Mattias Ekström wants to go 3rd

The year 2009 did not smile on Mattias Ekström. Double champion DTM in 2004 and 2007, the Swede never experienced the joys of victory and finished in a modest 5th place, 23 points behind his Audi teammate, the German Timo Scheider, the new master of the discipline for two seasons.

In a little over two months, on April 25 exactly, the Hockenheim circuit, as tradition dictates, will open the 2010 season of the German touring car championship. And once again Ekström will leave with his teeth in his teeth, praying that the bad luck that befell him in 2009 will spare him this year. He and his team are motivated like never before to get back to the top of the rankings.

?We want to repeat our performance in qualifying from last year and build on it in the race. Like recent seasons, Audi and Mercedes will fight against each other almost on an equal footing. It will therefore be imperative to be consistent, score points and be the author of certain brilliant moves. This is the only possible way to achieve our goal, the title. »

In 2010 the championship will travel to five countries, with the closing round taking place in China. A second trip to Shanghai after 2004. A race which saw the Swede take the third step of the podium, first Audi driver.

“I think it?s good for the DTM to move into a completely different environment. There are many fans in China who are delighted to have the chance to admire the drivers and the cars up close. Before being ironic about the local cuisine, admitting that culinary question he would look for the big yellow “M”?

Although fully dedicated to winning a third title, the Swedish driver admits that he will still take a look at the F1 :

“I will bet a little money on a few victories of Michael Schumacher. He has won seven titles and his name is Schumacher, it is clear that he must set high goals.

A Schumacher that Mattias Ekström could meet at the end of the year for the "Race Of Champions", an event won three times (2006, 2007 and 2009) by the double DTM champion and which saw the Swede dominate the German twice. But before that we will have to succeed in overcoming Scheider, Paffet, Green, Spengler and other Jarvis and thus regain a crown which has eluded him for two years now.