Audi’s track record in the DTM: DTM Champions frequently drive an Audi

Even on making its first appearance in the DTM at the beginning of the nineteen-nineties, the brand with the four rings left a lasting impression. In an Audi V8 quattro, that was huge by touring car standards, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Frank Biela immediately clinched the DTM title twice in succession for Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.

Following the DTM’s comeback in 2000, Team Abt Sportsline, with a coupe the squad had independently developed based on the Audi TT, caused a sensation, with Laurent Aiello, in 2002, winning against the factory-backed teams of Mercedes-Benz and Opel and clinching the third DTM title for Audi.

The return of the four rings to the DTM with a factory-backed commitment was immediately successful as well. In 2004, Mattias Ekström in the new Audi A4 DTM instantly won the championship and the manufacturers’ and teams’ classifications went to Audi too.

With a track record of five drivers’ titles in only eight years, the A4 DTM has been Audi’s most successful DTM race car to date. On winning three consecutive titles from 2007 to 2009, Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider achieved the only title hat-trick of an automobile manufacturer in the prestigious racing series to date. In 2011, the last year of the A4 DTM, Martin Tomczyk clinched another DTM title for Audi.

In 2013, Mike Rockenfeller secured the first title of the new Audi RS 5 DTM. In total, five of the last eight DTM Champions drove an Audi – a strong track record.

The best Audi drivers in the DTM

1990 Hans-Joachim Stuck (Champion)

1991 Frank Biela (Champion)

1992 Frank Biela (15th)

2000 Laurent Aiello (16th)

2001 Laurent Aiello (5th)

2002 Laurent Aiello (Champion)

2003 Mattias Ekström (4th)

2004 Mattias Ekström (Champion)

2005 Mattias Ekström (2nd)

2006 Tom Kristensen (3rd)

2007 Mattias Ekström (Champion)

2008 Timo Scheider (Champion)

2009 Timo Scheider (Champion)

2010 Timo Scheider (4th)

2011 Martin Tomczyk (Champion)

2012 Mike Rockenfeller (4th)

2013 Mike Rockenfeller (Champion)

2014 Mattias Ekström (2nd)

Audi’s commitment in the DTM – facts and figures

Titles: 9

Title hat-tricks: 1

Races: 218

Victories: 67

Podiums: 208

Pole positions: 74

Fastest laps: 62

Vehicle models: 5

Drivers: 47

As of the end of the 2014 season