Hockenheim, Oktober 23, 2005
In front of a record turnout of 147,000 spectators, Audi kept its word of
fighting for the title in Europe’s most popular touring car series to the very
end. A strategy employed by Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline that was as
surprising as it was clever almost made it possible for Audi driver Mattias
Ekström to defend the title successfully after all: having started from
position 15 on the grid, the Swede completed the two tyre changes
prescribed by the regulations in immediate succession – a novelty in
DTM history. Despite this clever move, Ekström had to settle for the vice
champion’s title. After rain had set in just before the start, his team put all
the stakes on one card and changed the set-up of his Audi A4 DTM from
dry to rain as late as on the starting grid – a gamble that went
unrewarded: Ekström finished in seventh place.
Best Audi driver in the final race – yet again –was Tom Kristensen who, in
the fight for third place, had to admit defeat to the new DTM champion,
Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), by merely 0.607 seconds. Frank Stippler
achieved his best DTM result so far by finishing fifth in Audi Sport Team
Joest´s last year´s A4.
Final positions after 11 rounds
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