Audi without racing luck at Oschersleben

Audi Press Release

• Audi without racing luck at Oschersleben
• Mike Rockenfeller as best Audi driver in sixth place
• Four Audi A5 DTM cars in the points

Ingolstadt/Oschersleben, September 16, 2012 – Following the commanding one-two-three victory at Zandvoort Audi, after suffering major misfortune on the starting lap, occupied positions six, eight, nine and ten in the DTM race at the Motorsport Arena at Oschersleben.

In front of 71,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi A5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix in position six was the best-placed Audi driver. “I had a clean start but had to make way by sharply pulling to the left because Mattias (Ekström) had stopped in front of me. As a result, Augusto (Farfus) overtook me. Afterwards, the race was without any major highlights for me. I was not able to drive any faster than the cars in front of me and only tried to take the car home.”

Mattias Ekström in his Red Bull Audi A5 DTM stopped at the start, dropping from fifth to 19th place. Subsequently, the Swede from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline was the quickest driver in the field some of the time, made up one position after the other and advanced into the points again. In the end, Ekström took eighth place.

Filipe Albuquerque in the TV Movie Audi A5 DTM in ninth place scored two points for Audi Sport Team Rosberg. His team-mate Edoardo Mortara on the other hand experienced a major disappointment. The two-time season winner braked a little too late into turn one and subsequently collided with Ralf Schumacher. In the incident, the front of his car was so heavily damaged that Mortara had to park his Playboy Audi A5 DTM after only six laps.

Timo Scheider, who had celebrated his first victory in a DTM race at Oschersleben in 2008, scored one point for tenth place. The two-time DTM Champion recovered from position 15 on the grid despite having lost valuable time at the second pit stop.

Miguel Molina’s car was hit in the rear by a rival at the start and was forced to drive his Red Bull Audi A5 DTM through the gravel trap in turn one. In the process, the Spaniard suffered a puncture. Molina finished with a one-lap gap in 15th place.

For Adrien Tambay, the race was practically over as early, as at the start as the generator had to be exchanged on his Audi ultra A5 DTM. The Frenchman resumed the race with a two-lap gap but again had problems with a drop in voltage shortly before the race ended. Tambay was classified in 16th place.

Rahel Frey’s E-POSTBRIEF Audi A5 DTM was damaged in the area of the front end during the turbulent starting phase. No longer being able to steer the car, the Swiss parked her vehicle off track on lap seven for safety reasons.

“Unfortunately, we lost any chance for a better result as early as at the start today,” Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich said after the race. “Afterwards, Mattias (Ekström) showed in his recovery what would have theoretically been possible. But it’s also a fact that on the whole we weren’t quick enough here at Oschersleben. We’re going to continue to work hard and do everything within our means to show a strong performance again in the last two races at Valencia and Hockenheim. The title in the manufacturers’ championship is still possible and victories are our aim.”