2.8.2019. After the first five events of the DTM-season in 2019, two things are certain: The new Class-1-racing car with over 610 HP strong two-litre four-cylinder turbo engines are a guarantee for pack motorsports. And Audi has the RS 5 DTM is currently a head start on the competition in all three Championships.
“The move from the old naturally aspirated V8 engines to the more modern, highly efficient four-cylinder turbo engines has paid off for all Involved,” says Audi Motorsport boss Dieter Gass. “We’re racing with to-engine concept, as it is in the Audi world in many series models and power levels in use. The races are super exciting and sometimes unpredictable. Our drivers rave about the new turbo engines and also the Feedback of the Fans is positive. That Audi and BMW are with their newly-developed race car right off the bat so tight, together, speaks for the Class 1 regulations. And Aston Martin has made as a late entrant in a very short time, already promising results.“
After a ten-eight-ten season, Audi is the leader of all three Championships is the race. In the drivers ‘ championship leader René Rast has 22 points ahead of his brand colleague Nico Müller and 40 on the best BMW-driver Marco Wittmann. In the team standings, Audi Sport Team Rosberg leads ahead of the Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Audi Sport Team Phoenix follows on place four. Especially by a large margin in the manufacturers ‘ standings With 576 points, Audi is clearly ahead of BMW (406) and Aston Martin (37).
“We can be with the first half of the season very happy,” says Andreas Roos, project leader DTM at Audi. “Especially when we see where we are currently in the manufacturers’ standings. This is a good indicator for the development of and shows that we have built a very good car.“
Audi has combined the first automotive manufacturer in 2001 and at the 24 hours of Le Mans successfully turbo charging with gasoline direct injection, the TFSI technology from its series models introduced. Today, the gasoline is to reduce direct injection with the Audi in the series is the Standard for all turbocharged engines and an important tool for the fleet consumption and CO2 emissions.
From the many years of experience with the TFSI technology, the DTM drivers will now benefit, their balance sheet after the first ten races of the season impressive: five wins, five Pole Positions, six fastest laps and twenty out of thirty possible podium finishes go to the account of the internal “RC8” designated Audi RS 5 DTM. In seven of the ten races, the Audi driver started at least from the first series, eight out of ten races has given Audi this year. All six Audi factory drivers are in the top nine in the driver standings. All six were at least once on the Podium.
Therefore, the new customer team WRT, Audi Sport Team proves the efficiency of the new Audi RS 5 DTM: It won six races, points, and started with Rookie Jonathan but your already twice from the first row.
“It is difficult to tell where our Strengths lie,” says Andreas Roos. “From my point of view, the overall package is very good. Since the engine is just as important as the aerodynamics, the chassis and the entire vehicle. As we started into the season was to complete the development in terms of the durability yet. But now we have sorted out everything quite well.“
Andreas Roos (Photo: Audi Communications Motorsport / Michael Kunkel)
Championship leader René Rast sees the stability as a major strength: “We have been competitive at every track. Since Zolder, I stood in each of the races in the first or second row of the grid – this shows that we are consistently fast. As expected, tyre management has become because of the higher engine performance in this year more and more important. Depending on the distance and the outside temperature. One or the other factor we don’t know yet. This applies it in the next races to understand better.“
Then it works maybe so with the first double victory of the new Turbo Era. “So far, we have lakes every weekend once the BMW and Audi as the winner,” says Andreas Roos. “We would like to win once Saturday and Sunday. But in the DTM, can happen in a weekend, just everything. That’s what makes it so exciting.“
Audi RS 5 DTM in 2019 (photo: AUDI AG)
