Motorsport fans can look forward to a thrilling battle for the crown in the manufacturers? classification in the remaining three races. Before round eight at the Lausitzring next weekend (September 12 to 14) Audi is within striking distance of the leader of the standings, BMW, and aims to make up the gap with a strong team performance.
With its impressive grandstands, challenging track configuration and enthusiastic fans the Lausitzring is one of the highlights on the DTM calendar. Around the circuit, Audi has traditionally been standing high with the spectators ? as a result, the motivation of the eight drivers and three teams to thrill their fans with a party on the podium is particularly high.
The 3.478-kilometer circuit about 130 kilometers south of Berlin features a mix of extremely fast, medium and slow corners. On the long start-finish straight, the drivers reach a top speed of about 240 km/h before braking to enter the narrow first turn ? an ideal place for using the Drag Reduction System (DRS) that allows them to flatten the rear wing angle by pushing a button and improves their ability to start an overtaking maneuver.
The sights of the Audi squad are mainly set on capturing the manufacturers? championship. With a gap of just 18 points to BMW the four rings are within striking distance and could take the lead of the standings through perfect teamwork. In the teams? classification, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline is lying in wait but, with a score of 67 points, is facing a major recovery.
TV viewers can watch the DTM live: ?Das Erste? will be airing live coverage from the Lausitzring on Saturday starting at 16.40 and on Sunday starting at 13.15 (CEST). Tickets for the entire season can be purchased at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm or telephonically on +49 841 89-47777.
Quotes by the officials
Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): ?We used the short break to concentrate and intensively prepare for the Lausitzring. The performance in qualifying at the Nürburgring has shown that we?re heading in the right direction. Our aim has remained the same: we?re set on winning the first race for Audi this season and are fully focused on the manufacturers? classification.?
DTM drivers? standings after seven of ten rounds
1 Marco Wittmann (BMW) 120 points
2 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 56 points
3 Edoardo Mortara (Audi) 56 points
4 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 53 points
5 Bruno Spengler (BMW) 42 points
6 Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) 41 points
7 Maxime Martin (BMW) 39 points
8 Adrien Tambay (Audi) 36 points
9 Augusto Farfus (BMW) 33 points
10 Timo Glock (BMW) 33 points
11 Jamie Green (Audi) 28 points
12 Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) 27 points
13 Miguel Molina (Audi) 26 points
14 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz) 24 points
15 Martin Tomczyk (BMW) 24 points
16 Timo Scheider (Audi) 19 points
17 Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes-Benz) 15 points
18 Nico Müller (Audi) 10 points
19 Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes-Benz) 10 points
20 Joey Hand (BMW) 7 points
21 António Félix da Costa (BMW) 4 points
22 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 4 points
DTM manufacturers? standings
1 BMW 302 points
2 Audi 284 points
3 Mercedes-Benz 121 points
DTM teams? standings
1 BMW Team RMG 159 points
2 Audi Sport Team Abt 92 points
3 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 82 points
4 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 72 points
5 BMW Team Schnitzer 66 points
6 Original-Teile Mercedes AMG 65 points
7 BMW Team RBM 40 points
8 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 38 points
9 BMW Team MTEK 37 points
10 EURONICS/FREE MAN?S WORLD Mercedes AMG 31 points
11 gooix Mercedes AMG 15 points
12 Petronas AMG Mercedes 10 points
