Ingolstadt, December 15, 2005
DTM is the most attractive racing series outside Formula 1
After clinching the title in 2004 with Audi "factory” driver Mattias Ekström
and being defeated this season by only a narrow margin, the objectives
for next year are very clear: "We want to recapture the lead from
Mercedes-Benz to thus underline our position as the sportiest
manufacturer in the premium car segment,” says Professor Dr Martin
Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "At the
same time, together with Mercedes-Benz, we are going to continue to
work on strengthening the DTM’s role as the most attractive racing series
outside of Formula 1. With a long-term commitment to DTM, which
currently is planned for at least three years including 2008, we are adding
our part to that.”
Audi to increase DTM commitment
Audi and Mercedes-Benz, the two leading German automotive
manufacturers, compete against each other at the highest level in the
2006 DTM to continue a great tradition. It will re-enact the famous duel
which thrilled spectators 70 years ago when the legendary "Silver Arrows”
from Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz raced against each other.
Mercedes-Benz has been committed to the DTM for many years. Audi,
DTM champions in 1990, 1991, 2002 and 2004, is one of the most
successful and prestigious brands of the DTM – a series which breaks
one record after another: 922,500 fans attended the eleven DTM races
last season and approximately two million spectators on average
watched every race "live” on ARD TV – thus making 2005 the most
successful so far in the DTM’s 21-year history. Furthermore, on an
international scale, the DTM reached record TV audiences, far
surpassing those of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)
and other racing series.
Long-term commitment planned
"It is obvious that spectators want to see spectacular touring cars at the
highest level,” says Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "And
this is exactly what the DTM offers them. Additionally, the cars are so
appealing that the DTM even attracts the world’s best racing drivers.” At
the same time, the financial investment is reasonable – a prerequisite for
entering ten cars, as Audi is planning to do for the 2006 season. The
Technical Regulations envisaged for 2007 will further reduce costs, thus
making the DTM even more attractive for automotive manufacturers who
are currently considering a commitment or are active in another series.
"With Audi and Mercedes-Benz committing to DTM on a long-term basis, it
gives the series ‘security’ for all interested partners and other
manufacturers.”
In the 2006 DTM, Audi will be competing with an A4 DTM version that has
been subjected to further development, bearing the internal project name
"R12 plus”. Apart from modifications to the aerodynamics and
suspension, the A4 DTM will be fitted with a new V8 engine which has
been running on the dyno since the end of October.
New V8 engine for Audi A4 DTM
A total of twelve DTM races are planned for the 2006 season – six of them
in Germany, one of AUDI AG’s most important markets. New venues on
the calendar are Brands Hatch (Great Britain), Le Mans (France) and
Barcelona (Spain), and thus three European circuits which are extremely
rich in tradition.
In 2006, the DTM’s attractive supporting programme will again include the
SEAT Leon Supercopa and the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup.
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