New Audi A4 DTM takes pole for debut race

Hockenheim, April 16, 2005

New Audi A4 DTM takes pole for debut race
In its racing debut, the new Audi A4 DTM will be starting from the pole

position. At the Hockenheim season opener, defending champion Mattias

Ekström drove the fastest time in Saturday�s Super Pole qualifying

session to secure the best starting position for the race on Sunday (start

at 2 p.m., live on ARD from 1.45 p.m.). Martin Tomczyk and Tom

Kristensen, as well, qualified for the single car qualifying of the fastest

ten. The best drivers of last year�s Audi A4 DTM cars were Christian Abt

and DTM newcomer Frank Stippler on positions twelve and 13

respectively.

Quotes after qualifying

Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline #1)
1st place Super Pole, 1m 35.251s

"Clinching the pole position today has made a small dream come true.

We knew that our new Audi A4 is a good car, but not exactly where we�re

standing in comparison to the competition. Track conditions today

changed between the qualifying and the super pole. That�s why there was

a little luck involved on my fast lap as well. My thanks to the team and the

Audi engineers, who were working in the right direction.�

Martin Tomczyk (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline #2)
7th place Super Pole, 1m 36.222s

"Because of the change in track conditions, it was very difficult today. We

made some changes to the car for the super pole, but they didn�t work

out. My lap left a lot to be desired, the car was understeering heavily. But

starting from position seven is something you can live with.�

Tom Kristensen (Audi Sport Team Abt #5)
9th place Super Pole, 1m 36.489s

"After being fastest yesterday and second in free practice and in

qualifying, I am obviously deeply disappointed with my starting position.

We are still playing around in different areas, trying to find the best

possible setup, and the car was very nervous in Super Pole. I lost

everything in turn 1 when the rear snapped away and then the car kept

oversteering for the remainder of the lap.�

Christian Abt (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #14)
12th place, 1m 35.464s

"My car was a lot better than position 12. Unfortunately, I sacrificed nearly

three tenths of a second in my best lap in the first sector. Fifth place

would have been possible, and my team would have deserved this today

as well. But if you know me, you know that I�ll be fighting in the race.�

Frank Stippler (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #19)
13th place, 1m 35.467s

"Starting from position 13 in my DTM debut is okay. Still, I�m a bit

disappointed, because my sixth place in the free practice session would

have been possible in the qualifying here as well. The track was quick

only in the very beginning, and that�s where I allowed myself to become a

bit distracted by a competitor. The DTM field is so tight that you always

have to be wide awake.�

Allan McNish (Audi Sport Team Abt #6)
14th place, 1m 35.625s

"First of all, it�s very, very tight, which is what I expected. I am happier now

than I was this morning or yesterday. Because now, we have got a feeling

for the car. We made some changes between the sessions and we

gained straight away. It�s a couple of tenths from the top ten where

ultimately we should be. But from the weekend�s point of view, we are

going in the correct direction. And I beat Mika Häkkinen at his debut...�

Pierre Kaffer (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #15)
18th place, 1m 35.915s

"Overall, I feel comfortable in the DTM. The car is running well, too. But I

didn�t get it quite right today. There was probably a certain amount of

nervousness involved as well, because, after all, everything is new. The

times are extremely

close. Three tenths less, and I would be as much as a few rows further

ahead on the grid. I know that I�m always very strong in the race and that

my car has good balance. That�s why I�m going to attack again tomorrow.�

Rinaldo Capello (Audi Sport Team Joest Racing #18)
20th place, 1m 36.020s

"Today, the fast time had to be driven with the first set of tyres.

Unfortunately, I didn�t manage to do this. I think I didn�t warm up the tyres

enough. In the second corner I had big understeer, which cost me a lot of

time. That�s a question of experience.�

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
"The pole position is a great reward for all the hard work of the past few

months. We�ve all been working towards this and are very happy. Of

course we�re still in a learning process with the new car, but that�s

normal. We got it right today and are continuing to work hard. We want to

put on a great race tomorrow for the many Audi fans in the grandstands.�

Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest)
"Generally, things are going very well this weekend. Only the qualifying,

unfortunately, didn�t work out all that well. Christian recorded a best sector

time, but then unluckily got caught behind another car. During the other

two attempts the track was slower. This was particularly bad for our new

drivers, who, due to their lack of experience, simply would have needed

several trials. In the race, we�ll try to work our way up further towards the

front of the field.�

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport)
"I think there could hardly be a more thrilling qualifying session than this

one. Matthias proved yet again that the higher pressure the stronger he

gets. He drove a perfect lap. And that did it, because making even the

smallest mistake meant you couldn�t be at the very front. I�m delighted

about our new Audi A4 DTM starting from position one on the grid in its

debut. That�s a great way to start the season.�

2.	Mücke	Mercedes	1.35,928	+ 0.00,143
3.	Kristensen	Audi	1.35,929	+ 0.00,144
4.	Abt	Audi	1.36,040	+ 0.00,255
5.	Alesi	Mercedes	1.36,056	+ 0.00,271
6.	Tomczyk	Audi	1.36,070	+ 0.00,285
7.	Schneider	Mercedes	1.36,145	+ 0.00,360
8.	Ekström	Audi	1.36,232	+ 0.00,447
9.	Spengler	Mercedes	1.36,282	+ 0.00,497
10.	Stippler	Audi	1.36,318	+ 0.00,533
11.	Häkkinen	Mercedes	1.36,387	+ 0.00,602
12.	Green	Mercedes	1.36,540	+ 0.00,755
13.	Reuter	Opel	1.36,676	+ 0.00,891
14.	Kaffer	Audi	1.36,777	+ 0.00,992
15.	Fässler	Opel	1.36,938	+ 0.01,153
16.	McNish	Audi	1.36,981	+ 0.01,196
17.	Aiello	Opel	1.36,984	+ 0.01,199
18.	Margaritis	Mercedes	1.36,999	+ 0.01,214
19.	Frentzen	Opel	1.37,009	+ 0.01,224
20.	Capello	Audi	1.37,347	+ 0.01,562

2.	Alesi	Mercedes	1.35,501	+ 0.00,552
3.	Green	Mercedes	1.35,537	+ 0.00,588
4.	Ekström	Audi	1.35,578	+ 0.00,629
5.	Paffett	Mercedes	1.35,760	+ 0.00,811
6.	Abt	Audi	1.35,776	+ 0.00,827
7.	Mücke	Mercedes	1.35,972	+ 0.01,023
8.	Schneider	Mercedes	1.36,030	+ 0.01,081
9.	Frentzen	Opel	1.36,124	+ 0.01,175
10.	Häkkinen	Mercedes	1.36,145	+ 0.01,196
11.	Aiello	Opel	1.36,196	+ 0.01,247
12.	Spengler	Mercedes	1.36,210	+ 0.01,261
13.	Capello	Audi	1.36,404	+ 0.01,455
14.	Tomczyk	Audi	1.36,422	+ 0.01,473
15.	Reuter	Opel	1.36,568	+ 0.01,619
16.	Margaritis	Mercedes	1.36,579	+ 0.01,630
17.	Fässler	Opel	1.36,606	+ 0.01,657
18.	Stippler	Audi	1.36,635	+ 0.01,686
19.	Kaffer	Audi	1.36,738	+ 0.01,789
20.	McNish	Audi	1.36,918	+ 0.01,969

2. Alesi	Mercedes	1.34,975	+ 0.00,005
3. Paffett	Mercedes	1.35,016	+ 0.00,046
4. Kristensen	Audi	1.35,088	+ 0.00,118
5. Ekström	Audi	1.35,165	+ 0.00,195
6. Stippler	Audi	1.35,245	+ 0.00,275
7. Green	Mercedes	1.35,279	+ 0.00,309
8. Abt	Audi	1.35,300	+ 0.00,330
9. Schneider	Mercedes	1.35,374	+ 0.00,404
10. Fässler	Opel	1.35,486	+ 0.00,516
11. Mücke	Mercedes	1.35,582	+ 0.00,612
12. Capello	Audi	1.35,625	+ 0.00,655
13. Häkkinen	Mercedes	1.35,713	+ 0.00,743
14. Spengler	Mercedes	1.35,737	+ 0.00,767
15. Kaffer	Audi	1.35,767	+ 0.00,797
16. Frentzen	Opel	1.35,963	+ 0.00,993
17. Reuter	Opel	1.36,006	+ 0.01,036
18. Aiello	Opel	1.36,023	+ 0.01,053
19. McNish	Audi	1.36,059	+ 0.01,089
20. Margaritis	Mercedes	1.36,061	+ 0.01,091

2. 5 Kristensen/DEN	7	1:34.817 00.169
3. 3 Paffett/GBR	5	1:34.996 00.348
4. 21 Green/GBR	8	1:35.064 00.416
5. 20 Spengler/CAN	5	1:35.156 00.508
6. 1 Ekström/SWE	9	1:35.234 00.586
7. 9 Fässler/SUI	7	1:35.283 00.635
8. 4 Alesi/FRA	5	1:35.288 00.640
9. 2 Tomczyk/GER	8	1:35.304 00.656
10. 16 Mücke/GER	8	1:35.434 00.786
11. 11 Aiello/FRA	8	1:35.435 00.787
12. 14 Abt/GER	9	1:35.464 00.816
13. 19 Stippler/GER	9	1:35.467 00.819
14. 6 McNish/GBR	9	1:35.625 00.977
15. 8 Häkkinen/FIN	6	1:35.697 01.049
16. 17 Margaritis/GRE	8	1:35.756 01.108
17. 12 Reuter/GER	8	1:35.880 01.232
18. 15 Kaffer/GER	9	1:35.915 01.267
19. 10 Frentzen/GER	6	1:35.967 01.319
20. 18 Capello/ITA	6	1:36.020 01.372

1. 1 Ekström/SWE	1	1:35.251
2. 3 Paffett/GBR	1	1:35.283 00.032
3. 21 Green/GBR	1	1:35.809 00.558
4. 9 Fässler/SUI	1	1:36.075 00.824
5. 4 Alesi/FRA	1	1:36.179 00.928
6. 20 Spengler/CAN	1	1:36.191 00.940
7. 2 Tomczyk/GER	1	1:36.222 00.971
8. 7 Schneider/GER	1	1:36.354 01.103
9. 5 Kristensen/DEN	1	1:36.489 01.238
10. 16 Mücke/GER	1	1:36.587 01.336

1. 3 Paffett/GBR	13	1:35.307
2. 5 Kristensen/DEN	18	1:35.466 00.159
3. 1 Ekström/SWE	18	1:35.516 00.209
4. 4 Alesi/FRA	13	1:35.559 00.252
5. 20 Spengler/CAN	14	1:35.614 00.307
6. 14 Abt/GER	14	1:35.735 00.428
7. 8 Häkkinen/FIN	14	1:35.927 00.620
8. 15 Kaffer/GER	14	1:35.970 00.663
9. 2 Tomczyk/GER	16	1:35.984 00.677
10. 21 Green/GBR	11	1:36.006 00.699
11. 16 Mücke/GER	14	1:36.131 00.824
12. 7 Schneider/GER	12	1:36.132 00.825
13. 9 Fässler/SUI	18	1:36.187 00.880
14. 19 Stippler/GER	15	1:36.203 00.896
15. 18 Capello/ITA	16	1:36.244 00.937
16. 10 Frentzen/GER	16	1:36.413 01.106
17. 17 Margaritis/GRE	16	1:36.447 01.140
18. 12 Reuter/GER	11	1:36.462 01.155
19. 11 Aiello/FRA	14	1:36.511 01.204
20. 6 McNish/GBR	15	1:36.983 01.676