29.4.2019. This moment has been eagerly awaited by the Fans and the drivers for months: On Saturday (4. May) starts at 13:30 at the Hockenheimring, the new Turbo-Era of the DTM.
With eight vehicles, Audi was the strongest brand in the field. In the final test drives on the lausitzring, the new Audi RS 5 DTM with its 610 HP strong two-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, the fastest car. Nevertheless, nobody dares before the first race of the DTM 2019 a forecast.
“Nobody knows where he is,” says Audi Motorsport boss Dieter Gass. “The first indication is to provide the Qualifying on Saturday. But even then we will not know who is on the race distance is best. It will arrive in the DTM, in the race more than ever, tyre management and the drivers.“
The new turbo engines are around 100 HP more than the previous V8-vacuum – a significant burden for the unchanged tire. At the same time, the number of sets of Tires per car per race was reduced from eight to seven. For the two qualifying sessions and two races, only five sets of Tires are even available.
It’s not the only innovation in the DTM, 2019. By means of “Push-to-Pass”System attempts briefly to around 30 additional HP to retrieve in the race for Overtaking. Get used to is the driver of the change-in-the-aerodynamics-of-the-Class-1-racing car, its most striking feature is a much resist rear wing. With the new turbo engines is significantly more difficult for the standing Start, especially since the Parking brake has been banned and it is not so easy to find the perfect item for Biasing the coupling.
“The first race of the season is always something Special,” says Mike Rockenfeller, since 2007, Audi driver in the DTM. “With the turbo engines, and the many other new things we have in the car, is it this year even more exciting. I’m looking forward to it.“
For the veteran the 4.574 kilometres long track is the best DTM-track in the calendar: “It is no coincidence that we have seen in Hockenheim in the past few years, the most exciting DTM races. The track layout is perfect for Overtaking. An absolute Highlight is the Sunday race at the opening round last year in what for me, as I’m from the midfield to the front of the dangers. The duels were just great.“
With the long, drawn-out Parabolika and the subsequent hairpin turn of the Hockenheimring offers one of the most spectacular sections of the entire DTM season. With DRS, it is expected to have a maximum speed of around 280 km/h. The right-hander is less than 60 km/h. “Because you have to brake the car almost to a standstill”, says Rockenfeller. “This is a very tricky and due to the large run-off areas there, each full of risk.”
The biggest challenge for Rockenfeller the first corner after Start and finish, which is around 190 km/h. “Especially in Qualifying, you need to fit everything in, otherwise you quickly loose two, three tenths of a second,” says the Audi driver.
The first of the two DTM races at the Hockenheimring, the 300 is. with Audi’s participation since the inception of the series in the year 1984. With the WRT Team Audi Sport Audi customer team starts for the first time since 2009 in the DTM. The two WRT-Youngster Jonathan but your (21) and Pietro Fittipaldi (22) form the youngest driver pairing. Unchanged is the driver squad for the factory teams: Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Robin Frijns and Nico Müller will start, for the Audi Sport Team Phoenix Mike Rockenfeller and Loïc Duval, of Audi Sport Team Rosberg Jamie Green and René Rast, who is unbeaten in the DTM for six races.
Its Premiere at the DTM celebrates this weekend, the Audi Thrill Zone. The new meeting point in the DTM Fan Village offers virtual race, Make-up and hair stylist specially designed for female visitors, a Graffiti artist, autograph sessions, Interviews and many other Fanaktionen.
On Friday (3. May) go to the new Class-1-racing cars of the DTM from 13.10 to 13.55 PM and from 16: 30 to 17: 00 free Training on the track. The Qualifying on Saturday (4. May) starts at 10.30 am on Sunday (5. May) at 10.45 PM. Both races on Saturday and Sunday will start at 13.30. SAT.1 transfers on both days from 13 o’clock live. Tickets and Fan Packages for the site visit are available online at www.audi.com/dtm available.
Mike Rockenfeller (photo: AUDI AG)
