Mattias Ekström in the game at Hockenheim

If he had announced his wish to focus on the World Championship of Rallycross with its EKS RX structure, supported by Audi Sport, Mattias Ekstrom will finally make a final exit in DTM, on the occasion of the first round of the season on the weekend of May 5 and 6.

The double champion of the specialty (2004, 2007) will logically evolve with the brand on the rings in the two races on the program, on a seventh RS5 DTM, which will however be aligned outside of classification.

“I guess I'll sign more autographs this weekend than in a whole season, Mattias Ekström advances with humor. But I'll be happy to do that. It's great that Audi is making this possible.

After 17 great years, it was an incredibly difficult decision to no longer race in the DTM. The day this was announced was one of the most emotional of my career. I'm sure there will be plenty of highlights at Hockenheim as well. »

Mattias Ekström will drive an Audi RS5 sporting a specific livery with its historic sponsor Red Bull, and the hashtag #AdjöMattias (Goodbye Mattias). The EKS RX driver in World RX, however, will not take part in any testing sessions before the Hockenheim weekend, and will have to quickly get used to the new cars in action this season.

In 195 races in the discipline, Ekström has won 23 victories and taken 20 pole positions.