Ingolstadt, March 6, 2004
Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro have notched up their first victory of
the year. Together with Peter Terting the two DTM drivers won a football
tournament at Ofterschwang – simultaneously the finale and highlight of
the “Red Bull Training Camp“. For a complete week, the DTM and sports
car drivers prepared themselves as a team for the races in the Audi A4
DTM and Audi R8. The conclusion after innumerable kilometres on cross-
country ski trails, hours in the weight room and on the sports field: The
Audi drivers are fit for the 2004 season.
The Audi fitness week in spring is already traditional – and serves not only
physical conditioning. “Just as important is that the drivers get to know
each other better out of the paddock confines and grew into a team,” says
Audi Motorsport Head Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. The DTM drivers Christian Abt,
Frank Biela, Mattias Ekström, Tom Kristensen, Emanuele Pirro and Martin
Tomczyk trained with their team directors Hans-Jürgen Abt and Ralf
Jüttner. The sports car drivers Rinaldo Capello, Pierre Kaffer and Marco
Werner were also there as was the Audi supported youngster Peter
Terting.
“Fitness is extremely important, especially in touring cars. The physical
strain is very high at such high cockpit temperatures. In order to maintain
concentration for the entire race the condition must be one hundred
percent right,” says Tom Kristensen, who after several successful years in
the Audi R8 sports prototype, joins the DTM trail.
“One can clearly see that the boys haven’t rested on their laurels in the
winter break, but in fact kept working hard,” says Audi team doctor
Christian John. “All drivers completed the comprehensive programme with
ease.” In addition to daily skating and water fitness, working with weights
and concentration training during archers were also included. The subject
of fitness is not over after this. Dr John: “During the week every driver
noticed where and whether he must improve, as a result he will now
receive a personal training plan with which he can continue to prepare
himself.”
March 15 to 18 official ITR test at Estoril
The countdown to the season start continues almost non-stop for the Audi
drivers: From March 15 to 18 all six drivers are at the official ITR test at
Estoril. Things get serious for the sports car drivers on March 20 when the
12-hour race at Sebring (Florida) starts.
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