Audi signs young talent Mike Rockenfeller
- Young German celebrates his DTM debut in 2007
- First title at tender age of 20
- Dominating driver of one make series
Audi has succeeded in clinching the signature of one Germany’s greatest future talents for its motorsport programme: 23-year-old Mike Rockenfeller celebrates his debut in the most popular international touring car race series with an Audi A4 DTM during the 2007 season.
In spite of his young age, the new Audi factory driver from Neuwied can already look back on an impressive career. In 2003 at the age of 19, Rockenfeller went down as the youngest driver to win a Porsche Supercup race, a Formula 1 supporting event. Rockenfeller won the Porsche Carrera Cup only one year later – again as youngest driver ever. With numerous victories, he was the dominating driver and the one to beat in the Porsche one make series. Many wins followed in sportscar races around the world, including class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Man, at Spa-Francorchamps and the overall victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
“I’ve realised a dream by securing a factory contract with Audi,” explains Mike Rockenfeller, who is known to his friends as “Rocky”. “The DTM is a tremendous target and excellent alternative to Formula 1 for every young German racing driver.”
The “star of tomorrow” has not only been signed by Audi with a view to the DTM. “It is important to us that our drivers can also make a valuable contribution to the sportscar project with the Audi R10 TDI,” stresses Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. “Mike has demonstrated impressively at the wheel of the LM P2 Porsche and in the GrandAm Series that he also possesses the necessary talent for this car.”