Fit with Tom Kristensen
Although he hung up his helmet, Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen participated in the traditional Audi Sport Winter Camp in the Allgäu in early February – in a new role. The Dane, who ended his active career in winter following nine Le Mans victories and still achieves top physical performances, has been a consultant to Audi Sport in the important field of fitness since this year. While the Audi drivers from the DTM and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) have periodic checkups using sports medicine diagnostics at TU Munich, Tom Kristensen contributes his experience from the driver’s perspective to the training camp. “I’m happy that my knowledge and my experience are sought-after,” says the 2013 FIA World Endurance Champion. “An example from my work: Every driver can train in a very individual manner. I pay attention to possible weaknesses and subsequently suggest to my colleagues how to train in a way that is well-balanced for the whole body. Another topic is how to strike a balance between endurance and strength.” In Ofterschwang, Kristensen integrated many new activities into the program of the team building week. “We’ve structured individual workouts in a way that gives them a more competitive character. That provides a race driver with an even greater incentive and was favorably received by all the drivers,” says the Dane. Audi Sport’s team physician Dr. Vincenzo Tota used the week to get to know all the race drivers.
Ekström thrills winter sports elite
Mattias Ekström thrilled numerous winter athletes with his Audi S1 EKS RX quattro at the Nordic Ski World Championships in Falun. Just one day following the world championship title win in the mixed team event of the ski jumpers, the DSV athletes Richard Freitag, Carina Vogt and Katharina Althaus sat in the passenger’s seat of the 560-hp rallycross race car. At the event of the Audi driving experience the DTM driver did a few fast laps on the snow and ice course in his native Sweden with his prominent passengers and impressed them with his driving skills.
A word from ... Jamie Green
The Lausitzring double winner and leader of the DTM standings about his perfect weekend. Following a strong final sprint in the 2014 season and a victory in the 2015 season opener you upped the ante by two further victories at the Lausitzring. You seem to have finally arrived in the Audi family in your third year? “I’ve been feeling comfortable with the four rings for a long time, but now I’m in my second year of driving for Team Rosberg and by now I perfectly know the way it works, as well as my mechanics and engineers. In our interaction with Audi Sport, this helps to extract the optimum from the Audi RS 5 DTM and to perfectly set it up for my needs. All these are important elements of our current success.” Is the fitness program you intensified last winter another success factor? “I became not only physically fitter but also mentally stronger last winter. In addition, we spent a lot of time with the car in order to better understand it. So, one thing leads to another and suddenly you’re surfing the wave of success.” ... directly headed for the Championship? “Last season, after three victories in four races, I might have answered that with a slightly hesitant ‘yes.’ But now, after four races, we’re not even close to the season’s mid-point, but still at the beginning of the year. 14 races are still open. That’s a very long road on which a lot can still happen. I’m not eying the champion’s trophy yet, but focus on the next respective race.” And in four weeks from now that will be the favorite race of the ‘King of the Norisring’… “Like practically anyone in the DTM I’m looking forward to the season’s pinnacle event which is Audi’s home round as well. However, following the triumphs in recent weeks, we’re traveling there with a lot of success weight on board of our Audi cars. But that won’t keep us from giving everything to clinch another success.”
A word from ... Jamie Green
You current record this season boasts three wins after two race weekends. Your expectations for the coming weekend at the Norisring are surely not set for second place... Not only I, but also Audi as a whole had a fantastic weekend at the Lausitzring. We couldn’t be any happier. Obviously, we would be delighted if things continue in the same vein. But there are also some reasons to be cautious. Which ones? They begin with the peculiarities of the street circuit in Nuremberg. At the Norisring it’s about top speed. This requires a completely different aerodynamic emphasis than at tracks where we only drive with a lot of downforce. Another factor is the success ballast that we have on board. My car weighs 1137.5 kilograms. Our lightest competitors carry around 32.5 kilos less. We are only successful if we keep our feet firmly planted on the ground and keep focused in our work. You have a special relationship with the Norisring. You’ve won here four times already, a year ago you were second and best Audi driver. Why are you so good in Nuremberg? My driving style is such that I brake very late. This appears to be particularly beneficial on the street circuit at these high speeds. You have to drive very precisely between the walls and crash barriers, be consistent and this for 70, 80, 90 laps long. The smallest mistake can end in tears, because there are no run off areas here like there are on permanent tracks. Your racing form is dominant this year. How do you explain the excellent results? There are no fundamental changes. In principal, the Audi RS 5 DTM is identical to last year. We refined the set-up during the winter and these technical developments suit me. We understand our car even better. However, we should never forget that we have strong competitors and the championship positions can change quickly in the DTM. The best thing would be to lead the rankings after the last race and not after the fourth ...
Kisiel wins in Audi Sport TT Cup – ski stars thrill the crowd
Jan Kisiel has won the first race in the Audi Sport TT Cup at Spielberg. After 15 laps, the Pole prevailed against Dennis Marschall and Nicolaj Møller Madsen with a razor-thin margin at the Red Bull Ring. Spectators really got their money’s worth at the round of the Audi one-make cup in Austria, not least thanks to the guest entrants. The ski superstars Marcel Hirscher, Felix Neureuther and Aksel Lund Svindal fought thrilling duels on the track. In the end, Hirscher outperformed his rivals by taking 22nd place. Rahel Frey won the guest entrants classification. She placed fourth overall.
Hansi Hinterseer visits Audi
Keeping his fingers crossed for the future son-in-law: The Austrian pop singer and actor Hansi Hinterseer watched the DTM races at the Red Bull Ring at the garage of Audi Sport Team Phoenix. Hinterseer’s daughter Jessica is engaged to Audi DTM driver Timo Scheider. Red Bull Air Race star Hannes Arch and ski jumper Thomas Morgenstern were Audi guests as well.
Jamie Green visits Hoffmann Group
Audi DTM driver Jamie Green and Arno Zensen, Team Director of Audi Sport Team Rosberg, attended the ‘DTM Racing Day’ hosted by the Hoffmann Group’s branch in Achim. In front of more than 1,100 guests, Jamie Green, who in the DTM represents the colors of Europe’s leading system partner for quality tools, gave interviews and was busy signing autographs. The visitors had an opportunity to catch a whiff of DTM air as well, trying out their driving skills on simulators set up at the event, showing their adeptness at changing tires and doing some laps on a kart track.
Riesch and Hasenhüttl visit Audi
Audi’s DTM squad welcomed prominent visitors from other sporting disciplines at the Nürburgring: ex-ski star Maria Höfl-Riesch and Ralf Hasenhüttl, coach of FC Ingolstadt 04 that recently won promotion to the Bundesliga, met with the two Audi DTM drivers Jamie Green and Timo Scheider. Hasenhüttl additionally enjoyed a ride in the Audi RS 5 DTM race taxi. On duty as ‘taxi drivers’ for Audi at the Nürburgring were the GT race drivers Kelvin van der Linde and Stefan Wackerbauer.