Despite the title having been decided already, DTM fans can look forward to an exciting season finale. At the tenth and final DTM round at Hockenheim on 29 October, the Audi drivers will do everything in their powers to record their fifth win of the season and level the score in the prestigious duel against Mercedes-Benz. Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen, currently third in the point standings, still has the chance to claim the runner-up honours.
147,000 spectators watched the DTM finale at Hockenheim last year. An equally impressive crowd is expected at this year’s season finale with brisk advance ticket sales having accounted for more than 60,000 orders. The thousands of Audi fans filling the grandstands want Tom Kristensen & Co. to put in a command performance again and end the Mercedes winning streak at the German Grand Prix circuit.
Mercedes is unbeaten on its home track since the 4.574 kilometre Hockenheimring was modified in 2002. The Audi drivers have shown more than once that it is merely a matter of time before this run comes to an end: In 2004, Martin Tomczyk led the finale for many laps before being beaten by record champion Bernd Schneider. Mattias Ekström took pole position with the new Audi A4 DTM on its début in 2005. At the first race this year the two Audi drivers Tom Kristensen and Heinz-Harald Frentzen finished on the podium.
The Audi teams have prepared intensively for the season finale. Audi Sport Team Rosberg in particular was faced with an enormous amount of work - Frank Stippler’s A4 DTM had to be completely rebuilt within a week following his accident at the start at Le Mans.
The DTM finale will start on Sunday (29 October) at 2:00 p.m. local time. As usual, ARD will broadcast the race live on “Das Erste” from 1:45 p.m., and qualifying on Saturday from 2:00 p.m.
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