Audi Extends DTM Lead

Schaeffler Group supports the Audi-Team

Ingolstadt/Klettwitz, 2008-05-18 – Extension of the the lead and reduction of weight: in front of 80,000 spectators at the DTM’s fourth round at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Audi created an ideal starting base for its home race at the Norisring. Timo Scheider as the runner-up extended his lead of the standings. The compact Audi team performance in the Lausitz region was completed by Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk in places three and four.

Audi extends DTM lead

Highlights:
• DTM leader Timo Scheider runner-up at EuroSpeedway
• Two podium positions for new Audi A4 DTM
• Strong team performance from second to fourth place

This result at the front of the field was based on flawless starts by Timo Scheider, Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk. On the first lap, all three of them initially got in line behind the subsequent winner Paul di Resta and his Mercedes brand colleague Bruno Spengler. Thanks to the perfect job done by Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Timo Scheider, Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk passed Bruno Spengler as early as after their first mandatory pit stops and solidified their positions as the race progressed.

This gives Audi a favourable starting base for the Norisring at the fifth of eleven rounds: while Timo Scheider increased the lead of the standings, which he has held for the past three races, from one to three points, the weights of the new Audi A4 DTM and the new Mercedes are now in balance – as they last were at the beginning of the season.

As early as on the first lap, Tom Kristensen in the fourth new Audi A4 DTM lost any chance of complementing the results of his three team-mates from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline with a further points-finish. In the commotion, he spun and had to have the damaged front of his car repaired at an additional pit stop.

Nevertheless, a fourth Audi A4 DTM did achieve a result in the points. Oliver Jarvis in eighth place again managed scoring points in a year-old car. This means that for the third time in a row the best car from last year has been an Audi. With Mike Rockenfeller following Jarvis, a fifth Audi factory driver achieved a result among the top ten. The Frenchman Alexandre Prémat, who had originally occupied eighth place, was subsequently disqualified due to a tyre which had not been marked for the race.

But not only in terms of its overall result did Audi clearly improve at the EuroSpeedway, compared with its fifth place last year: in the ladies’ duel, Katherine Legge – in a remarkable fight – for the first time defeated Mercedes driver Susie Stoddart, who retired towards the end of the race, though. Audi factory driver Markus Winkelhock did not see the chequered flag either: a punctured tyre suddenly deflated, causing Winkelhock to spin into the wall while braking at the end of start and finish straight and forcing him to retire.

Quotes after the race

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "We can be satisfied with the result. We saw a superb team performance today with strong pit stops, which helped to decide the race. With places two to four, the extension of our lead in the championship and with equal weight as our rivals at the Norisring, this has been a successful weekend for Audi."

Timo Scheider (GW:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM #10): "A good weekend for Audi. We knew this would be a tough round for us. With my second place and positions three and four for Mattias (Ekström) and Martin (Tomczyk), we can be proud. For my boys and me, of course it’s great to go to the Norisring with a three-point lead in the championship."

Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #1): "It really feels good to go home today with third place. I’m only six points behind the leader of the standings when we go to the Norisring six weeks from now. That’s a great starting base. Also, during this weekend at the EuroSpeedway, we managed adapting my Audi A4 DTM to my driving style even better than before. All in all, this lets me enjoy the small summer break in a very relaxed mood."

The results at EuroSpeedway Lausitz

1 Paul di Resta (Mercedes) 51 laps in 1h 10m 23.407s
2 Timo Scheider (GW:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM) + 5.562s
3 Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM) + 8.629s
4 Martin Tomczyk (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM) + 10.379s
5 Jamie Green (Mercedes) + 15.911s
6 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes) + 18.188s
7 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes) + 20.668s
8 Oliver Jarvis (Best Buddies Audi A4 DTM) + 34.508s
9 Mike Rockenfeller (S line Audi A4 DTM) + 35.107s
10 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) + 35.752s
11 Maro Engel (Mercedes) + 50.698s
12 Mathias Lauda (Mercedes) + 57.739s
13 Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes) + 58.367s
14 Christijan Albers (Audi A4 DTM) + 1m 09.220s
15 Katherine Legge (Audi A4 DTM) + 1m 11.202s
16 Tom Kristensen (Audi A4 DTM) - 1 lap
17 Susie Stoddart (Mercedes) - 11 laps

Not classified:
Markus Winkelhock (Audi) - 49 laps

Disqualified:
Alexandre Prémat (Audi Bank/Shell Helix Audi A4 DTM)

Source: Schaeffler KG

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