Audi Completes Squad for 2007 DTM

AUDI AG tackles the forthcoming 2007 DTM season with proved teams and a rejuvenated driver line-up. Just like last year, the Audi factory teams Abt Sportsline, Phoenix and Rosberg and the customer team Kolles T.M.E. will enter a total of ten Audi A4 DTM in the most popular international touring car race series. The two Germans Lucas Luhr (27) and Mike Rockenfeller (23) and the Frenchman Alexandre Prémat (24) are the three new factory drivers signed by Audi for the 2007 DTM.

The four latest generation Audi A4 DTM cars will be run by Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. Record Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen (39) from Denmark, who enters his eighth season for Audi, and the Swede Mattias Ekström (28), the 2004 DTM Champion, spearhead the Bavarian team’s championship assault. German Martin Tomczyk (25), who celebrated his first DTM victory last season and the Austrian domiciled German Timo Scheider (28) complete the Abt squad.

Scheider was the best driver of a year-old A4 DTM during the 2006 season and staked his claim for a new generation car with his constantly strong performances. Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller, who contest their first season with year-old cars for Audi Sport Team Rosberg, aim to repeat Scheider’s example this year.

New team mate to the experienced Christian Abt (39) at Audi Sport Team Phoenix is the Frenchman Alexandre Prémat, who grabbed the headlines through his success in GP2 and the A1 Grand Prix Series and made a lasting impression while testing with the Audi A4 DTM. Audi Sport Team Phoenix also enters two year-old cars for Audi.

The Belgian Vanina Ickx (32), who lives in Wiesbaden, again bolsters the Audi DTM ranks. The Audi factory driver competes for the Audi customer team Kolles T.M.E. with a 2005-spec A4 DTM. The Bavarian team has yet to nominate a driver for the second cockpit.

“I think that the mix of experienced drivers and hungry talented youngsters is very good one, and we have an outstanding driver line up for the 2007 DTM,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

The 2007 DTM season opens on 15 April with the official presentation in Düsseldorf. The first race at Hockenheim is on the schedule one week later. The most popular international touring car race series visits Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain in 2007. Tickets can be ordered via www.audi-dtm.de or by calling +49 841 / 8947777.