will be very tight. That means the cars will be separated by a few hundredths.”

Tom Kristensen (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "We are all looking forward to Brands Hatch. It is our first race abroad this year. Brands Hatch is stepped in tradition. 82 laps around the Indy Circuit will be incredibly tough, concentration is important. There is hardly a straight, it goes up and down, and the corners are exciting. At Brands Hatch everything has to slip into place if you want to win.”

Christian Abt, Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "After things didn’t go quite as I’d planned during the first three races, I now look to Brands Hatch for an upturn in form - even though it isn’t necessarily my favourite circuit because it’s a little Mickey Mouse like. With 82 race laps I’m even expecting a safety car period. There could be quite a few surprises.”

Pierre Kaffer (Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch. We had a successful test. I think that it will be a fantastic event. It’s always a special good feeling to drive on a traditional English race track. My last race in England was in 2004 with the R8 at Silverstone - and I won there together with Allan McNish.”

Frank Stippler (Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "The Brands Hatch circuit is demanding. It goes up and down, it’s like a mini Nordschleife. I think it’ll separate the men from the boys since the circuit is really difficult. Things didn’t run too badly at the test. We’ll see how things are on the race weekend.”

Timo Scheider (Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "The fans will be treated to an exciting and interesting race weekend. I’m personally not a great friend of short tracks; the longer circuit is just more fun to drive for me. However, it’s obviously fantastic for the fans that we come by so often. As a driver we’ll probably get quite dizzy after 82 laps…”

Vanina Ickx (Futurecom TME): "We tested at Brands Hatch in March. It was quite cold at that time. This DTM race will also be tough and interesting. The circuit is short and tight, the run-off areas are small. Over the last couple of weeks the team and I have been trying to improve the pit-stop procedure and the car set-up. I hope it helps.”

Olivier Tielemans (Futurecom TME): "I drove for one-and-a-half days with the A4 DTM at the pre-season test at Brands Hatch, which should help me to find my feet a lot quicker than at the previous races.”

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "The DTM goes to Brands Hatch for the first time - to a circuit where Audi has already competed in many great touring car races, and was frequently successful. We know that it is a very special track. Normally the races there are very close and wild. I’m convinced: The DTM at Brands Hatch will be motorsport at its finest. To go there as championship leader is particularly good.” Schon gesehen?

Damon Hill tests DTM car at Brands Hatch

Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula 1 World Champion, tested the DTM AMG-Mercedes C-Class at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent County. Following his test at the 1.973-kilometre circuit located south-east to London - the venue of the fourth DTM round held on 2nd July - Hill was wowed by the high-tech touring car. “That was very exciting. Good that I knew Brands Hatch before, because to drive a DTM car is quite demanding. It is powerful, has a lot of downforce which makes it quick through the corners and it is really hot inside. I want to thank Mercedes-Benz for giving me the opportunity to sample a state of the art DTM car.” said the 45-year old Briton.
Back in March, Hill had already attended the three-day DTM tests at Brands Hatch. There, he met - inter alia - some of his former Formula 1 rivals such as Mika Häkkinen, Jean Alesi and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. On this occasion, Hill expressed his interest in driving a state-of-the-art DTM car and now, Mercedes-Benz offered him this chance. “It feels great to be back at the wheel of a racing car after such a long time,” Hill added. Yet, a motor racing comeback is not on the agenda of the 22-time Grand Prix winner who retired at the end of the 1999 season. “I now have got other tasks in the motor racing world,” he added. Some weeks ago, Hill was elected new President of the British Racing Drivers Club, BRDC.

During the Brands Hatch DTM weekend, on 2nd July, the Briton will again take the wheel of a DTM car: in the event’s support programme, the former F1 World Champion will drive a DTM taxi to take competition winners around the circuit, in the passenger seat. “I’m looking forward to the DTM race at Brands Hatch. It’s an event no motor racing enthusiast should miss. The fans really look forward to an exciting event”

Damon Hill to drive AMG-Mercedes C-Class

Damon Hill makes his motor racing comeback - for some hours, that is to say. One week prior to the fourth round of the DTM season, held on 2nd July at Brands Hatch, the former Formula 1 World Champion is going to take place behind the wheel of an AMG-Mercedes C-Class to complete some laps at the rich in tradition British circuit. “I’m truly impressed by DTM,” says Hill. “The cars are quick and it’s big fun to see them charging around a race track.”

The Englishman’s test has been scheduled for two hours and afterwards, he is going to describe his impressions in a press conference. Regarding the competition and the commitment it needs, DTM could be compared with Formula 1, says Hill. “The fans just shouldn’t miss the Brands Hatch round.” During the Brands Hatch DTM weekend, Hill will again go out on the track to take VIP guests around the circuit in the passenger seat of a DTM Race Taxi. Afterwards, his career as a racing driver will be definitely over, claims the Briton, adding that Mercedes offered him this chance of driving a DTM car and he just didn’t want to miss this chance. “I’m looking forward to it. It certainly will be big fun.”

In March, during the official DTM tests held at Brands Hatch, the 45-year old who lives just a few kilometres away, had visited the circuit and said: “It’s great that such a top-class series comes to England. There is no comparable race series all around the world. The grid is extremely varied and that’s what makes DTM that thrilling. Former F1 aces, two women, young guns and a lot of other top class motor racing professionals.” Despite all his enthusiasm, Hill makes clear that a comeback is not on his agenda: “I’m too old for this kind of things. Furthermore, I retired from DTM to have the chance of spending more time with my family.” Apart from that, Hill just was elected new President of the British Racing Driver Club, BRDC.

Most definitely, DTM’s comeback on English soil will be a major success. All the seats are already sold out, therefore, an additional stand with 1,300 seats will be erected at turn one. Because of the beginning of the ‘Tour de France’, the race - that will be covered live by the German TV station ARD - will be brought forward by an hour and will start at 12.00hrs local time (13.00hrs CEST).

Brazil to secure the World Cup...

Brazil to secure the World Cup...
The countdown is on, the entire world seems to have caught the football fever and there’s just one question millions of people will be focusing on in the coming weeks: who is going win the 2006 Football World Cup? It doesn’t take long to select the favourites and the reigning champion, Brazil, has got the biggest following on the DTM grid. 25 percent of the drivers thinks that reigning champion Brazil with its top stars such as Ronaldo and Ronaldinho has got what it needs to defend the title, with Christian Abt, Frank Stippler, Tom Kristensen, Mika Häkkinen and Olivier Tielemans regarding the Brazilian squad as favourite.
At the same time, there are four drivers each expecting Italy and host Germany respectively win the tournament. Jean Alesi, Bernd Schneider, Timo Scheider and Daniel La Rosa put their money on the ‘Squadra Azzurra’, while Stefan Mücke, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Bruno Spengler and Vanina Ickx think that Germany is going to repeat the successes of 1954, 1974 und 1990. And England? Jamie Green, Mathias Lauda and Susie Stoddart believe in the success of David Beckham & Co.

Pierre Kaffer and Mattias Ekström, however, think that an underdog will make it. While Croatia is the favourite of Pierre Kaffer, Sweden’s Ekström is convinced that his compatriots will secure the title. According to Martin Tomczyk, Luis Figo and Portugal are going to win the World Cup, while the Greek on the DTM grid, Alex Margaritis, is of another opinion: he thinks that the Argentineans, World Cup winners in 1978 and 1986, will make it again. By the way: Even Olivier Tielemans doesn’t believe that the Netherlands are going to win the Cup.

On 09th July, 2006, we will find out which DTM driver proved to be the best football expert.


The DTM aces’ World Cup tips:
Bernd Schneider: Italy
Jamie Green: England
Martin Tomczyk: Portugal
Mattias Ekström. Sweden
Heinz-Harald Frentzen: Germany
Tom Kristensen: Brazil
Mika Häkkinen: Brazil
Bruno Spengler: Germany
Jean Alesi: Italy
Alexandros Margaritis: Argentina
Christian Abt: Brazil
Pierre Kaffer: Croatia
Frank Stippler: Brazil
Timo Scheider: Italy
Stefan Mücke: Germany
Daniel La Rosa: Italy
Olivier Tielemans: Brazil
Vanina Ickx: Germany
Mathias Lauda: England
Susie Stoddart: England

Mika Hakkinen drives a CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet

Mika Häkkinen drives a CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet
Mika Häkkinen extends his fleet: The AMG-Mercedes DTM driver drives a brand new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet. “After changing from the open Formula 1 racing car to the closed DTM saloon, the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is exactly the right car for quick trips around my home town Monte Carlo, or along the winding roads in the surrounding Maritime Alps” said the Formula 1 World Champion of 1998 and 1999.

For enthusiasts: The 582 hp powerful AMG 5.5-litre V8 compressor engineHigh tech derived from motorsport, racetrack handling dynamics, eye-catching design and utmost exclusivity - the new Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is not only the choice of prominent sportsmen, but also makes the hearts of other automobile enthusiasts beat faster. With its 428 kW/582 hp powerful AMG 5.5-litre V8 compressor engine, the newly developed AMG sports suspension, optionally available sports tyres and aerodynamics optimised in the wind tunnel the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet, which is in a limited edition of 100, delivers a superlative performance: The AMG high-performance sports car accelerates in only 4.0 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, the highest speed is 300 km/h (electronically limited). This means that the new AMG high-performance car is the fastest open-top four-seater in the world.

The high demand for the CLK DTM AMG Coupé, which was also in a limited edition of 100 and was rapidly sold out, was the initial inspiration during the planning of the high-performance AMG Cabriolet. During development another model was also the most successful car in the German Touring Car Masters, namely the racing version of the Mercedes-Benz CLK with which Bernd Schneider became champion in the 2003 season. The equipment of the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is also orientated on the racetrack: AMG sports bucket seats with leather/Alcantara upholstery ensure optimal lateral support: The oval AMG racing steering wheel with suede covering and the AMG instrument cluster with 360 km/h speedometer scale lend the interior an unmistakable motorsport touch.

Alone the exterior design of the new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet indicates the highest performance at the level of thoroughbred racing cars and attests to the transfer of top-class technology from motorsport: the deep-drawn front apron with large air inlets, striking wheel arch flaring, 19 and 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels and the rear end in diffusor-look are reminiscent of the successful CLK racing touring cars from the German Touring Masters. Numerous body components are made of the high-strength and particularly light carbon fibre composite material CRP, for example the bonnet, doors, front wings, rear wheel arches flaring, the front and rear aprons as well as the rear aerofoil.

Contact to the road surface is provided by optionally available sports tyres from DTM motorsport partner Dunlop; the dimensions are 255/35 R 19 (front) and 285/30 R 20 (rear). These tyres have a particularly good grip and are fitted on multi-piece AMG light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design in the sizes 8.5 by 19 or 10 by 20. With their filigree spokes they are not only strikingly attractive, but also ensure an effective brake ventilation. Perfect deceleration is also ensured by the newly developed AMG high-performance composite brake system with six-piston fixed-brake callipers at the front and four-piston fixed brake callipers at the rear.

Timo Scheider aims high

Timo Scheider aims high
He is just 27 years old, could easily be a student - still, it seems to you as if a very old acquaintance has returned to DTM. Timo Scheider was involved from the very first day when DTM was revitalised back in 2000. When the 2004 season was over, he had half a decade and 57 DTM races under his belt - including the Shanghai Invitational. In 2005, he moved on to the FIA GT Championship but now he’s back and contests the 2006 DTM season for Audi.
Together with Bernd Schneider and Christian Abt he’s one of only three drivers on the current DTM grid who also contested the 2000 season. “Is this really true,” he asks unbelievingly. “I truly wasn’t aware of this fact. Quite obviously I’m proud of again being a part of DTM. Particularly as I’m driving for Audi, now - a brand I always wanted to race for. Compared to other series, DTM is just second to none,” says the professional who finished runner-up behind Nick Heidfeld, in the 1997 German Formula 3 Championship season.

From 2000, Scheider opted for continuing his career in touring car racing, yet, he still keeps contact to the single-seater racing world. Willi Weber, Timo Scheider’s manager since May 1998, made him race this winter for the German team contesting the 2005/2006 season of the A1 GP Series. This means that Scheider has been active in three series from the beginning of 2005 until today.

Scheider and Stippler to contest the Eifel marathon together

Scheider and Stippler to contest the Eifel marathon together

Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s DTM drivers, Timo Scheider and Frank Stippler, are going to jointly contest the ADAC 24h-Hour Race at the Nürburgring at the wheel of the Land Motorsport entered Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, thus following their brand-mate Christian Abt. The latter is also going to compete in the endurance classic at the wheel of a Porsche, together with Klaus Ludwig as well as the Alzen brothers, Uwe and Jürgen.

Scheider and Stippler will start on Land PorscheScheider and Stippler will team up with the Nordschleife experienced drivers Marc Basseng and Patrick Simon. The squad around Team principal Wolfgang Land is regarded as one of the favourites as its regular driver pairing, Basseng/Simon, prevailed in the latest round of the Nürburgring Endurance Championship, with the car of the Westerwald based team proving to be one of the quickest on the packed grid.

Timo Scheider was one of the four Opel drivers who succeeded in clinching the win in the 2003 edition of the Nürburgring ADAC 24-Hour Race, while Frank Stippler, racing an Abt-Audi TT-R, took fourth place for Audi in 2004.