Who saw this one coming? After his most successful year in the DTM, 2011 Champion Martin Tomczyk will no longer compete for Audi. Tomczyk has been racing for Audi in the DTM for 11 years. In 2001, he signed with the ABT Sportline Jr. team at 19 years old. He finished 13th overall that year. Over the years he would move up and down the chart until 2007 where he placed 3rd overall.

His first pole came in 2002 at Hockenheim but he DNF. We saw his first podium in 2004 at Estoril. His first win came after he took pole position in Catalunya, 2006.

“I won the Championship for Audi after eleven years together. The entire Audi Sport team and in particular Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich have always been behind me throughout the many years we spent together,”

In 2008, we thought we’d see his championship run come to fruition. However, 7th overall was all that could be had. In 2009, he moved up one place to 6th overall and in 2010 saw 8th.

In 2011, Martin would see a big change. He had always had the fortune of running the newest version of Audi DTM cars but a move to Audi Team Phoenix and a 2008-spec Audi A4 would set up a huge challenge. This change also moved him in to the lead driver role with Rahel Frey in tow.

In September, the DTM landed at Brands Hatch. After 88 rain-soaked laps, Tomczyk would go on to win and take over the points lead. Two races later in Valencia he would secure his first DTM Championship.

Martin Tomczyk participated in 111 races, won seven, and scored eight pole positions before he won this year’s DTM title.

DTM Champion Martin Tomczyk seeks a new sporting challenge. The 29-year-old man from Rosenheim will no longer compete for Audi in the 2012 season.
“I won the Championship for Audi after eleven years together. The entire Audi Sport team and in particular Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich have always been behind me throughout the many years we spent together,” explains Martin Tomczyk. “I’m delighted that I could repay the trust by winning the 2011 championship title together with team Phoenix. Despite this joint success, and after careful consideration, I have now decided to accept a new challenge. To conclude, I would once again like to thank everybody with whom I have worked together during my eleven years at Audi Sport and assure every single individual that these years were, in hindsight, something very special.”

Tomczyk started his DTM career in the 2001 season as 19-year-old in Team ABT Sportsline with the Abt-Audi TT-R and was, at that time, the youngest DTM driver in history. In 2003 he became Audi factory driver in the ‘S line Audi Junior Team.’ Since 2004 he has competed with the Audi A4 in the DTM, initially for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline and for the first time in 2011 for Audi Sport Team Phoenix. In his sixth DTM season in 2006 he finally recorded the first of his seven DTM race wins to date. By winning the championship title in 2011 at the wheel of a year-old car he achieved the greatest victory of his career up to now.

“It goes without saying that we deeply regret that he decided, at this moment in time, to seek a new challenge after his most successful DTM season with Audi,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “I can, however, completely understand that after eleven special years of highs and lows with Audi he would like to try something new – after all by winning the DTM title at the wheel of an Audi A4 DTM he has achieved exactly the goal for which he was worked so hard for many years. I’m personally delighted that Martin showed his many critics this year because I always believed in him. I can understand that to start he viewed the transfer to team Phoenix and a year-old car as demotion. But it gave, as I hoped, his career new impulses. I always enjoyed working together with Martin. He is a complete professional who I personally hold in high regard. I wish him all the best for the future.”

How Audi will line up in the DTM next year will be decided over the forthcoming weeks. In Mattias Ekström (Sweden) and Timo Scheider (Germany) the brand with the four Rings has two DTM Champions under contract who have both won the championship twice for Audi. No less than eight of the nine Audi drivers mounted the podium at least once in the DTM in 2011. Audi currently plans to contest the DTM 2012 with a maximum of seven cars.

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After winning the drivers title with Martin Tomczyk the brand with the four rings has decided the DTM qualifying duel in its favor as well. The Spaniard Miguel Molina gave Audi the fifth consecutive pole position in the finale at the Hockenheimring (Sunday starting at 1:45 p.m. – local time – on “Das Erste”). This means that all the best times posted in qualifying during the second half of the season went to Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline that can still secure first place in the team standings on Sunday as well.

• Audi A4 DTM is starting into its last race from P1
• Miguel Molina clinches his second pole position at Hockenheim
• Fifth consecutive best time in qualifying for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline

“Simply fantastic,” cheered Miguel Molina after clinching his second pole position in the DTM. “You can’t wish for anything better than starting into the last race of the season from pole. I want to thank my team and my engineer Markus (Michelberger), for giving me a perfect car.”

By setting the best time in the third qualifying segment (Q3) the 22-year-old Spaniard had qualified for the shoot-out session for the pole position and, on the crucial lap, was again running in front. Despite a small mistake in turn two he took more than two tenths of a second away from Mercedes driver Jamie Green. After Oschersleben, he has grabbed the top spot on the grid for the second time in his still young DTM career.

Overall, Audi showed an impressive qualifying performance at the season’s finale: Three Audi A4 DTM cars will be starting from the two front rows on Sunday, and seven from the top ten.

Martin Tomczyk (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) will tackle his first race as DTM Champion from position three. At his side on the second row will be Zandvoort winner Mike Rockenfeller (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline).

Timo Scheider in fifth place barely missed the top four, his team-mate Oliver Jarvis will start from position eight. The runner-up at Valencia, Filipe Albuquerque, was merely lacking three thousandths of a second to make it into Q3. The Portuguese from Audi Sport Team Rosberg is starting into the race from position nine on the grid. Next to him will be the dominant driver of the second half of the season – Mattias Ekström – who did not find an optimum set-up for qualifying at Hockenheim.

Edoardo Mortara, whose title “Rookie of the year” is not in jeopardy at the finale, after slipping at the end of Q3, had to settle for eleventh place. Rahel Frey was only 160 thousandths slower than her far more experienced rival Susie Wolff, and will be starting from grid position 18.

“Due to the extremely low temperatures this was certainly a somewhat unusual DTM qualifying session,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “But our teams and drivers made the best out of the situation. It’s also great to see such a large number of fans in the paddock today. They can look forward to a tremendous season finale tomorrow.”

The spectators at Hockenheim will also get a foretaste of 2012: Before the race starts and after the finish the new DTM coupes from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be doing show laps around the Grand Prix circuit. At the wheel of the Audi A5 DTM will be Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen.

- Audi Motorsport

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Martin Tomczyk might have wrapped up the Championship but Audi still has the Team Championship to fight for. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline sits on top with a 5pt lead over THOMAS SABO / Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG. There is also the battle for second place in the Championship. Mattias Ekstrom sits 2 points behind Bruno Spengler.

Audi swept the top five spots during todays second practice session from Hockenheim. Timo Scheider would land at the top with a 1:32.682 with 2011 Champion, Tomczyk in second. Ekstrom, Molina and Jarvis would fill out second through fifth place.

On another note, Mattias Ekstrom incurred a fine of 2,000 Euros due to an unsafe release in the pit lane.

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1. Tomczyk tops free practice for the DTM season finale at Hockenheim

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He has already wrapped up the title, but he doesn’t want to leave it with that: in first free practice for the DTM season finale at the Hockenheimring Baden-Wurttemberg, Martin Tomczyk set the fastest time. With his Audi A4 DTM, the Bavarian drove his fastest lap in 1:33.621 minutes. Second and third place on Friday afternoon were occupied by the two young Mercedes-Benz drivers, Maro Engel and Christian Vietoris.

Due to thick fog, the day’s action in the Motodrom started with a delay. As traffic on the track increased, the fog made way for bright sunshine.

Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and Renger van der Zande (Mercedes-Benz) in fourth and fifth place were the most prolific drivers in free practice. The German completed 36 laps at the 4.574 kilometers long track, his Dutch fellow driver even racked up 39 laps. Thus, the Mercedes-Benz driver covered a distance of 178.386 kilometers. The following positions were taken by Mattias Ekstrom, Timo Scheider and Filipe Albuquerque. The new name in the DTM, Susie Wolff, could be found in ninth place on the timing screens. Her compatriot David Coulthard rounded out the top ten.

Second free practice of the DTM takes place on Saturday at 9.40 h while the starting grid positions for the tenth round of the year will be determined in qualifying from 13.40 h. ARD is broadcasting qualifying from Solden live from 13.40 h onwards.

- DTM

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Four year-old cars dominated proceedings in first free practice of the DTM at Brands Hatch. Audi works driver Miguel Molina established the fastest time in the first encounter at the race track in Kent county. The 22-year old Portuguese completed his fastest lap at the 1.929 kilometres long Indy lay-out of the British track with its long heritage in 42.776 seconds. Only 0.036 seconds down, his fellow Audi driver Edoardo Mortara ended up second. Mercedes-Benz drivers Maro Engel and David Coulthard ended up third and fourth respectively.In fifth position, Mike Rockenfeller was the fastest driver of a 2009-spec Audi A4 DTM in free practice on Friday afternoon. The German came 0.101 seconds short of Molina in first place. Behind Timo Scheider (Audi), Ralf Schumacher ended up seventh with his 2009-spec AMG Mercedes C-Class. Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz), Mattias Ekström (Audi) and Renger van der Zande (Mercedes-Benz) rounded out the top ten. The other local drivers, Gary Paffett, Jamie Green (both Mercedes-Benz), Oliver Jarvis (Audi) and Susie Stoddart (Mercedes-Benz) ended up eleventh, 14th, 16th and 17th respectively.

In free practice, the lap times of all drivers, all the way down to Rahel Frey (Audi) in 18th place, were within one second. The Swiss was 0.790 seconds down. With 75 laps and 144.675 kilometres, Gary Paffett completed the longest distance.

Second free practice of the DTM follows on Saturday morning from 9.00 till 10.30 h local time in the UK. Qualifying from 14.10 h onwards will decide on the starting grid positions for the seventh round of the season. ARD will be broadcasting qualifying live from the UK from 15.03 h German time.

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You’ve won two races with Audi within the space of one week. Which one of them was more strenuous?

The Spa 24 Hours a week ago was no doubt the more strenuous one. I was really bushed afterward. But I’ve got to say my joy of having won was greater at the DTM at the Nurburgring.

Your form curve was excellent. What was the crucial factor in clinching victory at the Nurburgring?

The foundation for this victory was laid by the fact that my Audi A4 DTM had a set-up that was good for me throughout the weekend. The qualifying laps were optimal. It was definitely important for us to have been on the front of the grid. After that, the start, strategy and the pit stops all worked out perfectly. There was not just one single factor but the fact that everything fit together. I think we broke our duck today. Everyone in Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline is more relaxed now as a result of this victory. Now I’m hoping that my guys can take a bit of a vacation and wind down. It has been a strenuous time for them too.

After so many race kilometers within seven days: Will you relax a bit now during the summer break?

I’ll be traveling very privately together with my girlfriend Heidi, little Mats and the two Jack Russell terriers. Our destination remains our secret. I’ll do nothing for a whole week and then start doing some sports again so that I’ll be well prepared again for the last four races.

- Audi Motorsport

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With a 1:25.503, Ekstrom set the fastest time over the 2.25 mile course. Teammate Filipe Albuquerque was just shy with a 1:25.658.

Audi Rookie, Edoardo Mortara, pulled up in forth nailing a 1:25.727 with Martin Tomczyk following in fifth 0.241 down.

Timo Scheider ended up 8th turning a 1:25.831 over the Nurburgring.

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Model change in the DTM: From 2012 on, Audi will bank on the A5 in the most popular international touring car racing series. The coupe, which is internally named “R17,” will replace the four-door A4 DTM with which Audi has won the prestigious DTM title four times since 2004.

The technically and visually upgraded A5 that is will be arriving at dealerships shortly provides the basis for the new DTM car. “In 2012 new Technical Regulations will come into effect in the DTM,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We’ve got exactly the right model for that in the A5. We’re convinced that we’ll be able to continue Audi’s success story with it in the DTM.”

• Two-door coupe to succeed the successful A4 DTM
• Safety standards even higher than before
• Presentation at the IAA in Frankfurt

The new technical specifications have been worked out by the German Motorsport Association (DMSB) and the DTM umbrella organization ITR in close cooperation with the automobile manufacturers and are setting new standards particularly in terms of safety. “Our engineers have been involved in bringing up safety in the DTM, which had already been high before, to the highest possible level,” explains Dr. Ullrich. “At Le Mans this year we learned again that our concept of designing safety structures is a very good and appropriate one. This is exactly what we’ve been trying to feed into the DTM’s safety concept together with our colleagues from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This new principle is an outstanding example of what is possible when employees of three premium manufacturers try to achieve a common aim: to get the best possible, lowest-cost and safest vehicle – and a fantastic car in general – off the ground.”

Like all new DTM cars, the new Audi A5 DTM has a high-strength carbon-fiber monocoque that is combined with a steel tube cage. In addition to the A- and C-pillars the new regulations prescribe a B-pillar in front of the driver’s head to be installed in the future. The sidewalls of the vehicles feature a hybrid design with a carbon, Zylon and Rohacell construction that is structurally reinforced by pegs. In case of a side impact the walls have to be able to withstand a static load that is about four times higher than before. “The sidewall has been reinforced so that the new DTM vehicle can be exposed to a side impact (T-bone crash) without the wall failing,” explains Dr. Muhlmeier, Head of Technology at Audi Sport. “Up to now, a bearable side force of 80 kN at a specified point has been required whereas for the 2012-specification vehicles 360 kN across the whole length of the sidewall is now required. This means that the monocoque has not only been reinforced at a certain point but across the entire length.”

The requirements for the front and rear crash absorbers have been increased as well. “At higher speed lower deceleration is specified in order to protect the driver even better than before,” says Dr. Muhlmeier. “To achieve this, a crash test with the whole vehicle is now prescribed for the first time as well – according to FIA standards with 14 meters per second forward and backward against a rigid wall. In the past, ‘only’ the front and rear crash elements had to be driven against a wall with a sled.”

Although fire accidents have almost never occurred in the DTM the safety standard in this respect has been raised even further as well. In the new generation of DTM cars the fuel tank, similar to the Le Mans winning Audi R18 TDI, is integrated into the carbon fiber monocoque. This further reduces the fire hazard in case of a side impact crash.

For Audi the new DTM regulations mark a consistent continuation of the work done over the past three decades. The rally cars already had a high level of safety. For the supertouring cars Audi Sport developed a completely new side impact protection of carbon fiber and energy-absorbing foam in the middle of the nineteen-nineties. Ever since Audi has had sports prototype commitments crash tests and work with high-strength carbon composite materials have been part of its routine business. And for the R8 LMS GT3 sports car Audi introduced a pioneering safety concept for this category in 2011. “We’ve continuously improved in this area and will do so in the future as well,” stresses Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “The new DTM vehicles are the best piece of proof that you can make something that is already very safe even saver. This is another thing we mean by ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’”

The first prototype of the R17 is currently being built up at Audi Sport in Ingolstadt. The roll-out is just around the corner. The new Audi A5 DTM will be unveiled to the public at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt.

The V8 engine with a power output of about 460 hp (340 kW) will be adopted from the successful A4 DTM nearly unchanged. The proven six-speed transmission will continue to be used as well. Characteristic features of the 2012-generation of DTM vehicles are a larger rear wing and a reduction of the permitted aerodynamics components. The concept studies of the Audi A5 DTM by the Audi Design Team merely suggest the looks of the new Audi race touring car.

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Show event instead of summer break. On July 16 and 17 racing fans can experience a highly special spectacle that has never existed like this before: At Munich’s Olympic stadium the DTM stars from Audi will compete against their rivals from Mercedes-Benz – in races featuring a knockout format and in their original cars from the current DTM season.

• Touring car series visits Munich’s Olympic Stadium
• Races featuring knockout format to be held on two days
• Audi drivers Albuquerque and Ekstrom with experience advantage

At the venue where the soccer teams of FC Bayern Munchen and 1860 Munchen held their home matches in the German “Bundesliga” until 2005 and that hosted the Olympic Summer Games in 1972 the roaring sounds of the near 470-hp V8 engines of the DTM race cars will be heard for the first time. For Martin Tomczyk, Timo Scheider & company the eagerly awaited DTM debut in Munich will not (yet) be about scoring championship points. But their ambition to win the prestigious race in front of their home audience is high.

The track that has been built at Munich’s Olympic stadium during the past few months is exactly 1.192 kilometers long. In April the grass was removed and the whole interior of the stadium covered with tarmac. At the beginning of June Audi racer Filipe Albuquerque at the wheel of the Audi A4 DTM had the opportunity to explore the circuit which at the time was still provisionally marked by traffic cones.

There was a good reason why one of the three rookies from Audi’s current DTM squad was chosen to do the reconnaissance run: Last year the Portuguese had won the “Race of Champions” in Dusseldorf that is also held at a sports arena and organized by the former Audi factory driver Michèle Mouton. In Dusseldorf Albuquerque defeated Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel, among others.

Another racer from Audi’s ranks has even won the “Race of Champions” three times: In 2006 Mattias Ekstrom triumphed at the Stade de France in Paris, in 2007 at London’s Wembley Stadium and in 2009 at the “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing where he defeated Michael Schumacher at the finale. That is why Albuquerque and Ekstrom know exactly what the fans can look forward to.

The DTM race in Munich, however, differs from the “Race of Champions” in many respects. In Munich the drivers are not racing on two separate tracks but on one and the same circuit. The start and finish are directly next to each other in the opposite direction so that the spectators can clearly see who is running in front at the end of each semi-lap.

In addition, the DTM stars will not be driving cars that have been determined by the drawing of lots but their own DTM race cars. And, last but not least, one pit stop, respectively, which must be performed by a maximum of six mechanics, is prescribed as of the quarter-final runs.

Therefore, in addition to the driving skills on the shortest and most winding race track in DTM history, the swift work of the pit crews will be crucial. This is not a disadvantage for Audi at all. At four of the five first races of the season Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline performed the quickest pit stop for which tire partner Hankook always presents the winning crew with an award.

It is clear though that aerodynamics and top speed – two fortes of the current Audi A4 DTM – will play no role at the Olympic Stadium. On the meandering track in Munich traction and good turn-in behavior will be particularly important.

At two free practice sessions on Friday the Audi drivers will have time to find the optimum setup for their cars. On Saturday the “race of marques” will be on the agenda at which the drivers of one brand will first compete against each other. Then, at the finale, the best Audi and the best Mercedes driver will determine the day’s winner at two rounds.

On Sunday the best eight drivers of each brand are eligible to run. As of the eighth-final Audi will be pitted against Mercedes-Benz in a knockout format.

The fans will get to see 16 of three to five laps each per day. In addition, there will be a prologue on Saturday and a half-hour warm-up on Sunday. An extensive supporting program will be offered as well – including commentaries by Atze Schroder and live music acts by Mando Diao, The Rattles and Kensingten Road. Tickets for the stands start selling at 29 euros.

ARD’s live broadcast on “Das Erste” on Sunday (July 17) will start with the quarter-final at 2 p.m. (local time). On Saturday ARD will also air one and a half hours of live coverage from Munich.

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At the Norisring the DTM presented the new safety cell that will be used by all three manufacturers from 2012 on. Audi has been involved in setting standards yet again.

What characterizes the joint cell?

Our engineers have been involved in bringing safety in the DTM up to the highest possible level. Le Mans has taught once more that our way of designing safety structure is a very good and correct approach. This is exactly what we, together with our colleagues from BMW and Mercedes, have been trying to feed into the safety concept of the DTM. The new concept is a great example of what is possible when the employees of three premium manufacturers try to achieve a common aim: to get the best possible, lowest-cost, safest vehicle off the ground – and a great one at that. Even those who were not involved from the manufacturers’ side, such as the DMSB or Dekra, will confirm that this project was marked by a very special spirit.

Will the identity of the manufacturers be preserved despite a growing number of identical components?

There is no doubt about that. We have always tried to advance new technologies in motorsport with Audi and to make motorsport relevant to the product. The DTM is the best stage for competing with the Audi A4 and the A5 with exactly the competitors we are meeting in the marketplace as well. That is why the DTM is a very good fit for us.

The new vehicle generation will not only be clearly safer. Costs could be saved as well. How was that possible?

The fact that all three manufacturers are contributing their abilities and know-how and benefit from this in the end is an outstanding example of synergy effects. Another example is the way we work in our organization. Due to our structure the touring car and the sports car department profit from each other. Although there is a certain split between the projects a major portion of the technical expertise is used for both projects. And last but not least the suppliers involved play a part in this as well. We used to have a lot of international contacts. But now we are realizing a large number of components for the new concept with German manufacturers. They submitted the best bids to us.

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