Mattias Ekström tackles “Panthers”
- Joint practice with players of ERC Ingolstadt
- Icehockey pros spontaneously invited DTM driver
- “Revenge” planned on a DTM race weekend
For unusual activities, Mattias Ekström is always game. So the Audi factory driver did not hesitate for even a second when the icehockey pros of ERC Ingolstadt invited him to a trial practice at the Saturn Arena. “Panthers” John Tripp, Yannic Seidenberg and Michael Waginger were guests at the presentation of the Audi Motorsport Programme in Munich last Monday. “Puck meets horsepower” was the fitting way to describe how the Swede and the icehockey stars made friends with each other after the official part of the event, and spontaneously arranged a meeting.
Today, the 2004 DTM Champion had to get down to business: After being properly fitted out and doing a warm-up programme, the Swede completed his first practice unit with the players – and worked up quite a sweat in the process: “Wearing this protective suit almost makes me feel like an astronaut. It’s really not easy to move around in this gear – and I wasn’t even pitted against any rivals.”
The pros of ERC Ingolstadt, who will be contesting their first play-off quarter-finals against the “Kölner Haie” (Cologne Sharks) on 16 March, were highly satisfied with their new team-mate’s showing. “Mattias tackled the practice with incredible ambition. You can immediately tell that he’s bound and determined to give his best – a real winner, for sure,” praised the team’s forward, John Tripp. Audi has been ERC Ingolstadt’s partner for the past ten years, presenting the brand with the four rings at the Saturn Arena, the team’s “home base”.
Mattias Ekström was obviously thrilled by this unusual practice unit as well. “These guys must have tremendous power to stand their ground on the ice, I was really impressed,” he reported. In addition to experience and new impressions galore, “Eki” took home a few bruises as well. “A couple of times body checks catapulted me into the banners,” said Ekström, adding with a grin: “But that’s okay. I invited John, Yannic and Michael for a racing taxi ride in the Audi A4 DTM – and then I’m going to take revenge…”
Mattias Ekström’s first opportunity for this revenge would be from 20 to 22 April, when the DTM starts to its new season at Hockenheim. On the Sunday before the first race, all motorsport fans have the opportunity to witness the DTM live during its official presentation for the new season on “Königsallee” in Düsseldorf.