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· DTM season highlight at the Norisring
· Norisring simulation on airfield
· Intensive preparation for the DTM’s sole street race
Ingolstadt – Another huge event is on the Audi Sport race schedule only 14 days after the Audi R10 TDI prototype’s magnificent victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans: The Norisring race in Nuremburg, the Audi team’s “home race”.

Thousands of Audi fans and employees from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm flood year for year to the exceedingly popular DTM race. Last season a total of 141,000 spectators followed the only street race on the DTM calendar. They last celebrated an Audi victory in 2002 when Frenchman Laurent Aiello overtook Mercedes driver Bernd Schneider on the last lap in a heart stopping manoeuvre on his way to winning the championship.

The best Norisring result posted by the Audi A4 DTM since then comes from the 2005 season. Then, Christian Abt and Mattias Ekström took second and third places respectively. However, this should change on the last weekend in June: The first Audi A4 DTM victory in Nuremberg is the goal targeted by the Audi squad.

The foundations for this were already created last year: During development of the new A4 DTM, which bears the project name “R14″ internally, the unique demands of the mere 2.3-kilometre street circuit in Nuremberg, specifically a low Cd value, good traction and stable brakes, were taken into account. In addition, suspension and aerodynamics must master the bumps which change from year to year and which traditionally make life for the drivers difficult.

To prepare perfectly for the race in the Franconian metropolis the circuit was simulated on an airfield. Two current A4 and a year old car were in action for this purpose. The test results confirmed the Audi wind tunnel values and the computer simulation.

Nevertheless, the team under Head of Audi Motorsport does face an difficult task: Opponent Mercedes is traditionally very strong at the Norisring. As a rule, qualifying boils down to hundredths and thousandths of seconds. Barely a single Norisring race finishes without spectacular incidents and Safety Car periods.

It will be particularly difficult for the year-old Audis, which must weigh-in with five kilograms more than the 2008 cars from Audi and Mercedes following the excellent results in the previous races.

In spite of the final of the European Football Championship being played on the same weekend, the organisers expect a full-house again next to the Dutzendteich this year. Practice in Nuremberg starts on Friday. Qualifying starts on Saturday at 1:28 p.m. local time, the race on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. local time. ARD broadcasts qualifying and the race live on “Das Erste”. Free practice is broadcast on www.dtm.tv on the internet. Highlights and background stories can be seen on www.audi.tv.

Quotes before the race at the Norisring

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “The Norisring race is obviously very important to us. Audi employees and fans come in hordes and it goes without saying that we want to give them something to cheer about. Over the last few years we’ve seen that the circuit doesn’t quite suit the concept of our car since downforce is not an absolute priority at the Norisring. However, we are in a good position in the championship and have done everything to prepare ourselves as good as possible for the Norisring.”

Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #1): “It’s always been my dream to win the race at the Norisring. It is my eighth year at Audi and my eighth attempt. I’ll do everything to run at the front and to finally win this race.”

Martin Tomczyk (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #2): “The Norisring is not only my home race but also that of Audi. In spite of this I go there in two minds. The track is fantastic, especially the surroundings. However, over the last few years I never really got to grips with it. But things can and do change. Whatever happens I want to be right at the front in my home race.”

Tom Kristensen (Audi A4 DTM #9): “I’m looking forward to the Norisring. This year Audi Sport has built a car with which we are better on exactly those circuits where we were traditionally weak. The Norisring was certainly a weak point up to now. I think that it’ll be very close between Audi and Mercedes this year. This boosts our motivation. This race is the DTM race which everybody wants to win – it’s Germany’s Monaco.”

Timo Scheider (GW: plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM #10): “It’s great that we can take out another ten kilograms handicap ballast after the race on the EuroSpeedway and we are now equal with the 2008 Mercedes. This means that the we all start from scratch again. Nuremburg has traditionally been a tough nut to crack for us. However, we’ve worked hard to do a good job there and to give the employees and guests of Audi a good show.”

Alexandre Prémat (Audi Bank/Shell Helix Audi A4 DTM #14): “I’m really looking forward to the Norisring. I’ve won there twice in Formula 3. I’m a great fan of street races and am always very fast around the houses. Last year I fought my way from 15th on the grid to score points in eighth position. I want to score points again this year even though we have heaviest car on the grid.”

Oliver Jarvis (Best Buddies Audi A4 DTM #15): “This’ll be my first Norisring race. I can hardly wait to get there and see the scores of fans. To learn the circuit I’ve watched some DVDs and played computer games. I’m ready.”

Mike Rockenfeller (S line Audi A4 DTM #18): “It really will be an uphill struggle for us since we’ll have the heaviest car in the entire field. Nevertheless, I really can’t wait. The Norisring has a unique atmosphere and is always something special – the only street race that we have. The grandstands are always absolutely packed there.”
Markus Winkelhock (Playboy Audi A4 DTM #19): “After Hockenheim the Norisring is as good as a second home race for me. Since I live in Stuttgart, Nuremburg isn’t that far away. I’ve always been quick around the Norisring and I love the track. It can only get better after the way things went at the EuroSpeedway.”

Katherine Legge (Audi A4 DTM #20): “I have some experience with street races from my Champ Car days. Everybody says that the atmosphere at the Norisring is fantastic which is why I so looking forward to the race after the five-week DTM break.”

Christijan Albers (Audi A4 DTM #21): “The Norisring is always a very special event with its great atmosphere. I hope that we’ll be good there. I think we should be closer to the new cars with the 2006 cars. We’ll see what’s possible.”

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “As Bavarian team we always look forward to the Norisring. It is not only the highlight for Audi but also for our team. I think we are better prepared for the Norisring than ever before. We run with the same weight as Mercedes. I’m expecting a very exciting race. After 2002, it’s about time we won again for Audi.”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “The Norisring is the highlight of the entire year. As far as the circuit characteristics are concerned the high weight that our 2007 cars must carry will certainly not help us. However, our two drivers have no problems with low downforce. I’m looking forward to the fantastic atmosphere and expect a tough race.”

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “I’m only actually looking forward to the Dutzendteich. When I just think about the weight of our cars I feel bad… As always we’ll try to make the best with what we have.”

The schedule at the Norisring

Friday, 27 June
08:45 – 09:00 Roll-out
10:00 – 11:30 Test 1
14:00 – 15:30 Test 2

Saturday, 28 June
09:30 – 10:30 Free Practice
13:28 – 14:15 Qualifying (live on “Das Erste” starting at 1:30 pm.)

Sunday, 29 June
11:50 – 12:10 Warm-up
14:03 Race (live on “Das Erste” starting at 1:45 p.m.)

DTM drivers’ standings after 4 of 11 rounds:

1 Timo Scheider GW: plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM 26
2 Paul di Resta Mercedes 23
3 Jamie Green Mercedes 21
4 Mattias Ekström Red Bull Audi A4 DTM 20
5 Martin Tomczyk Red Bull Audi A4 DTM 17
6 Bruno Spengler Mercedes 14
7 Tom Kristensen Audi A4 DTM 12
8 Bernd Schneider Mercedes 8
9 Oliver Jarvis Best Buddies Audi A4 DTM 5
10 Markus Winkelhock Playboy Audi A4 DTM 5
11 Mike Rockenfeller S line Audi A4 DTM 2
12 Gary Paffett Mercedes 2
13 Alexandre Prémat Audi Bank/Shell Helix Audi A4 DTM 1

DTM team standings after 4 of 11 rounds:

1 Audi Sport Team Abt 38
2 Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG 37
3 Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 37
4 Salzgitter/Original-Teile AMG Mercedes 29
5 Audi Sport Team Rosberg 7
6 Audi Sport Team Phoenix 6
7 stern/Pixum AMG Mercedes 2

· Audi TDI Power remains unbeaten at Le Mans
· First Le Mans appearance with second-generation bio fuel
· Audi R10 TDI achieves new distance record
Ingolstadt/Le Mans – At one of the most exciting and fastest races in Le Mans history, AUDI AG clinched another triumph at what is arguably the world’s toughest motor race.

For Audi, this marked the eighth Le Mans triumph in just ten races. This puts Audi in third place – just one victory short of Ferrari – on the perpetual list of winners of the endurance classic which has been staged since 1923.

In its third running at Le Mans, the Audi R10 TDI again remained unbeaten. Audi continues to be the only manufacturer to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel-powered vehicle.

Le Mans 2008 marked the Audi R10 TDI’s 29th race and the 16th victory of AUDI AG’s diesel-powered sportscar.

In 2008, the victorious Audi R10 TDI ran with second-generation bio fuel for the first time: In addition to the well-known GTL components, a small amount of BTL (Biomass-to-Liquids) was added to the Shell V-Power Diesel fuel.

5,192.649 kilometres (381 laps) were completed by Dindo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen in the victorious Audi R10 TDI (chassis number 204) in the race, setting a new record for the current circuit version.

With an average speed of 216.300 kph the 76th running of the 24 Hour of Le Mans was the fifth-quickest in the event’s history and the fastest since the Hunaudières straight was slowed by adding two chicanes in 1990.

The fastest race lap of the Audi R10 TDI was set by Alexandre Prémat on Saturday afternoon on lap 75 with a time of 3m 23.939s (average: 240.584 kph), which was 3.237 seconds less than Allan McNish’s fastest lap from last year.

The fastest lap an Audi R10 TDI has ever achieved at Le Mans so far was driven by Allan McNish in Saturday morning’s warm-up at 3m 23.319s (average: 241.317 kph).

Only for the fifth time in the Le Mans 24 Hours’ total history, and for the first time in 20 years, a vehicle marked as car #2 won the event.

During the race, four different cars were running at the front, with the lead changing 25 times altogether. The Audi R10 TDI that ultimately won the race led the field for 178 of the 381 laps – more than any other car.

Of the 55 vehicles that had started from the grid, 19 retired. Audi Sport Team Joest finished the race with all three Audi R10 TDI cars.

The victorious Audi R10 TDI spent just 31 minutes and 56 seconds in the pits. The vehicle pitted a total of 32 times – thanks to the fuel-efficient TDI engine, the number of pit stops was four lower than that of the second-placed Peugeot – and not a single one was an unscheduled stop. 20 times the tyres were changed. The winning car did not encounter a single technical problem.

One tank of Shell V-Power Diesel took the Audi drivers over a distance of twelve laps – one more than their rivals from the Peugeot camp. On average, the engine’s fuel consumption was just 45.56 litres per 100 kilometres.

There were only eight driver changes with the winning car. The longest stint was driven by Allan McNish: from 6:11 to 9:31 a.m., the Scotsman was at the wheel of the Audi R10 TDI for a solid 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Tom Kristensen celebrated his eighth victory at Le Mans, thus extending his previous record. For Allan McNish, this was the second Le Mans triumph after 1998 and the first with Audi. Dindo Capello won for the third time. For the trio, this marked the first joint success achieved in their third joint race.

On race day, the average age of the victorious drivers’ squad was 40.3 years. Dindo Capello celebrated his 44th birthday on the Tuesday following the Le Mans victory. Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen turns 41 on 7 July, Allan McNish 39 in December.

In summary, this was the 26th Le Mans appearance of a German car manufacturer, the 50th of an open cockpit sportscar and the 17th for Michelin, Audi’s tyre partner, who has not been beaten at Le Mans since 1998.

For the team around Reinhold Joest, this was the tenth triumph at Le Mans, for Audi Sport Team Joest, the sixth.

Audi Technology was victorious at Le Mans for the ninth consecutive time. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich was responsible for all nine victories.