Audi is set on regaining its usual strength
After a disappointing race result at the Nürburgring Audi is aiming to turn the trend around at Zandvoort from August 20 to 22: in the second half of the season that will start on the Dutch North Sea coast the title defenders are set on regaining their usual strength.
A 19-point gap separates Mattias Ekström as the best Audi driver in the DTM standings from front runner Bruno Spengler. But Audi is far from considering the fight for the fourth consecutive DTM title a losing battle on the season’s midpoint in the Netherlands, particularly since Ekström is just three points short of second place in the standings. "For the six victories in the remaining races as many as 60 points are yet to be awarded,” emphasizes Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "We’ll do everything within our means to be capable of winning again at Zandvoort and to make up ground in the championship.”
After the round at the Nürburgring the analysis of how to optimally use the tires was one of the most important tasks to tackle. At the most recent event Audi experienced extreme variations which puzzled even the most experienced engineers at the venue.
Zandvoort, too, will be primarily about making optimum use of the standardized tires prescribed by DTM rules, particularly since the wind on the North Sea coast keeps blowing sand onto the dune circuit and its aggressive tarmac. This makes for continually changing conditions which constantly produce differences in grip.
Audi has been able to handle these conditions well so far: in four out of six races since the brand’s return with a manufacturer’s commitment in 2004, an Audi A4 DTM won at Zandvoort. In the most recent events an Audi driver clinched the top grid position three consecutive times. The track record achieved so far this season contrasts these results: one victory and two pole positions despite good vehicle performance are a modest showing for the brand that in 2009 was the first automobile manufacturer in DTM history to achieve a title hat-trick.
Technical development has been frozen for the past year
In the fight for the 2010 DTM title the standardized tires prescribed for all entrants have long turned into the crucial issue. A year ago, the DTM with its manufacturers sent a clear signal: to relieve budgets, a freeze was imposed on the technology of all DTM cars. Since August 17, 2009, a development moratorium has been in effect in the DTM. Just one factor is new this year: for the 2010 season, Dunlop developed a new tire generation which accounts for the only difference – because the cars have not been changed compared to last year and the hands of the engineers and technicians of the manufacturers and teams are largely tied.
Timo Scheider returns to his favorite track
With 23 points in fifth place, Mattias Ekström is the best-placed Audi driver in the standings. After five races, the Swede just has one point less to his credit than he did in 2007 when he clinched his second DTM title. Timo Scheider is ranking six points behind Ekström on position six of the standings.
After a difficult start to the season, the DTM Champion of the past two years is beginning to feel an upward trend: the past three race weekends have seen a consistent improvement by the native of the Rhineland, who finished fourth after having started from position eight at the Nürburgring. This result meant that in the Eifel he was the best Audi driver for the first time this year. The 31-year-old pro has special memories of Circuit Park Zandvoort where Scheider started into a race from his first DTM pole position seven years ago. Three years ago, he even spearheaded a group of five Audi drivers in qualifying. In the race he took fourth place at that time, a year later he finished as the runner-up. The only thing the DTM Champion of the past two years is now lacking on the North Sea coast is a race victory.
