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Sheer suspense: Audi RS 5 DTM at Lausitz

DTM round about 130 kilometers south of Berlin.

Edited: Jun 11, 2013, 2:47 PM

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Ingolstadt/Klettwitz - Three races, three winners, eight different drivers on the podium: The 2013 DTM season has so far surpassed all expectations. From June 14 to 16, Europes fastest touring cars, including the Audi RS 5 DTM, will visit the Lausitzring, which is located about 130 kilometers south of Berlin.

Filipe Albuquerque, Audi Sport Team Rosberg Audi RS 5 DTM

Photo by: XPB Images

72,000 spectators watched the DTM round at the Lausitzring last year. This year, the crowd may even be larger, as option tires and DRS wing flaps add further spice to the race. The DTM has not seen such a large number of really fierce duels, overtaking maneuvers and tussles in a long time.

Particularly coveted are the seats in the grandstands at the end of the start-finish straight. At a speed of 240 km/h, the drivers possibility to flatten the angle of the rear wing by pushing a button during the race should be particularly effective and make for plenty of overtaking action.

The increase in speed that can be gained by the Drag Reduction System (DRS) amounts to around 6 km/h, according to simulations performed by the engineers at Audi Sport.

Among the eight drivers who are competing for Audi in the DTM this year are the three that have been on podium at the Lausitzring before: Mattias Ekström (winner in 2004 and 2005), Timo Scheider and Jamie Green. Mike Rockenfeller, the runner-up in the standings with his Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM after three races, was the best Audi driver in qualifying at Lausitz in 2012. His Audi Sport Team Phoenix, in 2011, celebrated one of four DTM victories so far.

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): "The first three races were incredibly close. This means that its crucial to be perfectly prepared, concentrate on the smallest detail and to get everything together at the decisive moment in order to achieve a good race result in the end. That the performance of the Audi RS 5 DTM is basically on the mark was obvious at Hockenheim, Brands Hatch and Spielberg."

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "My wish for the Lausitzring is that well be showing a cohesive team performance, be on the button in every respect, that racing luck will return and that the drivers will be making use of their real potential if thats the case, a top result should finally be possible for us again."

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "The Lausitzring has never been an Audi track but two years ago we managed to break this spell and win there. Wed like to continue this. In any case, we aim to be in contention for the Championship, thats why weve got to position Rocky as far at the front as possible at Lausitz and to score the first points with Miguel (Molina), whose curve is pointing upward. That would also be important with a view toward the team classification."

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "So far, our season has been marked by plenty of mishaps and misfortune. But weve also had a few positive things. At the last event at Spielberg, we were at least able to show that we can still be fast. At the Lausitzring, we aim to convert that into results and score our first points of the year."

Filipe Albuquerque (27/P), Audi Financial Services RS 5 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "At the Lausitzring, I clinched my first DTM points, so Im particularly motivated. In Team Rosberg, we now know how to set up the car in qualifying as well. Now its about running the right strategy in the race. My aim is to score the first points this season."

Mattias Ekström (34/S), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #11 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): " Ive got many fond memories of the Lausitzring. Subjectively, I feel like its the track Ive raced on more often than on any other one in my DTM career and I was always running well there. The aim is to have a good, clean race weekend from the beginning to the end for the first time this year irrespective of the position."

Jamie Green (30/GB), Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM #12 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "Im not sure whats awaiting me at Lausitz. Im driving there with Audi for the first time, but I think that if were as fast there as we last were at Spielberg in the race well have a good chance of achieving a top-ten result and thus score points. In any case, thats my aim."

Miguel Molina (24/E), Audi RS 5 DTM #20 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "I know that the Lausitzring wasnt the best track for Audi in the past, but I like the layout of the Lausitzring. Ive got a good feeling and and hope that Ill be able to show our potential there."

Edoardo Mortara (26/F/I), Playboy Audi RS 5 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "I really dont know what to expect of the Lausitzring. I think its the DTM track I like the least. Still, we were really competitive there last year and of course thats what I want to be again this year."

Mike Rockenfeller (29/D), Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM #19 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "Qualifying at the Lausitzring was pretty good for me last year, but the race wasnt at all aside from my retirement at the Hockenheim finale, it was the worst race of the year. The season has been going pretty well so far, the car has been functioning well. Lets see what result well be clinching at Lausitz."

Timo Scheider (34/D), AUTO TEST Audi RS 5 DTM #23 (Audi Sport Team Abt): "After three difficult weekends, its really about time to score a good result. The positive thing is: in terms of performance, we were in contention for a podium finish in all three races. The negative part: we werent able to convert this into good results. At the Lausitzring, Ive experienced everything, from good to bad. I like the track as a driver. I hope my RS 5 DTM will like it too."

Adrien Tambay (22/F), Audi ultra RS 5 DTM #24 (Audi Sport Team Abt): "Last year, I made it into Q3 at the Lausitzring. Id like to continue where I left off there as well as the good race speed we had at Spielberg. There, I just barely missed scoring points due to misfortune."

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