Audi Unveils DTM Lineup for 2009

Taking the example of FIA WTCC champions SEAT Sport, Audi decided to take on the new DTM season with the exact same lineup as in 2008. Germany's Timo Scheider managed to clinch his first ever DTM title last year, but Audi ended up behind rivals AMG Mercedes in the overall manufacturers' classification.

However, the Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich insisted 2008 was one of Audi's best years in the series and the team is waiting forward to reprising their performances this season. Therefore, no changes were made in the driver lineups for all 3 factory teams, except for the promotion of British female driver Katherine Legge from customer team Futurecom TME to Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline.

Legge debuted in the DTM last season, driving a 2-year old Audi A4 DTM for Futurecome TME. She used this chance to get more familiar with the new series and highlighted three 15th places in the DTM. The change will get her a one-year old Audi A4 DTM, which is expected to boost her performances in 2009.

“2008 was the most successful year in the motorsport history of AUDI AG. The drivers were also a major factor in this, which is why we saw no reason to change anything on our proven driver squad. We decided to concentrate on our three factory teams Abt Sportsline, Phoenix and Rosberg. It’s a great opportunity for Katherine to start for the defending DTM championship winning team.,” said Ullrich.

As in 2007 and 2008, Mattias Ekström (Sweden), Tom Kristensen (Denmark), Timo Scheider (Germany) and Martin Tomczyk (Germany) will drive the new Audi A4 DTM (nicknamed “R14 plus” internally) for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, while Germans Mike Rockenfeller and Markus Winkelhock will drive one-year old Audi A4 DTM for Audi Sport Team Rosberg. Finally, Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) and Alexandre Prémat (France) will continue their programmes with Audi Sport Team Phoenix.