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 year’s 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
Stippler’s 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
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #4
“Hockenheim is an excellent circuit and is always a fantastic location to end the
DTM season. Looking at the circuit layout neither of the two manufacturers should
have a large advantage here. I think that it’ll be an exciting finale, during which
we’ll be doing our utmost again.”
Mattias Ekström
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #5
“I’m looking forward to the last race of the season. 2006 wasn’t exactly my year.
However, I’ll do my best to finish the year with a good result.”
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Veltins Audi A4 DTM #6
“I can’t wait to see the ranks of fanatic spectators that we always see at
Hockenheim. I think that the spectators can once again look forward to motorsport
at its best. All the guys are still hot, even though the Championship as been
decided everybody will once again be up for a good fight.”
Photographs, sound bites and other information can be found in the Internet at:
www.audi-motorsport.info (accreditation necessary)
