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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.

The Head of DTM at Audi Sport about the three-day DTM tests in Spain. Audi reeled off more test kilometers at Monteblanco than its two competitors. How did the test go from your perspective? It was a very good test. We drove a lot of kilometers without any major issues. We had an extensive test program and completed our homework in Spain to the extent we’d been planning. What’ll be next now? We gathered a large amount of data with both cars on the three days that we’re now going to merge and analyze in Neuburg. Our task is to find out what’s best and to pass that on to our teams for the ITR pre-season test at Hockenheim at the beginning of April. At Monteblanco, we intensively worked on the “tool box” that’s available to our teams. It’s about having the right setup options for always being optimally prepared in varying conditions. This is crucial in view of the extreme competitiveness in the DTM. Audi Sport only used two drivers at Monteblanco – Jamie Green and Mattias Ekström – who reeled off a particularly large number of test kilometers. Why only these two? In order to achieve the best possible test results, we prefer using only one driver per car in a development test. That proved to be the right choice again this time. Jamie and Mattias held up well. On Wednesday alone, they drove 200 and 206 laps, respectively. I don’t know if the DTM has ever seen anything like this before. For me, that looks like a new record. On two of the three days, Mattias Ekström and thus Audi, was the front runner and in the end, the best time of the test went to BMW driver Timo Glock. How relevant are the lap times? Obviously, it looks to be at the top of the time sheets. But, as always, lap times in tests aren’t really conclusive. We can’t judge the new Mercedes-Benz after these three days yet either. Like every year, we’re only going to know where we stand in the first qualifying session of the season opener at Hockenheim. But that’s what makes the DTM so thrilling.

Bidding for a good cause: Audi Sport’s partner Hoffmann Group will be auctioning a signed racing suit of Jamie Green’s from May 2 to 12 on “eBay for Charity” for the benefit of the company’s own foundation. The Hoffmann Group Foundation supports institutions that further the development of deprived and traumatized children and teenagers. Jamie Green has been causing a stir in the DTM sporting the orange livery of the tool specialist for three years. In 2015, he finished the season as the best Audi driver. Link to the auction.

Before the race weekend at the Norisring, an interesting visit was on Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s agenda. The DTM team took a tour of the logistics center for tools of the Hoffmann Group in Nuremberg, which is regarded as the largest and most modern one of its kind in Europe. Up to 60,000 items per day are processed there. Team Director Arno Zensen was obviously impressed following the tour of the 36,000-square meter warehouse. “The dimensions are remarkable. In addition, we were fascinated by the voice-controlled order picking technology being used here. The visit was a great opportunity in every respect,” said Zensen whose team is fielding the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM of Jamie Green.

During the DTM home round at the Norisring, Audi Sport teams and race drivers enjoyed support in large numbers. More than 1,000 Audi employees kept their fingers crossed at the venue. From the Schaeffler Group, some 1,000 employees traveled to the Norisring as well and gave Mike Rockenfeller a special welcome. The company based in Herzogenaurach is one of Audi’s partners in the DTM. The Hoffmann Group was present at the Nuremberg city street race as well. Some 900 employees of the tool specialist rooted particularly for Jamie Green in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM.

For six years now, the orange Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg has been one of the most conspicuous cars in the DTM field. This will continue to be the case in 2019. As before, the Briton Jamie Green will be at the wheel. In 2019, Hoffmann, Europe’s leading systems partner for quality tools and a global player with 135,000 customers in 50 countries, will celebrate its one hundredth anniversary – additional motivation for Jamie Green to return to his winning ways in the DTM following a difficult season. The Briton’s example shows how tough the DTM is. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, he was one of the title candidates almost up until the end of the season. Then his unfortunate drop to the last position in the standings followed last year. “In my 15 DTM years, this was my first season without a podium,” says Green, whose track record reflects 16 DTM race wins. “It shows that anything’s always possible in the DTM – no matter what you may have achieved in the past. My goal for 2019 is clear: I want to become champion.” The turbo era of the DTM starts at the Hockenheimring on May 4/5. Tickets are available at www.audi.com/dtm.