The DTM drivers in quick view
- Interesting snippets about Abt, Ekström & Co
- Mix of “old hands” and youngsters
- Opening race of the year on Sunday at Hockenheim
Both the 2007 DTM season and the next round of the prestigious duel between Audi and Mercedes-Benz start at Hockenheim on Sunday. A total of ten Audi A4 DTM cars take to the grid this year, which are occupied by an interesting mix of “old hands” and hungry youngsters. They are:
Christian Abt (39/Germany). Sign of the zodiac: Taurus. Brother of Team Boss Hans-Jürgen Abt and one of the two Managing Directors of Abt Sportsline. Lives with girlfriend Sandra in his hometown Kempten in the Allgäu. The only driver alongside record champion Bernd Schneider to have competed in the DTM without a break since 2000. Best DTM result: two second places. Season’s goal: Best driver of a year old car.
Mattias Ekström (28/Sweden). Sign of the zodiac: Cancer. DTM champion in 2004. The man who conquered the world’s elite at the “Race of Champions” in December 2006 in Paris. Born in Falun (Sweden), in the meantime lives together with rally co-driver Tina Thörner on the Swiss side of Lake Constance. Loves – apart from Tina Thörner – his Jet-ski and his two dogs Moss and Lou. Season’s goal: To bring the DTM title back to Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm.
Vanina Ickx (32/Belgium). Sign of the zodiac: Aquarius. One of two women in the DTM. Starts her second DTM season. Daughter of former Formula 1 driver Jacky Ickx. Born in Brussels, lives with her fiancé Fabien in Wiesbaden. Studied biology and adores nature. Started her career at a relatively old age. Season’s goal: To be better than last year.
Tom Kristensen (39/Denmark). Sign of the zodiac: Cancer. Record 24 Hours of Le Mans winner with seven victories. Best Audi driver in the DTM last year. Has just become a father for the third time. Born in Hobro. Lives in Monaco. Spends more and more time with his partner Hanne and their three children in his homeland Denmark. Lucky number: 7 (his start number this year). Season’s goal: DTM Champion.
Lucas Luhr (27/Germany). Sign of the zodiac: Cancer. Born in Koblenz. New to the DTM. Defending American Le Mans Series LM P2 Champion. Multi-winner of class in Le Mans and Sebring. Makes his touring car début, but knows the feeling of having a roof over his head from GT racing. Married his darling Claudia last summer. Family Luhr (two children) lives on the Swiss side of Lake Constance since February. Season’s goal: To establish himself in the DTM.
Alexandre Prémat (25/France). Sign of the zodiac: Aries. DTM newcomer. Made the DTM scene sit up and take notice after setting the fastest time in testing at Oschersleben. Former team mate of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in GP2. Just as quick as the two shooting-stars of Formula 1. Knows just one motto: Maximum attack! Lives with his girlfriend Cléo in a Paris suburb. Season’s goal: To win a race and help Audi to capture the DTM title.
Mike Rockenfeller (23/Germany). Sign of the zodiac: Scorpio. The youngest Audi factory driver. Born in Neuwied, lives in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Constance. Girlfriend: Susanne. He originates from Porsche’s “star of tomorrow” school. Was factory driver at the tender age of 18 and has previously won everything there was to win. He now steps up to DTM. Season’s goal: To learn as much as possible and be the best driver of a year old car.
Timo Scheider (28/Germany). Sign of the zodiac: Scorpio. In the DTM, apart from a one-year break, since 2000. In 2006, best driver of a year old A4, now for the first time in the latest generation Audi A4 DTM. Comes originally from single-seater racing. Born in Lahnstein, lives with his fiancée Jasmin and san Loris in Altach (Austria) near Lake Constance. Heads into the mountains or rides Supermoto to “get away from it all”. Season’s goal: A minimum of one win and to help Audi to the DTM title.
Martin Tomczyk (25/Germany). Sign of the zodiac: Sagittarius. In 2001, was the youngest driver at that time to compete in the DTM. Fast from the very beginning. Ccelebrated his first victory in 2006. Second best Audi driver of the year in fourth position overall. Lives in his hometown Rosenheim. Loves his Playstation. Season’s goal: To finish in the top three.
Adam Carroll (24/Great Britain). Sign of the zodiac: Scorpio. Born in Portadown (Northern Ireland), lives in Northampton. Was Formula 1 test driver for Honda and raced for the last three years in the GP2 series. A roof over his head for the first time after seven years of formula racing. Still has Formula 1 as target, and considers the DTM as excellent stepping stone for this purpose. Drives privately an Audi S3 with 100,000 miles on the clock. Season’s goal: To extract the absolute maximum from the possibilities available.