Audi Target DTM Finale Victory
Despite the title having been decided already, DTM fans can look forward to an exciting season finale. At the tenth and final DTM round at Hockenheim on 29 October, the Audi drivers will do everything in their powers to record their fifth win of the season and level the score in the prestigious duel against Mercedes-Benz. Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen, currently third in the point standings, still has the chance to claim the runner-up honours. 147,000 spectators watched the DTM finale at Hockenheim last year. An equally impressive crowd is expected at this years season finale with brisk advance ticket sales having accounted for more than 60,000 orders. The thousands of Audi fans filling the grandstands want Tom Kristensen & Co. to put in a command performance again and end the Mercedes winning streak at the German Grand Prix circuit. Mercedes is unbeaten on its home track since the 4.574 kilometre Hockenheimring was modified in 2002. The Audi drivers have shown more than once that it is merely a matter of time before this run comes to an end: In 2004, Martin Tomczyk led the finale for many laps before being beaten by record champion Bernd Schneider. Mattias Ekström took pole position with the new Audi A4 DTM on its début in 2005. At the first race this year the two Audi drivers Tom Kristensen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished on the podium. The Audi teams have prepared intensively for the season finale. Audi Sport Team Rosberg in particular was faced with an enormous amount of work Frank Stipplers A4 DTM had to be completely rebuilt within a week following his accident at the start at Le Mans. The DTM finale will start on Sunday (29 October) at 2:00 p.m. local time. As usual, ARD will broadcast the race live on “Das Erste from 1:45 p.m., and qualifying on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. Tickets for the season finale are available from the Internet at www.audi-dtm.de and www.dtm.de and at the turnstiles on the day. Quotes before the DTM finale at Hockenheim Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Our goals for the DTM finale are clear: We want to record our fifth win of the season at Hockenheim, push Tom (Kristensen) up to second in the Championship and bid farewell to the thousands of Audi fans by giving them a race to remember before the winter break. Throughout the course of the year we have shown that we are more than capable of winning with our cars. Martin Tomczyk Mattias Ekström Heinz-Harald Frentzen Tom Kristensen Christian Abt Pierre Kaffer Frank Stippler Timo Scheider Vanina Ickx Nicolas Kiesa Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “Hockenheim is a fantastic circuit with a great atmosphere. To race in front of so many spectators is incredible. I hope that we can round off the season in a suitable manner. Although we have lost the championship we will fight to the end. After all the runner-up spot is there for the taking. Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “We want to repeat our Le Mans qualifying performance at Hockenheim. When we manage this we just have to see to it that the race result follows. In the meantime we know what we have to do qualifying. We will now spend more time concentrating on race set-up. Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “Hockenheim should be a great event played out to packed grandstands. Our goal remains unchanged: I want to have both drivers in the points again. We have one final chance and I hope we can use it. Facts about the DTM finale at Hockenheim Every winner since 2000 Pole Position 2005 DTM lap record (Qualifying) Circuit length Race distance
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