DTM: Audi is best manufacturer in the 2014 DTM

Audi Press Release

•     155,000 spectators experience Audi one-two-three victory in DTM finale
•     Mattias Ekström celebrates second victory in succession
•     Audi beats BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the manufacturers’ championship

Ingolstadt/Hockenheim, October 19, 2014 – Audi is the best manufacturer in the 2014 DTM. With a one-two-three victory in the finale at Hockenheim the brand with the four rings in front of 155,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) managed to recover the title in the manufacturers’ championship from BMW.

The squad around Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich and Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport, with an impressive performance in the finale, converted a deficit of 21 points into an advantage of 30 points. In the 2014 season, Audi scored a total of 409 points, BMW 379 and Mercedes-Benz 222. One of the first people to extend their congratulations was soccer world champion Bastian Schweinsteiger, who watched DTM finale in the Audi pits.

The runner-up’s spot and third place in the drivers’ championship were secured by Audi as well. The two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekström in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline celebrated his second victory in succession and finished the season as the runner-up. Last year’s champion Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix on clinching second place advanced to third place in the drivers’ standings. Jamie Green in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg in third place made for drivers from all three Audi Sport Teams mounting the podium in the season finale.

“Today Audi showed ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’: before the start of the race with the driverless RS 7 and in the DTM finale with a one-two-three victory,” said Dieter Gass. “Our aim this weekend was to win the manufacturers’ championship. And in the end we clearly decided it in Audi’s favor – not least thanks to a brilliant team performance. That drivers from all three Audi Sport Teams mounted the podium today speaks a clear language. On this weekend everyone could see how strong the Audi RS 5 DTM is. 15 in 30 possible podium places this year are an impressive tally. Congratulations also to Mattias (Ekström) and Mike (Rockenfeller) on taking the runner-up’s spot and third place in the drivers’ championship. We’re already looking forward to 2015 when we’re aiming to recover car number 1 as well.”

The race winner Mattias Ekström, just like Mike Rockenfeller, started on the harder standard tires and thus had the right strategy. The two maintained their positions in the top ten throughout, and in the final stage, after switching to the softer option tires, were able to make up one position after another. Favored by a late safety car period, Ekström and Rockenfeller managed to intercept Jamie Green, who had been leading from the starting lap on, on the last two laps.

“My Audi was again fantastic today,” beamed Mattias Ekström following his second victory in the space of just three weeks. “Ever since things have been going better in qualifying, the races have been working out as well. This was a great season finale for Audi, Team Abt Sportsline and also for me in front of a fantastic crowd. You can’t wish for a better farewell before the winter break.”

With Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM) and Miguel Molina (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM) in positions six and nine, a total of five Audi drivers finished in the top ten and thus in the points.

Nico Müller (Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM) finished the last race of his rookie season in 14th place, following a tough race. Adrien Tambay (Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM) and Edoardo Mortara (Audi Sport Audi RS 5 DTM) retired after collisions but were still classified in positions 19 and 22.

Even before the start of the DTM finale, Audi caused a sensation. A driverless Audi RS 7 piloted driving concept did a fast lap on the DTM race track – without a driver. On track with a driver was the new Audi TT cup that will be fielded in 2015 as part of the DTM. At the wheel was Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of Audi’s Management Board for Technical Development, who after the race joined Chairman of the Management Board Rupert Stadler and the entire Audi DTM squad in celebrating the win of the manufacturer’s championship.

Photo credit: Audi Communications - Motorsport