Audi DTM teams prove their creativity
- Self-made paper boats delight fans and media
- Christian Abt secures pole position for boat race
- “Bunny 1” receives top rating by whole jury
The presentation of the field of competitors in the “1st Audi Dutzendteich Challenge” at the Norisring paddock on Friday night attracted attention galore. In front of numerous enthusiastic fans and media representatives the Audi DTM teams presented their paper boats which the mechanics had handcrafted, displaying a great deal of creativity and careful attention to detail, for the Audi DTM drivers during the past few weeks.
Absolute favourite of the jury, consisting of Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich and five journalists, was “Bunny 1“ – Christian Abt’s ship sporting the library of his main sponsor, Playboy. With Pierre Kaffer’s boat, “Öli 5W30,“ Audi Sport Team Phoenix celebrated a dominant double victory in the creativity contest, ahead of Audi Sport Team Rosberg, thus securing the top two “grid positions” for the funny boat race which, on account of the toxic blue algae in Nuremberg’s Dutzendteich lake, had to be postponed to the DTM race at Zandvoort.
The boats boasting the highest level of perfection in terms of technology and workmanship were presented on Friday night by the members of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, who appeared in front of the jury in full force, dressed in sailors’ uniforms and captain’s caps. Despite this showing, the Abt “captains” will have to start the race at Zandvoort in September with their boats, “Abt Allgäu I through IV” from the last four positions.
“The Abt boats simply struck the jury as being too perfect”, said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, commenting on the jury’s ranking. “Today’s competition was primarily about originality, and in this respect the pole position clearly had to go to the Phoenix crew. How the boats will be doing in the race on the North Sea at Zandvoort remains to be seen. The Abt fleet looks like it’s very fast.”
The jury’s ranking:
1 Bunny1 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix, Christian Abt) 6 points
2 Öli 5W30 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix, Pierre Kaffer), 12 points
3 Pond Rocket (Audi Sport Team Rosberg, Timo Scheider), 14 points
4 Wave Runner (Audi Sport Team Rosberg, Frank Stippler), 15 points
5 Letzter Einbaum (Futurecom TME, Vanina Ickx), 17 points
6 Antje (Futurecom TME, Jeroen Bleekmolen), 19 points
7 Abt Allgäu III (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, HH Frentzen), 20 points
8 Abt Allgäu II (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Mattias Ekström), 20 points
9 Abt Allgäu IV (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Martin Tomczyk), 21 points
10 Abt Allgäu I (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Tom Kristensen), 21 points