Audi Takes DTM Manufacturers’ Lead
With a strong performance at Estoril (Portugal) Audi have taken the lead in the DTM manufacturers’ standings. In the second race of the new Audi A4 DTM Mattias Ekström, Martin Tomczyk and Tom Kristensen clinched second, third and fourth places respectively. Ekström, who had started from pole position, led the race until the first pit stop, then being held up by a slower competitor. This caused him to drop behind the ultimate winner, whom he followed like a shadow all the way to the finish line. 22-year-old Martin Tomczyk clinched his first podium position at Estoril. Following some communications problems with their pit crews, Christian Abt and Emanuele Pirro finished tenth and eleventh respectively, while Frank Biela finished 15th after a lap-1 collision. Post-race quotes Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt / Audi A4 DTM #5) Martin Tomczyk (Audi Sport Team Abt / Audi A4 DTM #6) Tom Kristensen (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline / Audi A4 DTM #12) Christian Abt (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline / Audi A4 DTM #11) Emanuele Pirro (Audi Sport Infineon Team Joest / Audi A4 DTM #44) Frank Biela (Audi Sport Infineon Team Joest / Audi A4 DTM #45) Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “For my team, the result of today’s race is simply smashing: all four drivers are among the top ten, and two of them, Mattias and Martin, even clinched podium positions. I feel sorry for Christian, though. Hadn’t it been for his unfortunate pit stop, he’d surely have been fighting at the front of the field. I’m proud about Abt Sportsline now leading the DTM teams’ standings. That’s a great reward for all the hard work the boys have put in.” Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Infineon Team Joest): “Without the misunderstanding between Emanuele and ourselves, which was caused by an extremely poor radio connection, we could have again scored points today. That this didn’t happen hurts, especially since in the race Emanuelle was driving as quickly as the front runners. And, as far as Frank is concerned, we’ll certainly get to where Emanuele was today. Despite this result, we’re definitely seeing a positive trend.” Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “It was a thrilling race, which has clearly shown the cohesive strength of the team. We have achieved our primary goal of being able to win races in the DTM. Mattias drove a truly fantastic race and could have won. From my perspective, the crucial situation wasn’t completely `clean’, but such incidents do occur from time to time in motorsport, and you simply have to live with them. For me, it’s important that we, ourselves, remain fair. Congratulations also to Martin Tomczyk on his first podium finish in the DTM.” |