Miguel Molina #17: Finally a winner

When in 2010, his first DTM season, Miguel Molina won the title “rookie of the year,” his team nicknamed him “Magic Molina.” Following five pole positions, the Catalonian last season finally achieved his first victory as well.

The first success in the 67th DTM race – this is somewhat reminiscent of Timo Scheider, who even needed 79 attempts in the internationally popular touring car racing series before mounting the top step of the podium for the first time. Subsequently, Scheider became DTM Champion twice in succession.

“Obviously, the DTM title is my dream, too,” says 27-year-old Molina, whose next short-term aims, however, are a little more modest: “I’d like to repeat last year’s victory. That would help me to ultimately finish the championship in the top five.”

Since last season, the Catalonian’s red-black Teufel Audi RS 5 DTM has been designated as car number “17” – Molina’s lucky number. “The 17th of February is my birthday. That’s why 17 is a number I’ve always been fond of. I used to wear it on my back playing soccer as a teenager.” That he finished the DTM most recently in 17th place of the standings three consecutive times, though, has nothing to do with his passion for number “17.” “Miguel had an incredible amount of misfortune,” says his longtime race engineer Markus Michelberger, who worked together with Molina in Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline as far back as in 2010, Molina’s first DTM season. “Markus and I have a close relationship and the team spirit at Abt is great in general,” stresses the Audi driver. “We’ve been intensively preparing for the new season. I hope that’s going to pay off.”

One of Molina’s strengths is qualifying, which has become even more important since last year. It also laid the foundation for his first DTM victory at the Nürburgring in 2015.

In order to tackle the races in an even more focused manner, Molina has been working with a renowned mental trainer. In addition, he is working on his physical fitness. Compared with the 2015 season, he has lost another two kilograms. Last winter, he ran a half-marathon, and is currently training for a triathlon. “When the DTM season is over, I’d like to participate in a half-ironman event,” reveals the Audi driver who lives near Barcelona – in a resort where many Germans spend their vacation: Lloret de Mar.

Alongside his commitment with Audi in the DTM which, in Molina’s own words, is his “priority number one, two and three,” he promotes youngsters in his own kart team with his father, Roger. In addition, he supports the Catalonian association for the new Formula Ashenkoff that is designed to close the gap between kart and formula racing. In the future, he would like to contest further races in the Audi R8 LMS. “Last year, I was on the grid at the Nürburgring in the Blancpain Endurance Series – I really enjoyed that.”

Another thing he enjoys is working together with his new teammate Nico Müller. “We’ve always had a good relationship,” Molina says. “We’re working together really well in the team – that should help our performance.”

Privately, the Catalonian drives an RS model as well. In winter, he traded his Audi RS 6 Avant for the more compact Audi RS 3 Sportback. “Fortunately, we’re spoiled for choice at Audi Sport,” says Molina. “The RS models and, obviously, the Audi R8 are simply fantastic cars.” 

Profile

Miguel Molina (E)

Date of birth: February 17, 1989
Place of birth: Barcelona (E)
Residence: Lloret de Mar (E)
Marital status: single (partner Mire)
Height/weight: 1.75 m/61 kg
Motorsport since: 1999 (Audi driver since 2010)

Sporting career
1999 1st Spanish Cadet Kart-Championship
2000 1st Spanish Cadet Kart Championship
2001 1st Catalonian Junior Kart Championship
2002 2nd Spanish Junior Kart Championship
2003 1st Spanish Junior Kart Championship
2004 1st Italian Kart Open Masters Jesolo Formula A
2005 Formula Renault Euro Cup
2006 6th Spanish Formula 3 Championship, Renault World Series
2007 7th Renault World Series
2008 4th Renault World Series
2009 8th Renault World Series, 19th Formula Superleague
2010 10th DTM (Audi A4 DTM), “Rookie of the year”
2011 11th DTM (Audi A4 DTM)
2012 18th DTM (Audi A5 DTM)
2013 17th DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM)
2014 17th DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM)
2015 17th DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 1 victory
2016 13th DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 2 victories

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