Quotes after qualifying at Zandvoort

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Things really couldn’t be better than this: five Audi cars in the top five, four vehicles in the top-4 qualifying session – a fantastic performance! This continues our showing in qualifying at the Nürburgring. The performance there already suggested that we started into the second half of the season with very good cars after a lot of work and that all teams and drivers are on a similarly good and well-balanced level. I’m hoping for us to be able to convert this strong qualifying result into a similarly positive race result.”

Timo Scheider (AUTO TEST Audi A5 DTM), grid position 1
“A big load has come off my chest. The past few weeks were hard for me and my surroundings. When you ask yourself if there’s something that you may be doing wrong and you’re trying to put simply everything on track it’s very difficult. Sometimes you’re heading in the right and sometimes in the wrong direction. Today, thanks to the team spirit and thanks to the people who believed in me, simply everything worked out. Clinching the fourth pole position at Zandvoort was a very good feeling and was very important.”

Mike Rockenfeller (Schaeffler Audi A5 DTM), grid position 2
“That was a strong qualifying session for our team with grid position two. For Audi, it’s great to have so many cars at the front. It shows that we’re developing in the right direction, that the track suits us and that we were running well in these conditions. At first, I was a bit disappointed when I heard that Timo (Scheider) gave his run another boost and was a tiny bit faster on his lap. Still, I want to thank my team. We did everything right and are looking forward to tomorrow.”

Filipe Albuquerque (TV Movie Audi A5 DTM), grid position 3
“It was a great qualifying session for Audi and for Audi Sport Team Rosberg. In Q3, I made a mistake but still made it into Q4. I’d already done two laps on my tires whereas Timo (Scheider) and Mike (Rockenfeller) had done just one and that does make a difference. But being on grid position three for the second consecutive time is very good for me. I want to finish the race on the podium.”

Edoardo Mortara (Playboy Audi A5 DTM), grid position 4
“A good qualifying session. But I’m a bit disappointed about my last sector in Q4. I could have done that one a bit better. But fourth place is a good starting base. On Sunday, it may be raining, so we’ve got to wait and see what conditions we’ll have in the race. For Audi, it was a fantastic result – but it also was for Audi Sport Team Rosberg with positions three and four.”

Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi A5 DTM), grid position 5
“Qualifying was really a thriller. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage the perfect lap in Q3. Still, the day was a lot of fun because my car had optimal balance. Being at the front with five Audi cars in the end is definitely a special thing. Hopefully, the weather conditions will be stable tomorrow so that we won’t have a gamble race.”

Adrien Tambay (Audi ultra A5 DTM), grid position 10
“Qualifying was very good for me up to Q3. In Q2, I was very happy with the car and the tires and hoping for more. In Q3, I made no mistakes but things weren’t going too well nonetheless. We’ve got to analyze that. I think I’ve got a good starting base for the race.”

Miguel Molina (Red Bull Audi A5 DTM), grid position 13
“After free practice didn’t go as well as we’d been hoping it would we ended up on position 13 in qualifying. We were lacking a tenth of a second for Q3. In the DTM you need a perfect lap and I didn’t have that today after not having driven very much in yesterday’s free practice either.”

Rahel Frey (E-POSTBRIEF Audi A5 DTM), grid position 21
“This was not a successful qualifying session for me despite the fact that the car actually felt good. But the timing for my fast lap wasn’t right and the tire pressure was apparently a bit too high as well, so a second trial wasn’t possible. Now we need to make the best of the situation and give everything tomorrow in the race.”

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): “It was and continues to be a huge success for Audi: five cars on the top five spots! For me, it was breathtaking. I take my hat off to Timo Scheider as well for his performance after such a long barren period. You can only congratulate him on this!”

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): “An incredible result for Audi. That all Audi drivers managed to get things right on the dot, despite a turbulent Friday, shows our quality. We’d have liked to take pole with ‘Rocky’ but are pleased to settle for the front row. We’re happy. It’s a shame that Miguel (Molina) didn’t make it into Q3. He was lacking only a tenth of a second. We’ve got to continue to work on that. We’re looking forward to the race tomorrow.”

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): “Having both cars in the top four twice in succession is certainly great. Congratulations to Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich and his people. They did a sensational job. Five Audi cars on the top five spots, that’s fantastic.”

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