Andreas Brehme is impressed with DTM
- World champion visits Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline
- Ride in 470-hp race taxi at Hockenheim
- His champion’s tip: “Although I hate to say it – it’ll be Wolfsburg”
At the 1990 world championship finale, he shot Germany into soccer heaven with a converted penalty kick, now Andreas Brehme changed from his jersey into a race suit: On the weekend, the world soccer champion visited Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline and witnessed an Audi one-two-three-four victory at his first DTM race. Arguably, that is not the only reason why he won’t forget his excursion to Hockenheim for a long time.
How did you like your first DTM weekend?
Andreas Brehme: “The DTM is really a spectacular event. You get much closer to the cars and drivers than, for instance, in Formula 1 and can literally feel the suspense before the start. I made a point of getting there by noon on Friday because I wanted to get a first-hand experience of everything that happens behind the scenes throughout the race weekend.”
At your first visit Audi clinched a one-two-three-four win right away. You seem to have brought the team good luck …
“It would be great if you could influence things this way, wouldn’t it? But I did keep my fingers crossed very much for the whole Audi squad and particularly for the Abt team, which invited me. We met for the first time last winter – and since then, the topic of the DTM kept coming up whenever we were sitting together. Now, I know exactly why it’s so fascinating to people.”
You did a few laps in the A4 race taxi as Christian Abt’s passenger. What was your impression?
“That was a really special experience for me. After these laps, if not earlier, it was clear to me that DTM drivers truly are red-blooded racers. The way they speed along the straight at far over 200 km/h and then corner at the last moment impressed me immensely.”
You played on many major soccer teams. Which club would you compare the Audi squad with?
“Knowing how professionally, passionately and, above all, successfully this team works it probably compares with FC Bayern München. However, I’m hoping that Audi, unlike this soccer team, will clinch the championship title again this year.”
Are soccer and motorsport comparable in any way?
“Like most soccer teams, Audi has an international squad on board. You can hear a mix of languages spoken in the pits as well as on the practice field. Still, I had the feeling that all the team members – drivers, engineers and mechanics – understand each other without saying a word. That’s the secret of success, both in soccer and in the DTM.”
Who will be the German soccer champion next Saturday?
“After the penultimate playing day, I’m sure that Wolfsburg will clinch the title. And they definitely deserve it.”