DTM/WTCC/STCC/Le Mans
Final preparations for DTM opener
DTM: The countdown to the start of the 2006 DTM season is in full swing for the Audi teams. Final function checks and pit-stop practice are on the agenda before travelling to Hockenheim. For this purpose, Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline will use the ADAC driver training centre in Kempten on Tuesday morning, where all four team drivers are in action. The two new factory teams Phoenix and Rosberg plan their "Roll-outs” for Wednesday. From Thursday onwards the entire Audi DTM team is in Hockenheim, the DTM cars can be seen on-track for the first time on Friday from 08:45 a.m.
Audi in Le Mans with start numbers 7 and 8
Le Mans: The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) has published the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006. A maximum of 50 cars, including 24 Prototypes and 36 GT cars, will line up on the grid for the 74th running of the endurance classic. The two Audi R10 TDI prototypes of Audi Sport Team Joest compete – as with the Audi R8s first win during the 2000 season – with the start numbers 7 and 8. The "7” is the self-confessed lucky number of both record Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and Team Boss Reinhold Joest.
Three Audi A4 in the STCC
STCC: Audi presented its team for the 2006 Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) at the Motor Show in Stockholm. In contrast to last year team KMS Motorsport has increased the number of front-wheel drive Audi A4s from two to three. New team mate to regular drivers Fredrik Eblom and Tommy Kristoffersson is Thed Björk, who was championship runner-up last year. The Audi R10 TDI was also on display in Stockholm.
Tamara Vidali makes comeback in Italy
Superstars: Tamara Vidali makes her comeback in the 2006 season. The Italian lady, who grabbed the headlines at the end of the 1990s in an Audi A4 quattro in Super Touring Cars, drives a production-based Audi RS 4 entered in the Italian Superstars Series by Audi Sport Italia. Team mate is her countryman and architect Giorgio Sanna. Audi works driver Dindo Capello should also start in selected races. The season opens this coming weekend at the Adria International Raceway close to Venice.
Heinz-Harald Frentzen father for third time
DTM: Joy for new Audi works driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen and his wife Tanja: One week before his first race in an Audi A4 DTM, "HHF” became a father for the third time. Fenya Frentzen was born on Thursday at exactly 1:15 p.m. Mother, daughter and father are doing fine.
News from the Audi brand group
Three podium finishes for SEAT and championship lead
WTCC: SEAT had something to celebrate after the opening round of the World Touring Car Championship: New signing Yvan Muller finished runner-up at Monza in each of both races in his SEAT Léon Cupra, thus taking the lead in the championship. Behind the Frenchman, Briton James Thompson was another of SEAT’s new recruits who made it to the podium in the first race.
Results and points
Monza (I), 2 April, round 1, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)
1 Andy Priaulx (BMW) 11 laps in 25m 44.220s
2 Yvan Muller (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 3.534s
3 James Thompson (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 4.378s
4 Dirk Müller (BMW) + 4.667s
5 Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 7.332s
6 Rickard Rydell (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 7.639s
…
12 Jordi Gené (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 16.642s
13 Peter Terting (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 17.767s
23 Davide Roda (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 35.907s
25 Maurizio Ceresoli (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 50.883s
Monza (I), 2 April, round 2, FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC)
1 Augusto Farfus (Alfa Romeo) 9 laps in 18m 37.438s
2 Yvan Muller (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 0.951s
3 Alain Menu (Chevrolet) + 2.580s
4 Alessandro Balzan (Alfa Romeo) + 3.924s
5 Jordi Gené (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 5.721s
6 Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 6.927s
…
8 Peter Terting (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 8.503s
9 James Thompson (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 8.727s
13 Tom Coronel (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 13.978s
19 Maurizio Ceresoli (SEAT Toledo Cupra) + 25.920s
20 Davide Roda (SEAT Léon Cupra) + 26.905s
22 Rickard Rydell (SEAT Léon Cupra) - 1 lap
Standings after 2 of 20 races: 1. Muller, 16 points; 2. Farfus, 11; 3. Priaulx, 10; 4. Tarquini, 7; 5. Thompson und Menu je 6; 7. Balzan und D. Müller je 5; 9. Gené, 4; 10. Rydell, 3; … 13. Terting, 1.
Next race: Magny-Cours (F), 30 April