DTM

Audi announces its DTM squad

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Ahead of the start of the 2017 DTM season, Audi has confirmed who will line up for the Bavarian squad.

Audi has opted to field three teams made up of two drivers following the reduction of the field from eight drivers per team to six.

Nico Müller will be racing for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline along with Mattias Ekström.

“Mattias Ekström has become part of the family at ABT and Nico Müller perfectly gelled with us in his first season,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt, Team Director of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. “I’m convinced that in the old Swede and in the Swiss young gun we have one of the strongest driver pairings.”

Newcomer Loic Duval will be teaming up with Mike Rockenfeller at Audi Sport Team Phoenix. Duval and Rockenfeller have worked alongside each other in the past in the Audi LMP program.

“Rocky (Mike Rockenfeller) produced his masterpiece in the DTM with Phoenix in 2013 and together with him we’re aiming to return to the top,” says Ernst Moser, Team Director of Audi Sport Team Phoenix. “I know Loïc Duval from the Audi Sport winter camps. He’s been successful as a race driver in many categories. I’m hoping for the team to receive some fresh impetus from him and for him to be successful in the DTM as well.” 

René Rast, who is set to contest his first full season in the category, will be partnering Jamie Green at Audi Sport Team Rosberg.

“Jamie Green, no doubt, is one of the fastest DTM drivers and his first title is more than overdue,” says Arno Zensen, Team Director of Audi Sport Team Rosberg. “René Rast did a tremendous job in his first DTM races last year and is a great guy. Now he’s got to show that he can do equally well throughout a full season.”

Testing gets underway at Portimao from February 20 to 23 where the drivers’ will trial an interim version of the Audi RS 5 DTM. The new RS 5 is set to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7 and its first track appearance will be at Vallelunga from March 13 to 16. The final pre-season test will take place at Hockenheim from April 3 to 6.

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An NCTJ accredited Journalism Graduate covering DTM and the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
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