VAG Division – Volkswagen Group Car Club

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has appointed Mark Hopkins as Head of Marketing from 1 July 2011. 

Mark joined Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in 2007 and has been promoted from his current position as Marketing Communications Manager.

Simon Elliott, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: ‘Mark already has a wealth of experience and knowledge of Volkswagen vans and the commercial vehicle market, so I am delighted he has accepted this well earned promotion.’

Commenting on his new role, Mark Hopkins said: ‘I am extremely excited about this fantastic opportunity and am looking forward to working with the team and our Van Centre network to continue to improve the awareness and market share of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.’

The previous Head of Marketing, David George, has left the Volkswagen Group to take up another position in the automotive industry.

• Radical ‘80s SEAT Bimotor rally car set for hill runs
• Stunning SEAT IB^E concept car to star in the FoS-TECH dome
• Iconic SEAT 600 features in Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance

Dynamic Spanish car maker SEAT is making its exhibitor debut at the world renowned Goodwood Festival of Speed this week with a typically youthful, dynamic and adventurous take on proceedings.

Offering an exciting and varied line-up, SEAT’s presence at the celebrated festival of automotive achievement promises a healthy dose of Latin excitement in leafy West Sussex.

On the track, SEAT will be rolling back the years with its remarkable, twin-engined Ibiza Bimotor – a fascinating piece of imaginative Spanish engineering that sees TWO 1,461 cc four cylinder, eight valve petrol engines transversely mounted front and rear in an otherwise apparently conventional Ibiza MkI.

This amazing piece of mechanical engineering achievement hails from the mid-80s, when SEAT was making a dramatic return to the world of competitive rallying.  The 125 PS Bimotor not only showcased the fledgling SEAT Sport’s engineering capabilities, but also went on to achieve competitive success in the Spanish Gravel Rallies Championship.

Away from the track, SEAT is presenting the all-new Goodwood Action Sports (GAS) area.  This cutting-edge Festival of Speed spectator attraction is urban-inspired with a Goodwood twist consisting of more than 20 top athletes performing on obstacles, jumps, rails and ramps, using FMX, BMX, MTB trials, motorcycle trials and mini bikes.

Running throughout the four days of the Festival it will see world-class action sports athletes perform gravity-defying tricks on a variety of two-wheeled machines, ranging from BMX and mountain bikes, to freestyle motocross and trials motorcycles.

SEAT will also be adding a touch more urban chic via its dedicated Club SEAT zone which will include football tricks, beat boxing and a graffiti wall, plus a host of other attractions.  Club SEAT will also be the base where youngsters aged 12 to 16 can register to get behind the wheel themselves thanks to the successful SEAT Young Driver training programme.

The innovative Young Driver programme, which has been running at venues around the UK for a little over 18 months delivering upwards of 25,000 driving sessions so far, lets youngsters experience the thrill of actually driving the latest Ibiza models.  In this case it will feature the ultra-low emission Ibiza E Ecomotive, with an official CO₂ rating of just 92 g/km.

Meanwhile, Spain’s premier car maker will be doing its bit in terms of future technology by showcasing its stunning IB^E concept car in Goodwood’s FoS-TECH dome. 

Driving fun and dynamics are at the heart of the SEAT IB^E.  The little sports car is low and wide, with powerful proportions and a concentrated gaze delivered by the razor-sharp lines of its LED headlamps.

With its short body length of only 3.83 metres it is the ideal fit for the urban mobility of the young and young at heart.  And the SEAT IB^E perfectly combines its sports car character with innovative technology.  The all-electric drive facilitates local zero-emissions driving fun, while the powerful motor with 75 kW (102 PS) and the low weight delivered by intelligent mixed-material construction guarantee refined performance.

SEAT is also playing a part in Thursday’s Moving Motor Show, presented by Auto Trader, when the Spaniards’ full range of models – from chic Ibiza through to capacious Alhambra – will be available.

Last, and by no means least, SEAT will be claiming a place alongside some of the most famous cars in the world as it exhibits a pristine example of its iconic SEAT 600 on the  Cartier Lawn for the ‘Style et Luxe’ concours d’elegance.

Now in its 17th consecutive year at the Festival, the Cartier ‘Style et Luxe’ has gathered hundreds of the world’s finest, most beautiful, valuable and sought-after cars, all competing for the coveted Overall Winner award, as voted by a distinguished panel of judges.

Previewing SEAT’s dramatic debut at Goodwood Steve Robertson, SEAT UK’s Head of Marketing, said: ‘There’s a real buzz of excitement around our debut at this world-famous event.

‘The Goodwood Festival of Speed is renowned as a global destination for true motoring enthusiasts, and I’m thrilled to see SEAT making such a dramatic entrance there this year.’    

(ends)

For more information, please contact:

MikeOrford, Head of Press and Public Relations

Tel: 01908 548077; mob: 07714 392040; e-mail: mike.orford@seatcars.co.uk

www.twitter.com/seat_cars_uk

Scott Fisher, Product Affairs Manager

Tel: 01908 548069; mob: 07738 894706; e-mail: scott.fisher@seatcars.co.uk

Katherine Nebbitt, Press Officer

Tel: 01908 548078; mob: 07738 895442; e-mail: katherine.nebbitt@seatcars.co.uk

Adrienne Pearson, Press Administrator

Tel: 01908 548364; e-mail: adrienne.pearson@seatcars.co.uk

03411/SF/mo

This news release and illustrations are issued in accordance with Clause 1.2j of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion and therefore cannot be the subject of a transaction of any kind

• Audi R8 LMS once again best GT3 sportscar in 24h race
• Basseng/Fässler/Stippler third overall
• Audi TT RS best front-wheel drive car and SP 4T class winner

Ingolstadt/Nürburg, June 25, 2011 − The Audi R8 LMS was once again class winner on its third outing in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The mid-engine sportscar from AUDI AG won the GT3 car class for the third time in succession and, like last year, finished third overall. The Audi TT RS also impressed in front of the 250,000 spectators: the quattro GmbH development demonstrator took the chequered flag in 14th position overall and won the SP 4T class as best front-wheel drive car in the field of 202 cars.
 
In a thrilling finale, the Audi R8 LMS #14 of Audi Sport Team Phoenix driven by Marc Basseng/Marcel Fässler/Frank Stippler passed the Mercedes SLS, class leader at that time, 43 minutes before the finish when it had to pit with a technical problem. Christopher Haase/Marc Hennerici/Markus Winkelhock (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) and Mattias Ekström/Timo Scheider/Marco Werner (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline) completed the Audi one-two-three in the GT3 class after taking fourth and fifth positions overall at the finish.
 
The dream of a first overall victory for the brand in the endurance classic in the Eifel was, however, not fulfilled. The GT2 cars of Porsche, BMW and Ferrari were superior to the GT3 cars during the 39th running of the 24-hour race. “Qualifying had already signalled that our R8 LMS with the current balance of performance is not the fastest car,” explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “This was confirmed in the race. Furthermore, none of our four factory cars made it through the race completely without incidents.”
 
Start number “14″, the best placed Audi R8 LMS at the finish, lost around four minutes due to a loose front splitter just before 21:00. Early on Sunday morning the front splitter was changed, which meant an additional time loss of 2m 50s. Despite this, Basseng/Fässler/Stippler could still move up to third place.
 
In the opening stages of the race the second Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi R8 LMS with start number “15″ had contact which necessitated a quick repair. On Sunday morning Markus Winkelhock lost time in traffic because the high beam flash did not function and he was unable to warn the slower cars of his approach. The problem was solved after changing the steering wheel. Christopher Haase, Marc Hennerici and Markus Winkelhock dropped behind the sister car at the end on Sunday afternoon due, in part, because they lost time twice during refuelling.
 
Mattias Ekström, Timo Scheider and Marco Werner held second place overall at times during the night in the Audi R8 LMS #16 entered by Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, before Marco Werner was the innocent victim in a collision at 4:53 in the morning and in which the front end of the R8 LMS was badly damaged. The repair took just five minutes but threw the #16 out of the leading group.

The second Audi R8 LMS from Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline (#17) lost 20 minutes at the start of the third hour after a relay loosened and paralyzed the R8 LMS sportscar’s on-board electronics. After rejoining the race in 66th position Christian Abt, Christer Jöns, Luca Ludwig and Christopher Mies had scythed their way back up to eighth overall when Luca Ludwig became a victim of the ensuing drizzle and slipped off the track in the “Quiddelbacher Höhe” track section at 3:34. Repairs to the damage rear end cost 40 minutes. Start number “17″ still managed to move up to twelfth position from 18th. As a result, all four factory R8 sportscars that started saw the chequered flag.
 
Audi race experience could also celebrate crossing the finish line: the Audi R8 LMS #28, in which professional race driver Frank Schmickler shared cockpit time with Audi driving experience customers, finished a remarkable 18th overall after a completely trouble-free race. The second R8 LMS had an accident as early as the eleventh lap after a tire failed at the “Tiergarten” section. Driver Chris Vogler was uninjured.
 
There was also joy and sorrow at Raeder Motorsport which fielded a brace of Audi TT RS on behalf of quattro GmbH. Despite a tire failure at the start of the race and a collision on Sunday morning, Michael Ammermüller, Frank Biela, Jens Klingmann and Martin Tomczyk made the finish as the best front-wheel drive car in an excellent 14th position overall and, in doing so, convincingly won their class in the development demonstrator. Christian Hohenadel/Jimmy Johansson/Miguel Molina Andrea Piccini lost 75 minutes in the second TT RS early on due to a faulty wastegate valve on the turbocharger and more time just before the end of the race because of a gear shift problem.

Comments after the race at the Nürburgring

Ingolstadt/Nürburg, June 26, 2011 – The dream of overall victory in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring was not fulfilled for Audi. The R8 LMS remains, however, unbeaten in the GT3 class. The comments after the race.
 
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Our four Audi R8 LMS ran perfectly from the technical point of view and we also had very good performance in our class. Unfortunately two of our cars were struck by accidents. Even so, repairing the cars took a lot of time. We were always close to a podium finish, we fought to the bitter end and actually finally achieved this in the final 45 minutes. It was a fantastic team performance and advert for the reliability of the R8 LMS. We have three cars in the top five and all four cars raced without any technical problems worth mentioning.”
 
Marc Basseng (Bilstein Audi R8 LMS #14)
“I’m very happy that Marcel Fässler, Frank Stippler and I rigorously implemented our programme. We planned to survive the opening stages and the night without problems or collisions. We managed this. In the morning we then had a car with which we could really attack. All three of us drove excellent double stints. This was one of the reasons why we were able to move forward little by little and ultimately took third place at the end.”
 
Marcel Fässler (Bilstein Audi R8 LMS #14)
“Two incredible weekends in the space of two weeks now lie behind us. On the one side the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on the other the 24-hour race here around the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. They were both very emotional moments. I gave absolutely everything during each of my double stints this weekend. We were only a little more circumspect when running during the night. It was great fun to drive this car. The podium result is just reward for everybody who worked in the background to provide us with top equipment.”
 
Frank Stippler (Bilstein Audi R8 LMS #14)
“That was hard work! The pace was extremely fast and the competition very strong. I think there were 20 cars from many different manufacturers on the grid which were capable of winning. I think third place this year should be judged very highly. Last year we would have annoyed about this. However, this learning curve was a necessity to make the next step for the following year.”
 
Christopher Haase (Audi Sport performance cars R8 LMS #15)
“One of the greatest races that I have ever contested in my life. It was in fact a 24-hour long sprint race and very interesting because of this. You can’t afford to make a mistake and must nevertheless extract the maximum. This is exciting, but is also a lot of fun. We started 18th and finished fourth. On top of this we were second in class. Audi Sport Team Phoenix did a first class job. We did everything right which is why we can be more than just satisfied.”

Marc Hennerici (Audi Sport performance cars R8 LMS #15)
“The start of the race was quite difficult for me. I couldn’t feel the rain tires well enough on in the drying conditions, which is why I lost some time. However, the guys from Audi Sport Team Phoenix worked perfectly and made incredible pit stops. Audi showed that it had prepared exceptionally well for this race. The car ran smoothly from the technical point of view. All the cars made it through to the finish. When all is said and done we can be satisfied: we are the best GT3 team, third overall. It’s a little disappointing however that we gave our all but were without a chance in the fight for overall victory. We want to attack again, but under new circumstances.”
 
Markus Winkelhock (Audi Sport performance cars R8 LMS #15)
“After last year a podium finish was my goal again this year. But it was a turbulent race in which we had difficulty with oversteer in our R8. For this reason we must acknowledge that our sister car was quicker and overtook us. Otherwise we also had a trouble-free race, and made it through without incident. We can be satisfied with fourth place as a result.”
 
Mattias Ekström (E-POSTBRIEF Audi R8 LMS #16)
“We had a really good rhythm at the start of the race and I was convinced that we would fight for overall victory this weekend. But then several small incidents – technical and with competitors on the track – threw us off course. We lost touch and never really got back within striking distance. Fifth place overall and third in class is scant consolation as we came here to win.”
 
Timo Scheider (E-POSTBRIEF Audi R8 LMS #16)
“Everything started well, but then came the collision during the night, which was annoying, but it’s exactly this that makes the 24-hour race what it is. As a result of hard work and a great discipline we fought our way up to fifth place again. We can be pleased with this and it’s at least just reward for the hard work done by the guys in the pits. We’ll not give up and hopefully get another chance to be at the very front here once again.”
 
Marco Werner (E-POSTBRIEF Audi R8 LMS #16)
“The pace was good and it was fun to fight for second place overall at times on Sunday morning. Unfortunately I had an accident. I smashed into a Mercedes when three cars appeared in front of us which were more or less at a standstill on the track. I’m really sorry for the guys. Third overall would have been much better. Now we can be pleased with the smaller things like third in class …”
 
Christian Abt (PlayStation Audi R8 LMS #17)
“I’m very disappointed. It’s still my great dream to win this race once for Audi and now things didn’t work again. The weekend was still a lot of fun. Congratulations to my team mates Luca (Ludwig) and Christer (Jöns) for such a strong performance and especially Christopher (Mies) for recording the fastest race lap for an Audi R8 LMS. The three guys were really chomping at the bit; they never let their shoulders drop and made a fantastic impression. I hope we can compete again with this line-up.”
 
Christer Jöns (PlayStation Audi R8 LMS #17)
“Apart from our two small incidents everything was positive and the race was really great fun. The car was an absolute dream. We found a good pace. It’s a shame that we dropped down at the beginning because of such a small thing. The Phoenix squad nevertheless claimed a podium for Audi.”
 
Luca Ludwig (PlayStation Audi R8 LMS #17)
“The result is certainly not what we had hoped for. Twelfth place is really a little disappointing. But we lost two laps at the start due to a small relay problem. During the night I unfortunately slid off the track in the wet as I was on my first lap on slicks. It cost us several laps. I’m really very sorry for the entire team which had worked fantastically. It just shouldn’t have happened. I hope that we get another chance.”
 
Christopher Mies (PlayStation Audi R8 LMS #17)
“Obviously I’m not at all satisfied with twelfth place, particularly as we were the fastest car in the field for much of the time which or second fastest race lap also shows. When you think that we started twice from the back due to our technical problem at the start and the collision later on, then this is at least a little consoling. That was hard work and shows were could have finished.”
 
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Boss Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline):
“We came here with the goal of winning the race – which is why the result is a little disappointing for us. The minor defect to start and the contact which both cars suffered during the night robbed us of any chance we had. However, our team worked hard to force its way to the front again. We can be extremely satisfied with the team performance. That all four cars reached the finish shows the reliability of the R8. But as Team Boss I would have liked to mount the top step of the podium.”
 
Ernst Moser (Team Boss Audi Sport Team Phoenix):
“It was exactly as expected: whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins this race – and this was Olaf Manthey’s team. Congratulations. Each of the four Audi R8 LMS had its own hard luck story. All the cars made the finish, which should never be taken for granted on the Nordschleife. However, the little difficulties cost any chance of victory this year because the competition was just too strong. When all is said and done we are pleased with class victory and the third step on the podium.”
 

Photographs and information available at www.audi-motorsport.info

• Grid positions 7, 9, 12 and 18 for the 24h race at the Nürburgring
• Concentration on race preparation
• 18 cars within ten seconds

Ingolstadt/Nürburg, June 24, 2011 − Audi tackles the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring from grid positions seven, nine, twelve and 18. Marc Basseng recorded the fastest lap of an Audi R8 LMS in qualifying.

The fastest 18 cars were covered by only ten seconds after six hours of qualifying around the 25.378 kilometre circuit, the world’s longest race track. These included all four Audi R8 LMS fielded by the Audi Sport teams Abt Sportsline and Phoenix, which concentrated primarily on race preparation during both practice days.

“We know that we don’t have the fastest car on the grid with the way the Audi R8 LMS is currently classified, which is why we must rely specifically on consistency and reliability,” explained Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Our main focus of attention was therefore on finding an optimum race set-up and to have well-balanced cars. I think we achieved this.”
 
This was also confirmed by Marc Basseng who recorded the fastest Audi R8 LMS lap of 8m 28.555s in Friday’s second qualifying at the wheel of the Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi R8 LMS #14. “The car is even easier to drive this year,” said Basseng. “This is a good base for the race.”
 
Marc Basseng, Marcel Fässler and Frank Stippler start the race on Saturday from seventh on the grid. A row behind and ninth on the grid is the fastest Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline R8 LMS with the three Audi juniors Christer Jöns (23), Luca Ludwig (22) and Christopher Mies (22) who are supported by old-hand Christian Abt. Christopher Mies set the fastest lap (8m 30.169) of start number “15″ immediately at the start of second qualifying.
 
Christian Abt, Mattias Ekström, Timo Scheider and Marco Werner (Audi R8 LMS #16) start from twelfth on the grid. Marco Werner, who took pole position last year, recorded a time of 8m 31.536s on Thursday evening which put him in fourth position after first qualifying. On Friday start number “16″ did not improve. Marco Werner did not get a clear lap at the start. After almost an hour it started to rain and the circuit did not dry completely.
 
The rain also prevented the team in Audi R8 LMS with start number “15″ (Christopher Haase/Marc Hennerici/Frank Stippler/Markus Winkelhock) from claiming a better grid position than 18th (8m 33.216s). Christopher Haase spun into a gravel bed on the Grand Prix circuit at the start of second qualifying due to overbraking on the rear axle. The R18 LMS ran smoothly again after changing the brake master cylinder and hydraulic brake booster.
 
Start number “17″ also lost valuable practice time on Thursday. Just before 21:00 Christian Abt was touched at the rear on the right when overtaking before being subsequently hit on the driver’s side. After successfully repairing the car the team decided not to send the car back out onto the track on Thursday, but in fact to prepare calmly for final qualifying and the race.
 
The two Audi TT RS entered by Raeder Motorsport claimed the top two starting positions in the SP 4T class (31 and 39 overall). The Audi race experience Audi R8 LMS sportscars, in which AUDI AG customers share driving duties with professional race drivers, start from positions 33 and 40.
 
The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring is broadcast live in full length on www.audi.tvfrom Saturday 15:30.
 
Photographs and information available at www.audi-motorsport.info

• Fourth round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in Italy
• Audi Sport Team Joest with two new race cars
• New aerodynamics package for more downforce

Ingolstadt, June 24, 2011 – Only three weeks after the triumph at the Le Mans 24 Hours the next endurance test is on the agenda for the Audi R18 TDI. The 6-hour race at Imola, Italy, is about scoring important points in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) – the racing series that in 2012 will evolve into the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Audi Sport Team Joest did not have a lot of time to celebrate the tenth Le Mans victory. Since Audi wants to use the winning car designated as number “2″ for exhibitions and demo drives as many as two new race cars (R18-103 und R18-107) had to be built up after the huge accidents of Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller. In addition, an aerodynamics package designed for higher downforce that will be used for the first time at Imola was tested in the week after the Lausitzring DTM race.
 
What has remained unchanged is the message featured on the two silver-colored R18 TDI cars. Audi Sport Team Joest advertises the company’s ultra-lightweight technology which proved its viability at Le Mans in a twofold sense. Not least thanks to the weight optimization the R18 TDI was the fastest vehicle at Le Mans. And as the two heavy accidents haven proven, ultra-lightweight technology and high passive safety do not contradict each other.
 
Only ten days after his accident at Le Mans Allan McNish was thus able to participate in a test with the R18 TDI. At Imola the Scotsman will share the cockpit of car number “2″ (yellow color markings) with Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen who like McNish and test driver Marco Bonanomi tested as well.
 
At the wheel of car number “1″ (red color markings) Timo Bernhard and Marcel Fässler will form a driver pairing for the first time. Kristensen/McNish and Bernhard/Fässler are also planned to contest the other three ILMC races at Silverstone, Road Atlanta and Zhuhai.
 
Where as Bernhard, Fässler and McNish have raced at Imola before Tom Kristensen has familiarized himself with the Italian race track in a simulator. Consequently, all four drivers know what is in store for them: a race at which the brakes will play an important part and where the situation will be pretty tight on the track as about 50 vehicles will be running at the event.
 
Audi Sport Team Joest will travel to Italy as the leader of the team standings. In the manufacturers classification Audi is ranking 34 points behind Peugeot in second place.
 
The Imola 6 Hours will start at 1200 hrs on Sunday, July 3. Audi offers all sports car fans the possibility to watch the entire race live on the internet. In addition to the race pictures, onboard footage and telemetry data will be available at www.audi-microsites.com/lemans. On Facebook and Twitter channels of Audi Sport the five-time Le Mans winner Emanuele Pirro will provide current background information.
 
Topics of the weekend

• How strong will the Audi R18 TDI be with its high-downforce aerodynamics?
• How well will Timo Bernhard and Marcel Fässler harmonize with each other?
• Will the Audi R18 TDI again clinch the pole position at its third event?

Quotes by the officials
 
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “We’re arriving at Imola as the Le Mans winner and want to make a good showing there too. It’ll be an intensive weekend for Audi Sport since the DTM race at the Norisring will be held on the same weekend as well. Naturally, it would be great to win both races on the same day. We’ve built up two new cars for Imola and will be driving with an aerodynamics variant designed for higher downforce for the first time. I’m very eager to see where we’ll stand with that compared to the competition because our friends from Peugeot will do everything to take revenge for the defeat at Le Mans.”
 
Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “Imola is new territory for us. I’ve never had a race there before. Our competitor Peugeot will no doubt leave no stone unturned to make up for the defeat at Le Mans. Before the event we had a lot of work because we had to build up two new cars. The ILMC has a manufacturers and a team classification. In the team classification Audi Sport Team Joest has a narrow lead but the classification for the manufacturers is more important. We’ve got to collect a lot of points in order to clinh the title at the end of the season. So our task is clear: We want to try everything and are perfectly motivated after the Le Mans victory. We’re competing with two strong driver combinations – all of them are Le Mans winners. With about 50 cars the track at Imola will be densely packed, particularly since this is a very fluid track where overtaking will be difficult.”
 
Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
 
Timo Bernhard (30/D), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Celebrated his first Le Mans victory in 2010
• Clinched the pole position at Spa on the R18 TDI’s debut

“At Imola I’ve contested the Porsche Supercup twice and once barely missed the podium. Obviously, I want to change that in the ILMC now with Audi. The track alone is a nice challenge. It runs counter-clockwise which is rather unusual and requires us drivers to get used to the change. The types of turns vary considerably. There are fast, semi-fast and extremely slow corners. There are almost no straights and these sections always contain arcs. That’ll be difficult in traffic with so many cars on the track. But our benchmark is to be at the very front and to show that the number ‘1’ on our car is justified. I’m particularly looking forward to my first joint race with Marcel (Fässler).”
 
Marcel Fässler (35/CH), Audi R18 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Has just celebrated his first Le Mans victory
• Is forming a driver team with Timo Bernhard up to the end of the season

“After the Le Mans victory I’m incredibly excited about the next ILMC race. I’ll be driving together with Timo Bernhard for the first time. Imola is a fantastic race track. And we’ll be driving there with a configuration of the Audi R18 TDI that suited me particularly well at the tests. So, all the ingredients for a nice race weekend have been put together. Everyone knows what is at stake and the whole team is working together to achieve our common goal: We want to be in front at the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at the end of the year.”
 
Tom Kristensen (43/DK), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Is racing at Imola for the first time
• Made a brief comeback to the DTM after Le Mans

“I’m traveling to Imola with extremely eager anticipation. I’ve never been there, let alone raced there. The mood at Audi is excellent at the moment. Le Mans was an outstanding victory with this newly developed car. Well over a half a year of work on the race track has been invested in the R18 TDI. Its potential is top-class, it looks good and it has won Le Mans. The ILMC now is about winning races if we want to snatch points from Peugeot. That’s a nice challenge! I learned the track on a simulator. Now I know the line a little on this fantastic circuit that is located in a particularly beautiful part of Italy. I’m hoping for a strong race by Allan (McNish), Marcel (Fässler), Timo (Bernhard) and me in our race car that has been completely built up from scratch.”
 
Allan McNish (41/GB), Audi R18 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest)

• Last raced at Imola in 2002, in Formula 1
• Remained uninjured in a heavy accident at Le Mans

“After Audi’s victory at the greatest race of the year, the Le Mans 24 Hours, and the experience I had there, the team and I are fully concentrating on the remaining ILMC races. There is no classification for the drivers but only for the manufacturers and the teams. The gaps are very close. My goal is to help Audi and Audi Sport Team Joest win the ILMC title after the trophy for the 24 Hours has already gone to Germany. Timo (Bernhard), Marcel (Fässler), Tom (Kristensen) and I will do everything within our means to continue Audi’s Le Mans success story now in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. The track is fantastic. But it has been significantly modified since I last raced there in 2002. It always had many differences in altitude and now has a continuous, long straight. Doing a good job of getting through the traffic is a real issue as the track is narrow and the turns follow each other very closely. For the Audi R18 TDI we need a good balance between top speed and downforce. The brakes are important too because there are some outstanding opportunities for overtaking in front of some of the turns. By the way this is only the third time that I’m sharing a car only with Tom. The last time we were in this constellation, in China in November, we took second place. We were lacking less than five seconds to victory. And of course we want to win, but this will be a difficult race.”
 
The Audi drivers at Imola
 
Timo Bernhard (D): *Feb 24, 1981 in Homburg (D); residence: Dittweiler (D); married to Katharina; height 1.73 m; weight: 61 kg; Audi driver since 2009; Le Mans victories: 1; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best result Imola 6 Hours: -
 
Marcel Fässler (CH): *May 27,1976 in Einsiedeln (CH); residence: Gross (CH); married to Isabel, four daughters (Shana, Elin, Yael, Delia); height 1.78 m; weight 78 kg; Audi driver since 2008; Le Mans victories: 1; ILMC races: 2; ILMC victories: 1; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result Imola 6 Hours: -
 
Tom Kristensen (DK): *Jul 07, 1967 in Hobro (DK); residence: Monaco (MC); single (partner Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Marlou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 8; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 0; fastest laps: 0; best result Imola 6 Hours: -
 
Allan McNish (GB): *Dec 29, 1969 in Dumfries (GB); residence: Monaco (MC); married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte Amelie); height: 1.65 m; weight: 58 kg; Audi driver since 2000; Le Mans victories: 2; ILMC races: 6; ILMC victories: 0; pole positions: 1; fastest laps: 0; best result Imola 6 Hours: -
 
Marcel Fässler about Imola: “Imola is not only very fast but also fluid to drive. We drive counter-clockwise. The chicane after the Acque Minerali corner is notably narrow. Its high kerbs can easily damage the aerodynamics. The circuit is hard on the brakes because there is no long straight for cooling down. The fields of entrants at sports car events are often filled really well. But since the track at Imola is relatively narrow you’ve got to be careful when overtaking. From my experience the most difficult place is the Acque Minerali section. The car’s load is primarily on the left and you’ve got drive with extreme precision when braking to take a lot of speed with you without the rear getting out of control. I ’m really happy to be traveling to Imola. Not only the track is great, but it is also in a very nice location. That makes for a good ambience.”
 
ILMC LMP1 manufacturers standings after 3 of 7 rounds:
1 Peugeot 103 points; 2 Audi, 69.
 
ILMC LMP1 team standings after 1 of 7 rounds:
1 Audi Sport Team Joest, 50 points; 2 Peugeot Sport Total, 49; 3 Team ORECA Matmut, 34; 4 Rebellion Racing, 26.
 
Schedule
 
Friday, July 1
12:15-13:45 Free practice 1
16:30-18:00 Free practice 2
 
Saturday, July 2
08:55-09:55 Free practice 3
14:25-14:45 Qualifying (prototypes)
 
Sunday, July 3
09:00-09:20 Warm-up
12:00-18:00 Race (6 hours)
 

Photographs and information available at www.audi-motorsport.info

Communications Motorsport

• Martin Tomczyk travels to Nuremberg as the leader of the standings
• Last race of the Audi A4 DTM at “home event”
• Audi drivers look forward to city street circuit

Ingolstadt, June 24, 2011 – There is only one DTM race on the current calendar which Audi has never won in the most popular international touring car series since its comeback with a manufacturer’s commitment: the brand’s “home event” at the Nuremberg Norisring. Spurred on by its tenth triumph at Le Mans and three consecutive victories in the DTM (Zandvoort, Spielberg, Lausitzring) Audi aims to change this on the first weekend in July.
 
The goal which Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich has set for his squad is clear. After the spell was broken most recently at the Lausitzring – where Audi was victorious for the first time since 2005 – the long awaited and overdue triumph at the Norisring is to now be turned into reality as well.
 
Eight times in a row Mercedes-Benz won on the city street circuit that is only 2.3 kilometers long and located between the Dutzendteich lake and the Easycredit stadium. Laurent Aiello in the Abt-Audi TT-R claimed the last victory for Audi in 2002 when he outwitted Bernd Schneider, who had been leading the race up to that point, in the last corner. The legendary V8 quattro was another car with which Audi was successful in the early 1990s in the “old” DTM. Only the Audi A4 DTM is still lacking a Norisring triumph. It will have its last chance to clinch it on July 3 as in 2012 the car will be replaced by the new A5 DTM.
 
The “home victory” mission is by no means an unrealistic one. In 2009 Timo Scheider despite a bout with feverish flu was leading the race on 75 of the 80 laps before Jamie Green managed to push past him. And last year Mattias Ekström was just 0.591 seconds short of taking victory.
 
In view of the extremely competitive field in the 2011 DTM Saturday’s qualifying will already play a role of predetermining the race. “This time it’ll probably be about thousandths of a second,” suspects Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. In other words, only those who get everything perfectly right will have a chance of making it into the final qualifying segment on the city circuit and of clinching the pole position.
 
For the second time after 2007 Audi driver Martin Tomczyk is traveling to Nuremberg as the leader of the standings. The driver from Rosenheim, Bavaria, who lives in Switzerland, does not necessarily consider the Norisring his favorite track but has achieved good results there before. Last year he was the quickest Audi driver in qualifying. By taking two consecutive victories at the wheel of a year-old car Tomczyk has just written a small chapter of DTM history. And in view of the fact that both of the past two races at the Norisring were also won by year-old cars, Tomczyk can be expected to manage this feat in Nuremberg as well.
 
But the same applies to his brand colleagues too. Every single one of them is looking forward to the season’s highlight in Nuremberg. Whether or not Mike Rockenfeller will be able to compete after his severe accident at Le Mans, will only be decided shortly before the race.
 
1 000 Audi mechanics keep their fingers crossed
 
The expected turnout of 130,000 spectators at the Norisring will include 1 000 mechanics from the Audi partner companies in the Region South who will create an impressive sight wearing their red caps in the stone stands where a special area has been reserved for them. For the third time Audi is sponsoring the activity through which the brand wishes to thank the mechanics for their top day-to-day work in the garages of the dealerships and motivate them to continue their good work. That Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline at each of the first four DTM races of the 2011 season performed the quickest pit stop perfectly symbolizes “Audi Top Service” and sets an example for the mechanics.
 
Due to numerous other large-scale events on the first July weekend the fifth DTM race on Sunday, July 3, will start earlier than usual, at 1 p.m. ARD will begin to air live coverage on “Das Erste” at 12:45 (local time).
 

Other topics of the weekend
 
• Has Timo Scheider managed to permanently join the group of front runners?
• How will the weight advantage of the year-old cars pan out?
• How will the three DTM rookies be doing at the city street circuit in front of a large audience?
• Will Mattias Ekström be able to end his streak of misfortune?

Quotes by the officials
 
Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport):“The Norisring has always been tough terrain for us in recent years. Although we often came close it never worked out completely. Maybe we’ll be able to use the many good results we’ve scored as tailwind to finally clinch victory at the Norisring – the large crowd of Audi people lining the circuit would certainly be pleased to see that. And we’ll give everything to make it happen.”
 
Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “Motivation in the team is very high. Audi has shown that it is absolutely in contention for victory with both vehicle generations this season. We’ll try and deliver a top performance at the Norisring. We’re fully motivated and will give everything in front of our home audience. If we manage to take our performance from the Lausitzring to Nuremberg with us we’ll have a realistic chance of fighting for victory.”
 
Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “Obviously we want to again clinch a nice result at the Norisring now that we’ve got such a good flow. Nuremberg has seen a similar Mercedes dominance for years as Lausitz did until recently. Maybe now we’ll also be able to put a surprise on the track at the city race as we’ve got a weight advantage over the newer cars. We’ll do everything within our means to achieve another good result on the podium.”
 
Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “The Norisring is always a special venue. It’s the German Monaco. And I believe that with the stop-and-go rhythm on this track we’ve got pretty good chances with our cars as they weigh 25 kilograms less than the new vehicles. We’re traveling to Nuremberg with a lot of momentum and another point-finish in our pocket. We want to continue like that.”
 

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers
 
Filipe Albuquerque (26/P), TV Movie Audi A4 DTM #18 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Shows consistent improvement and most recently scored his first point with an eighth-place finish
• Set the third-fastest race lap at Lausitz
“This will be a difficult task because I’ve never been to the Norisring before. It’s a city street circuit with very aggressive tarmac and many bumps. Good knowledge of the track is very important there. The circuit has only three turns and the time gaps are extremely small. But my weekends in the DTM are getting increasingly better and more thrilling.”
 
Mattias Ekström (32/S), Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #8 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• As the runner-up clinched his so far best Norisring result last year
• At Lausitz qualified for position three as the best Audi driver
“It’s always nice to go to the Norisring. It’s Audi’s home round. It would be great to drive another race there again that’s as good as last year’s was. Maybe it’ll even be a little bit better. In the team we’re giving everything for a good showing.”
 
Rahel Frey (25/CH), Glamour Audi A4 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• By finishing in 15th place at Lausitz equalized her so far best DTM performance
• Has seen the checkered flag at all DTM races
“I’ve never driven at the Norisring before. But I’m looking forward to this city street circuit with huge anticipation. I like street circuits. I know Pau and have always done well there. I’m really excited about this race. It’s time to set a highlight.”

Oliver Jarvis (27/GB), Audi Sport performance cars A4 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• In fourth place was the second-best Audi driver at the Norisring last year
• Has scored ten points in the current season
“At the Norisring I scored my best result of the season last year. It’s always great to compete there. The atmosphere is simply fantastic. My season is progressively improving. I want to clinch a good result there at all costs.”
 
Miguel Molina (22/E), Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #22 (Audi Sport Team Abt Junior)
• Was running in sixth place at Lausitz when he retired
• Contested the Nürburgring 24 Hours between Lausitz and the Norisring
“This is a nice circuit and it’s closely linked to the DTM legend. I want to give everything to be better there than I was last year when I had a weekend to forget. We should be able to easily do that. I’m already looking forward to the weekend.”

Edoardo Mortara (24/I/F), Playboy Audi A4 DTM #19 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Took the pole position last year in the Formula 3 Euro Series at the Norisring plus a victory
• With three points in the DTM standings remains the best rookie of the year
“Of course I know the Norisring well. I contested Formula 3 there for several years. I’ve won there before and was most of the time in the group of front runners. City circuits suit me well. And now we’ve got the advantage of our car weighing 25 kilos less than the new cars. Everyone says that that’s a big benefit. Hopefully that’s true. Nevertheless, you’ve got to give everything. As on any weekend I’ll deliver maximum performance.”
 
Timo Scheider (32/D), AUTO TEST Audi A4 DTM #4 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Most recently clinched his best result of the season as the runner-up at Lausitz
• Was on the podium at the Norisring three years ago and on pole two years ago
“We’ve got some unfinished business at the Norisring. Two years ago I was leading the race almost up to the end. I’ve got fond memories of our performances there. In 2009 we were already on pole but an Audi victory has been missing in our track record for a few years. We need and want to change this. I’m hoping that with the tailwind from Lausitz we’ll finally be able to win. It would be nice to be on the top of the podium at the season’s midpoint. After a difficult start into the season I’ve managed to join the group of front runners. I’m hoping for things to continue this way.”
 
Martin Tomczyk (29/D), Schaeffler Audi A4 DTM #14 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• After two consecutive victories will arrive at Nuremberg as the new leader of the standings
• Started from position four as the best Audi driver at the Norisring last year
“Many people are asking me whether we’ll be able to continue our form. That’s hard to say because the Norisring has been a tough track for us in the past nine years. Jamie (Green) has won there before in a year-old car. I’m hoping for us to be able to do that too. It wouldn’t be bad if a year-old Audi car won there for a change.”
 
The Audi drivers in the 2011 DTM
 
Filipe Albuquerque (P): * Jun 13, 1985 in Coimbra (P); residence: Coimbra (P) single; height: 1.74 m; weight: 64 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 4; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 8th place); fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: -
 
Mattias Ekström (S): * Jul 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single; height: 1.83 m; weight: 77 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 108 pole positions: 16; victories: 14; fastest laps: 11; points: 491; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result,DTM Norisring: 1
 
Rahel Frey (CH): * Feb 23, 1986 in Niederbipp (CH); residence: Aedermannsdorf (CH); single; height: 1.63 m; weight: 50 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races: 4; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 15th place) fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: -
 
Oliver Jarvis (GB): * Jan 09, 1984 in Burwell (GB); residence: Ermatingen (CH); single; height: 1.80 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2008; DTM races: 36; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 51; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: 4
 
Miguel Molina (E): * Feb 17, 1989 in Girona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 62 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 15; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 4th place); fastest laps: 1; points: 15; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: -
 
Edoardo Mortara (I/F): * Jan 12, 1987 in Geneva (CH); residence: Geneva (CH); single; height: 1.82 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2011; DTM races:4; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 6th place); fastest laps: 0; points: 3; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: -
 
Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Altnau (CH); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 67 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 45; pole positions: 0; victories: 1 (best result: 1st place); fastest laps: 2; points: 57; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: 4
 
Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 11, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single, (partner Jessica), one son (Loris); height: 1.78 m; weight: 74 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 113; pole positions: 9; victories: 6; fastest laps: 7; points: 338; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result, DTM Norisring: 3
 
Martin Tomczyk (D): * Dec 07, 1981 in Rosenheim (D); residence: Aesch/Basel (CH); single (partner Christina); height: 1.88 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2001; DTM races: 107; pole positions: 8; victories: 6; fastest laps: 5; points: 279; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Norisring: 5

2011 DTM point standings
 
1 Martin Tomczyk (Audi A4 DTM) 30 points
2 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) 29 points
3 Timo Scheider (Audi A4 DTM) 19 points
4 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 DTM) 14 points
5 Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz) 14 points
6 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz) 13 points
7 Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 DTM) 10 points
8 Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 DTM) 9 points
9 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) 9 points
10 Edoardo Mortara (Audi A4 DTM) 3 points
11 Maro Engel (Mercedes-Benz) 3 points
12 Tom Kristensen (Audi A4 DTM) 2 points
13 Filipe Albuquerque (Audi A4 DTM) 1 point
 
2011 DTM season interim statistics
 
Victories: Mercedes-Benz 1; Audi 3
Pole positions: Mercedes-Benz 3; Audi 1
Fastest laps: Mercedes-Benz 2; Audi 2
Leading laps: Mercedes-Benz 77; Audi 92
 
Audi DTM statistics
 
Pole positions: 59
Victories: 57
Fastest laps: 49
Champion’s titles: 7 (1990, 1991, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009)
 
All Norisring winners since 2000
 
2000 Joachim Winkelhock (Opel), Bernd Schneider (Mercedes-Benz)
2001 Uwe Alzen (Mercedes-Benz)
2002 Laurent Aiello (Abt-Audi)
2003 Christijan Albers (Mercedes-Benz)
2004 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2005 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)
2006 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2007 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz)
2008 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2009 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
2010 Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz)
 
Track info
 
Track length: 2.300 km
Race distance: 82 laps = 188.600 km
DTM qualifying record on this track: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz), 47.785s = 173.276 km/h (June 28, 2008)
DTM race record on this track: Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz), 48.446 s = 170.912 km/h (June 29, 2008)
Pole position 2010: Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz), 48.721 s = 169.947 km/h (July 03, 2010)
Fastest lap 2010: Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes-Benz), 48.616 s = 170.314 km/h (July 04, 2010)
Turnout 2010: 132,000
TV live rating 2010: 1.88 millionen/14.5 % market sharel (source: ARD)

Edoardo Mortara about the Norisring: “The atmosphere at this historic site is simply unique at a motorsport event like the DTM. Since the fans can also sit on the inside we are practically driving around them – that’s a very unusual but nice feeling. The tarmac is very special. Normal streets and parking areas make for big differences in grip and it’s pretty bumpy. For overtaking it’s one of the best tracks on the calendar. Out of the slipstream it’s possible to attack in front of turn 1 – and then again in front of the last turn. I’ve got very fond memories of the track. In 2007, my Formula 3 debut year, I was on position three and last year I won the race on Saturday.”

2010 flashback

Audi showed a strong performance at its “home race.” In front of 132,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) Mattias Ekström pushed forward from position five on the grid to second place and in the end missed victory by just 0.591 seconds. With five Audi A4 DTM cars in the points Audi achieved its best Norisring showing since 2005. By finishing as the runner-up Mattias Ekström made up two points to the leader of the standings, Bruno Spengler.
 
2010 results
1 Jamie Green (Mercedes) 82 laps in 1h 08m 05,282s
2 Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 DTM) + 0,591s
3 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes) + 1.910 s
4 Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 DTM) + 9.946s
5 Timo Scheider (Audi A4 DTM) + 12.315s
…
7 Alexandre Prémat (Audi A4 DTM) + 15.834s
8 Martin Tomczyk (Audi A4 DTM) + 16.100s
12 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 DTM) + 34.790s
16 Katherine Legge (Audi A4 DTM) – 1 lap
 
Timetable
 
Friday, July 1
09:00-09:30 Roll-out
09:30-09:35 Starting practice
13:00-14:30 Free practice 1
14:30-14:35 Starting practice
 
Saturday, July 2
08:15-09:45 Free practice
12:10-13:20 Qualifying
 
Sunday, July 3
09:25-09:55 Warm-up
13:00 Race

TV Schedule (ARD live)
 
Saturday, July 2
12:05-13:30 Qualifying
 
Sunday, July 3
12:45-14:25 Race