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2004 DTM

Ekström wins 2004 championship

SEPT 19, 2004: 26 year old Audi driver Mattias Ekström wins the 2004 DTM championship.

• EKSTROM, after winning the title at Brno: "... It is a fantastic day for me ... I think that was the nicest race of the season, although it wasn't easy. I tried to drive constant lap times and concentrate on bringing the car safely into the finish. It's going to be a long night today."
• AUDI ( Dr Wolfgang Ullrich): "... It is a tremendous success for Audi to have won the title in the first year ... Mattias worked hard for the title. But he obviously also has a team backing him a hundred percent."
• In 1999, Ekström (from Krylbo, Sweden) won the Swedish Touring Car Championship. In 2001 he joined DTM with Audi privateer team (Abbott Sport). He finished 3rd in 2002 and 4th in 2003 before joining the factory AUDI team this season. With 1 race still to go Ekström has won 4 races from 9 rounds .

• NEW FACTORY AUDI TEAM     KRISTENSEN, BIELA, PIRRO & FRENTZEN JOIN DTM      
  NEW C KLASSE AMG     AIELLO & FASSLER SWITCH TO OPEL    DTM'S FIRST RACE IN CHINA

2004 GERMAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP (DTM)

• 5th DTM season (April - October 2004)
• The premier German national sportscar racing series
• 10 round championship; 6 in Germany; 2 new venues in 2004 - Estoril Portugal and Brno Czech republic
• Support races: Formula 3 Euro Series, Formula BMW ADAC Championship, ADAC VW Polo Cup , Porsche Carrera Cup

2004 DTM FINAL STANDING

• 1 Mattias Ekström , Audi Sport Team Abt, 74 points
  2 Gary Paffett , C-Klasse AMG-Mercedes, 57 points
  3 Christijan Albers , Vodafone/DC Bank AMG-Mercedes, 50
  4 Tom Kristensen , Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, 43
  5 Martin Tomczyk , Audi Sport Team Abt , 39
  6 Bernd Schneider , Vodafone/DC Bank AMG-Mercedes, 36
  7 Jean Alesi , C-Klasse AMG-Mercedes , 19
  8 Timo Scheider , OPC Team Holzer , 15
  9 Marcel Fässler , OPC Team Phoenix , 13
  10 Laurent Aiello , OPC Team Phoenix , 12
  11 Pirro 12 Reuter 13 Dumbreck 15 Frentzen 16 Mücke 17 Abt
• FINAL MANUFACTURER STANDING
  1 Audi , 168 points
  2 Mercedes-Benz , 164
  3 Opel, 58

2004 DTM RACE RESULTS

• R9, Sept 19, 2004: Automotodrom Brno Czech Republic - won by Ekström, Audi
  *** Ekström wins 2004 championship ***

• R8, Sept 5, 2004: Circuit Park Zandvoort Netherlands - won by Ekström, Audi
  EKSTROM: "... The toughest thing today was the race being stopped. A new start always harbours a new risk, but everything went perfectly. I made no mistakes, and - as always - the pit crew did a fantastic job. The only critical thing was the first lap after the second start: my tyres were dirty, that's why things got really tight in the first turn. Today means a major step towards the Championship title, thanks - also - to Martin, whose second place-finish took valuable points away from those chasing me."

• R7, Aug 8, 2004: Motopark Oschersleben Germany - won by Kristensen, Audi ; his maiden DTM win
  KRISTENSEN: "... It's amazing that I was able to win a race so early on in my DTM career. I'm over the moon with this win because I don't know when I'll be able to repeat it. The first win is the nicest, but also the most important. I had a fantastic car and a great team ... DTM is the toughest racing series in the world, and this makes me even happier about today's victory. I didn't have a single minute to relax, because Martin was 'larger than life' in my rear view mirror throughout the whole second half of the race. I want to thank Audi and my pit crew, who have made this exploit possible. It was pretty hot inside the cockpit. But when you're fighting for victory, you quickly forget that."

• R6, Aug 1, 2004: Nurburgring Germany - won by Paffett, Mercedes
  PARFETT: "... I had an exceptionally fantastic weekend here. It's actually my fifth win of the season. Sadly two didn't count towards the championship. I had a good start today. We brought forward my second pit stop as Emanuele Pirro had held me back. But Emanuele was in the lead and that's just part of racing"

• *** July 18, 2004: DEMO RACE IN CHINA, SHANGHAI *** - won by Paffett, Mercedes "I'm really happy to win the first DTM race in China. It's a victory I will always remember. I thank the entire team for giving me a perfect car."
  DTM makes a historic journey to China for its first ever race in Asia. It also represents the first international motorsports event in Shagnhai. 95 tonnes of cars and equipment were moved from Germany to China by air and by sea. 20 cars from Mercedes (8), Audi (8) and Opel (4) will race in two 30 minute sprints. This special event is a non-championship round.
  SCHNEIDER (MERCEDES): "... I'm really looking forward to the event in Shanghai. The track layout promises fiercely-contested and thrilling races with much overtaking. I'm sure the Chinese spectators will be thrilled"
  FASSLER (OPEL): "... Shanghai is a fantastic challenge because the course is new for everyone. I'm sure the fans will be thrilled with the DTM. Condition will play a key part due to the warm temperatures and the high humidity. That's why I've been in the sauna more often than usual these past weeks in order to be well prepared."
  KRISTENSEN (AUDI): "... The market is growing stronger and stronger in China and we can achieve a lot there with the DTM. We are practically the first to compete there. It will be a great experience and I'm very much looking forward to it. The entire team is also raring to go to China."

• R5, June 27, 2004: Norisring Germany - won by Paffett, Mercedes
  PARFETT: "... It was a great race with a good start for me. I tried not to push too hard today in order not to put an inordinate amount of pressure on the brakes and tyres. My car was excellent. There were no problems whatsoever, although I once took a pretty hefty knock coming out of the chicane"

• R4, June 6, 2004: EuroSpeedway Lausitz Germany - won by Ekström, Audi

• R3, May 16, 2004: Adria, Italy - won by Ekström, Audi
  EKSTROM: "... I'm extremely happy with my first win of the season as I haven't made it to the very top of the podium since Zandvoort in 2002. It was a perfect race. From the start to the pitstop, strategy, chequered flag - everything was right"

• R2, May 2, 2004: Estoril, Portugal *** new race *** - won by Albers, Mercedes
  ALBERS: "... I'm happy for the entire team about my first win of the season. I started well and made up two positions. Before the passing manoeuvre, I was on the better line than Gary and Ekström and could keep the momentum to overtake them. Ekström was very strong and I had to give all to maintain my position. I thank our team for their job and particularly for two very good pit stops which made this win possible."

• R1, April 18, 2004: Hockenheimring Germany - won by Paffett, Mercedes
  PARFETT: ".. I had a great start and managed to get past the two Audis. I had to follow behind Jean as it was very hard to get past and after the first pit stop he was still ahead .. On my second stop I stalled, which really annoyed me, but then Jean dropped back. Bernd got past me at the hairpin and I sat behind him as, again, it was so hard to get past. But then he went out as well .. it was incredible to win my first race"

PRE SEASON QUOTE:

• SCHNEIDER (2003 CHAMPION): "... This will be the most contested DTM season ever - and I hope I can repeat my success of the previous year."
• FRENTZEN (EX F1): "... Formula 1 has already been driving since the beginning of March. Now I'm very excited about my first DTM race and the duels with my driving colleagues"
• BIELA (3 TIMES LE MANS CHAMPION): "... At last, I am getting what I've wanted back for so long ... All of us are tensely awaiting season opening in Hockenheim, because then we will know where we stand. Test drives went well and just as planned. In Audi's team, all are fully motivated and looking forward to the first race."

2004 DTM MANUFACTURERS / TEAMS / DRIVERS

• OPEL: Vectra GTS V8
• Marcel Fässler, Timo Scheider, Peter Dumbreck, Manuel Reuter
• 2002 DTM champion Laurent Aiello
• ex F1 driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen: "... I must get used to having a roof over my head but it was important for me to have four wheels under my bottom again ....I considered it all very carefully. I don't think DTM has anything to envy to F1 and I don't feel sad at all. I'm looking forward to exciting races."
  
• MERCEDES BENZ: C Class, CLK
• new C Class AMG sedan: Bernd Schneider (2003 champion), Jean Alesi, Christijan Albers and Gary Paffett
• CLK coupe: Jarek Janis (age 20), Stefan Mücke (age22), Markus Winkelhock (age 23)
• ALESI on new C Class: "... Compared to the CLK, the C-Class is even easier to drive. Its basic setup is very good and I feel really comfortable in this car .."
• AUDI: A4
• Audi Team Abt Sportsline: Christian Abt, Tom Kristensen
• Audi Sport Team Abt : Mattias Ekström, Martin Tomczyk
• Reinhold Joest: Franck Biela and Emanuele Pirro

2004 DTM CALENDAR

• April 18, 2004: Hockenheimring Germany
• May 2, 2004: Estoril Portugal *** new to DTM ***
• May 16, 2004: Adria International Raceway Italy
• June 6, 2004: EuroSpeedway Lausitz Germany
• June 27, 2004: Norisring Germany
• August 1, 2004: Nurburgring Germany
• August 8, 2004: Motopark Oschersleben Germany
• September 5, 2004: Circuit Park Zandvoort Netherlands
• September 19, 2004: Automotodrom Brno Czech Republic *** new to DTM ***
• October 3, 2004: Hockenheimring Germany

DMT CHAMPIONS

(current DTM format started in 2000)

• YEAR 2003: Bernd Schneider, AMG Mercedes CLK
• YEAR 2002: Laurent Aiello, Abt-Audi TT-R
• YEAR 2001: Bernd Schneider, AMG Mercedes CLK
• YEAR 2000: Bernd Schneider, AMG Mercedes CLK

LAST SEASON (2003)

2003 FINAL STANDING

• 1 Bernd Schneider, AMG Mercedes, 68 points, 2 wins
• 2 Christijan Albers, AMG Mercedes, 64, 4 wins
• 3 Marcel Fässler, AMG Mercedes, 57
• 4 Mattias Ekström, Audi TT-R, 46
• 5 Jean Alesi, AMG Mercedes, 42
• 6 Laurent Aiello, Abt-Audi, 41
• 7 Peter Dumbreck, Opel, 31
• 8 Timo Scheider, 12
• 9 Alain Menu, 9
• 10 Manuel Reuter, 5