Martin Tomczyk can travel to the DTM finale at Hockenheim completely relaxed, as the native of Rosenheim, Bavaria, has already been determined as the new champion. Tomczyk and his team-mate in Audi Sport Team Phoenix, Rahel Frey, are looking forward to the grand finale which is marked by a special atmosphere year after year. But it’s also clear that as soon they climb into the cockpits of their Audi A4 DTM cars they’re determined to achieve the best possible result. The motivation to deliver top performances is unbroken with both drivers and of course with Audi Sport Team Phoenix headed by Ernst Moser as well.
At the finale every driver will give their all again once more to leave a good impression and to recommend themselves for the next season. Martin Tomczyk already did so a long time ago. The new DTM Champion will start into the finale with a large “1” displayed on the roof of his Audi A4 DTM – a greeting from Audi’s partner Schaeffler to the new champion. The 29-year-old has definitely earned the “1” after this season. Three times he was on the top of the podium, seven times on the podium in total, none of the races saw him finish below fifth place and at Valencia he immediately converted his first “match ball.” Accordingly, Tomczyk can tackle the race at Hockenheim in a relaxed manner and enjoy the final showing of the Audi A4 DTM, the race touring car that – after Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider – has now also helped him achieve the DTM title and so far greatest success in his career.
43 pole positions, 31 fastest race laps, 34 victories Siege and five champion’s titles – this the impressive track record of the Audi A4 DTM since it made its debut at Hockenheim in April 2004. The venue at which AUDI AG’s top seller contested its first DTM race will now also see the last grand appearance of this successful model.
The DTM finale at the Hockenheimring from October 21 to 23 will mark the 84th and – for the time being – last racing commitment for the Audi A4 DTM in the most popular international touring car racing series. In 2012 a set of new Technical Regulations will come into effect in the DTM, which provides for the fielding of two-door coupes. The A4 DTM will be replaced by the A5 DTM that celebrated its world debut at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in September and will be doing a “trial” lap at Hockenheim together with its future competitors directly before the start of the DTM race.
Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “We’ve got a race without pressure coming up because we’ve already won the title. Martin (Tomczyk) can start from the grid with a feeling of relief and we’ll be working with a feeling of relief. That way, we can also achieve a lot on one of Martin’s favorite tracks. And we definitely want to move Rahel (Frey) forward once more. She knows this track very well. At Valencia she had to step back a bit at the pit stops, so now we want to give something back to her.”
Martin Tomczyk (Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM #14): “Arriving at Hockenheim as DTM Champion will be a new experience for me. It’s a nice track and great conclusion for the DTM. Audi is still battling for a couple of things. Mattias (Ekström) can still become “vice champion” and Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline can still win the team championship. There’s no doubt that everyone will be trying to make a few more marks, and to run at the very front of the field.”
Rahel Frey (Glamour Audi A4 DTM #15): “I’m tremendously looking forward to Hockenheim. That’ll be the grand finale. We already drove there at the beginning of the year. I want to make another step forward. We’ll continue to work hard. My last third of the race at Valencia was very good. But the result didn’t match my performance. So we’ll give everything again to see a great ending of the season. After that, we’ll have the big party.”
The final appearance of the Audi A4 DTM will be broadcast live by ARD on “Das Erste”: qualifying on Saturday (22 October) starting at 1.40 p.m. and the race on Sunday (23 October) starting at 1.45 p.m.
When Phoenix Racing travels to Australia in February to compete in the famous Bathurst 12 Hours with two Audi R8 LMS cars this won’t be the team’s first overseas commitment. In 1999, the debut year of Ernst Moser’s squad, the team embarked on its first big journey after the end of the Super Touring Cup (STW) season. The destination: Macau.