Hockenheim, April 16, 2005
New Audi A4 DTM takes pole for debut race
In its racing debut, the new Audi A4 DTM will be starting from the pole
position. At the Hockenheim season opener, defending champion Mattias
Ekström drove the fastest time in Saturday’s Super Pole qualifying
session to secure the best starting position for the race on Sunday (start
at 2 p.m., live on ARD from 1.45 p.m.). Martin Tomczyk and Tom
Kristensen, as well, qualified for the single car qualifying of the fastest
ten. The best drivers of last year’s Audi A4 DTM cars were Christian Abt
and DTM newcomer Frank Stippler on positions twelve and 13
respectively.
Quotes after qualifying
Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline #1)
1st place Super Pole, 1m 35.251s
"Clinching the pole position today has made a small dream come true.
We knew that our new Audi A4 is a good car, but not exactly where we’re
standing in comparison to the competition. Track conditions today
changed between the qualifying and the super pole. That’s why there was
a little luck involved on my fast lap as well. My thanks to the team and the
Audi engineers, who were working in the right direction.”
Martin Tomczyk (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline #2)
7th place Super Pole, 1m 36.222s
"Because of the change in track conditions, it was very difficult today. We
made some changes to the car for the super pole, but they didn’t work
out. My lap left a lot to be desired, the car was understeering heavily. But
starting from position seven is something you can live with.”
Tom Kristensen (Audi Sport Team Abt #5)
9th place Super Pole, 1m 36.489s
"After being fastest yesterday and second in free practice and in
qualifying, I am obviously deeply disappointed with my starting position.
We are still playing around in different areas, trying to find the best
possible setup, and the car was very nervous in Super Pole. I lost
everything in turn 1 when the rear snapped away and then the car kept
oversteering for the remainder of the lap.”
Christian Abt (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #14)
12th place, 1m 35.464s
"My car was a lot better than position 12. Unfortunately, I sacrificed nearly
three tenths of a second in my best lap in the first sector. Fifth place
would have been possible, and my team would have deserved this today
as well. But if you know me, you know that I’ll be fighting in the race.”
Frank Stippler (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #19)
13th place, 1m 35.467s
"Starting from position 13 in my DTM debut is okay. Still, I’m a bit
disappointed, because my sixth place in the free practice session would
have been possible in the qualifying here as well. The track was quick
only in the very beginning, and that’s where I allowed myself to become a
bit distracted by a competitor. The DTM field is so tight that you always
have to be wide awake.”
Allan McNish (Audi Sport Team Abt #6)
14th place, 1m 35.625s
"First of all, it’s very, very tight, which is what I expected. I am happier now
than I was this morning or yesterday. Because now, we have got a feeling
for the car. We made some changes between the sessions and we
gained straight away. It’s a couple of tenths from the top ten where
ultimately we should be. But from the weekend’s point of view, we are
going in the correct direction. And I beat Mika Häkkinen at his debut...”
Pierre Kaffer (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #15)
18th place, 1m 35.915s
"Overall, I feel comfortable in the DTM. The car is running well, too. But I
didn’t get it quite right today. There was probably a certain amount of
nervousness involved as well, because, after all, everything is new. The
times are extremely
close. Three tenths less, and I would be as much as a few rows further
ahead on the grid. I know that I’m always very strong in the race and that
my car has good balance. That’s why I’m going to attack again tomorrow.”
Rinaldo Capello (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #18)
20th place, 1m 36.020s
"Today, the fast time had to be driven with the first set of tyres.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to do this. I think I didn’t warm up the tyres
enough. In the second corner I had big understeer, which cost me a lot of
time. That’s a question of experience.”
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
"The pole position is a great reward for all the hard work of the past few
months. We’ve all been working towards this and are very happy. Of
course we’re still in a learning process with the new car, but that’s
normal. We got it right today and are continuing to work hard. We want to
put on a great race tomorrow for the many Audi fans in the grandstands.”
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest)
"Generally, things are going very well this weekend. Only the qualifying,
unfortunately, didn’t work out all that well. Christian recorded a best sector
time, but then unluckily got caught behind another car. During the other
two attempts the track was slower. This was particularly bad for our new
drivers, who, due to their lack of experience, simply would have needed
several trials. In the race, we’ll try to work our way up further towards the
front of the field.”
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport)
"I think there could hardly be a more thrilling qualifying session than this
one. Matthias proved yet again that the higher pressure the stronger he
gets. He drove a perfect lap. And that did it, because making even the
smallest mistake meant you couldn’t be at the very front. I’m delighted
about our new Audi A4 DTM starting from position one on the grid in its
debut. That’s a great way to start the season.”
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