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DTM classic on "Rocky's" home ground

- Audi driver Rockenfeller at Nürburgring as DTM leader
- DTM home round for Audi Sport Team Phoenix in the Eifel
- Dieter Gass, Head of DTM: "Continue to work with concentration"

Round seven at the Nürburgring (August 16 to 18) marks the beginning of the hot phase in the battle for the DTM title. 100 points are yet to be awarded and Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller is travelling to the Eifel with a 27-point advantage. ‘Rocky' grew up in a place just half an hour away from the ‘Ring' - accordingly, he and Audi Sport Team Phoenix, with its home base at the Nürburgring, are looking forward to the event with particularly eager anticipation.

From the adventure in Moscow the DTM is now moving on to the Eifel. The race at the Nürburgring ranks among the classic events on the calendar. The DTM has seen numerous gripping races there, exotic premieres like a night-time qualifying session, plus six Audi victories in total since the comeback in 2000. The proximity to the famous Nordschleife and the enthusiasm of the fans make the round in the Eifel a highlight of the season again and again. 

This is particularly true for the Audi drivers Mike Rockenfeller and Timo Scheider, who grew up near the circuit and for whom the Nürburgring is thus their home track. ‘Rocky' has the chance of making another pinpoint landing in the battle for the title in front of many friends and fans. Following his second victory of the season in Moscow, the Audi driver is traveling to his home round with an advantage of 27 points over the reigning Champion Bruno Spengler. Audi Sport Team Phoenix, which fields the Audi RS 5 DTM cars of Rockenfeller and Miguel Molina, only has to cross a road to get from its base in Meuspath to the paddock.

This year, the DTM is again using the 3.629-kilometre short configuration of the Grand Prix circuit on 49 laps. The circuit offers two sections - the start-finish straight in front of the first turn and the back-straight in front of the chicane - in which the Drag Reduction System (DRS) effectively supports overtaking manoeuvres. This promises a thrilling race Sunday.

Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 season are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. Fans in many countries of the world can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTM's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dtmint live. A total of 39 TV channels air live DTM coverage in 141 countries.

In Germany, ARD will broadcast live on "Das Erste:" Qualifying on Saturday (August 17) starting at 14:30, the race on Sunday (August 18) starting at 13:15.

Quotes by the officials

Dieter Gass (Head of DTM): "Despite leading the standings we've got no reason whatsoever to relax and lean back. We last saw at Moscow how quickly you can finish out of the points while the rival takes the full score. So, at the Nürburgring, we need to continue to work with concentration and by delivering our next strong team performance cause Mike (Rockenfeller) to score as many points as possible."

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "The success at Moscow, where all four of our drivers scored, was good for the whole squad. You can really feel how hot the guys are to up the ante at the Nürburgring. Our team has won an amazing six DTM races in the Eifel, including our first ever victory in the DTM. Now, scoring the seventh victory at the seventh round of the season would be a perfect fit."

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "Following the adventure at Moscow, we're now competing at a venue that's right on our doorstep. Naturally, this enormously helps us in our preparations. With the current tailwind I'd like to reward our many fans in the Eifel at bit because the results in recent years haven't been the optimum yet."

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "The time between the return from Moscow and the race at the Nürburgring is short, so the whole squad will have a few rough days. For Team Rosberg, the Eifel race is to become the turning point of the season. We'd like to finally be in contention at the front of the field again."