Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Audi A4 DTM #5)
“Estoril will be very interesting. I am tightened where we stand compared
to the competition. Top speed is still an issue at Estoril, but fortunately the
track as plenty of corners. that suit our Audi A4 DTM. I hope, compared to
Hockenheim, we will be able to reduce the gap to the colleagues from
Stuttgart.“
Martin Tomczyk (Audi Sport Team Abt Audi A4 DTM #6)
“We had a very productive test at Estoril at which we worked out a good
basic setup. The track does not have such a long straight as
Hockenhheim but many fast and slow corners – this mix suits our Audi A4
DTM very well. I’ve won a Formula ADAC race at Estoril in 1999, however,
whether the track suits to me also in a DTM car I’ll be able to tell only after
the race...“
Christian Abt (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi A4 DTM #11)
“I’m looking forward very much to Estoril. The track is fabulous, the
atmosphere near the sea very special. I have good memories to races
close to the ocean since my victory in the night race at Misano in 1999, and
also of Zandvoort. I hope for our A4 DTM being even more competitive than
at Hockenheim. I’ll try to be faster in qualifying in order to be able to start
further in front and keep out of trouble at the start.“
Tom Kristensen (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi A4 DTM #12)
“Hockenheim was a good start for Audi into the DTM. Contrary to
Hockenheim, Estoril is one of the race tracks which I know, therefore I
have to be fast there. During the tests in March we were competitive. In the
last corner before start and finish the balance of the Audi A4 DTM was very
good. That is important to take the speed onto the long straight.“
Emanuele Pirro (Audi Sport Infineon Team Joest Audi A4 DTM #44)
“I am quite optimistic for Estoril. We learned a lot about the car at
Hockenheim, I feel at home in the A4 DTM. The tests at Estoril were
running also very well. The track is very technical. You need a lot of
downforce which our Audi has got. I believe we should look very good at
Estoril.“
Frank Biela (Audi Sport Infineon Team Joest Audi A4 DTM #45)
“I was at Estoril for the first time ever during the test. The track is
demanding and very physical for the driver. It might be even warmer at
Estoril than at the tests in march. The track is interesting and fun to drive.
What we found out during testing should make the start of the weekend
much easier for us. Personally, I’ll try to make the best of what I’ve learned
at Hockenheim to produce a good result.“
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
“With the good result at Hockenheim my squad has got even more self-
confidence. The preparation of our A4 and the practice of the team ran very
calmly, professional and without pressure during the last couple of days. I
think the Estoril track should fit better to our car than Hockenheim did. Our
aim is therefore clear: At least we want to finish on the podium again.“
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Infineon Team Joest)
“We tested with the Audi A4 DTM at Estoril before the season started and
since Hockenheim our team knows how a DTM weekends runs – in that
respect Estoril should not be as hard for us as the debut. We will try to look
better, particularly in qualifying. Because the trucks must set off already on
Sunday, the preparation time was very tight. Luckily, only minor things had
to be done on the cars.“
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport)
“The Audi A4 DTM made a very strong impression during testing at Estoril.
We would like to confirm this impression in the race, trying to be victory-
capable. The track at Estoril has a completely different character than
Hockenheim. Personally I find the track very beautiful, we look forward to a
further thrilling DTM race.“
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