“A great weekend for the city. Düsseldorf was the main attraction in Nordrhine-Westfalia“, said mayor Joachim Erwin, delighted with the successful DTM-presentation. The mayor himself had the chance to experience the high G-forces that race drivers consider as normal after being offered a ride on board of a DTM Race Taxi.
Demo laps with the DTM cars from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, live interviews and autograph sessions with DTM drivers highlighted the event. "I’ve never ever written so many autographs in my life,” said an astonished Mike Rockenfeller (23), who competes in his first DTM race at Hockenheim. Several German media, movie and sports stars also attended the DTM show, not to mention British band "All Saints", that delighted the spectators with a 30-minute live act.
The Audi pair of Vanina Ickx and Mattias Ekström won an unusual wheel changing contest against Mercedes rival duo Susie Stoddart and Mika Häkkinen. The two Audi drivers changed the right-hand front wheel on an Audi A4 DTM in only 7.7 seconds and were visibly quicker than the two-time Formula 1 World Champion and the 24-year old Scotswoman Stoddart on their new Mercedes C-Class during the TV pit stop duel.
Audi works driver Mattias Ekström commented: “The start of the DTM-season couldn’t have been any better. Nice weather and thousands of enthusiastic fans are making me look forward to Hockenheim even more.“
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