DTM – Timo Scheider at Phoenix, Audi moves the lines

Apart from the arrival of the 21-year-old Swiss Nico Müller and the departure of Filipe Albuquerque to the LM P, no changes are to be announced within the Ingolstadt squad lined up in DTM. On the other hand, things are moving slightly in terms of the distribution of drivers within the different teams.

Titled last year with Phoenix, Mike Rockenfeller is not changing his creamery, he who will proudly display the number 1 on his door this season. The 30-year-old German will, however, have a new stablemate, his compatriot Timo Scheider, 2008 and 2009 champion, joining him after spending six seasons with Abt Sportline. “I had a great time with Abt and it’s with tears in my eyes that I’m leaving the team, admits Scheider. On the other hand, I can't wait to work within a team that has hosted the champion twice in the last three years. Plus I know the team very well from my years before Audi. »

The Spaniard Miguel Molina, aged 24, is going the opposite way and returning to a team whose colors he defended in 2010 and 2011. Within the most successful Audi team in the series; he will find the Italian Edoardo Mortara, who leaves the Rosberg team after a disappointing 2013 season, the double Swedish champion Mattias Ekström and the Frenchman Adrien Tambay. Finally, the Audi Sport Tram Rosberg will house the 31-year-old Briton Jamie Green and the newcomer, namely the Swiss Nico Müller.

“During the winter, we not only worked on our RS 5 DTMs in order to optimize their potential, but also reviewed the various options with the three teams and the drivers in order to have the best possible group, underlines Dieter Gass, DTM boss at Audi Sport. Following lengthy discussions, all parties involved believe that the right solution has been found. On the one hand, we are banking on continuity, since in 2014 we will rely on seven drivers who were already with us last year. On the other hand, we felt that a change wouldn't hurt. » And Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Director of Audi Motorsport continued: “Audi has always been loyal to its drivers and has always placed its trust in young talents. That's why it's nice to have retained our former DTM drivers, including our three champions. With Nico Müller, we have a young and new member in our collective, who will certainly attract some Swiss fans to the DTM. We also look forward to seeing what Timo (Scheider), Edoardo (Mortara), Miguel (Molina) and Jamie (Green) will achieve in their respective new teams. »

This year, Audi will launch an attack on an eighth Drivers' title in DTM since 2000 and a fourth Drivers' crown.