Audi kicked off its 2015 DTM season on a high note, winning both races of the double header opening weekend at Hockenheim. The result is a reminder that Audi, last season’s winner of the manufacturer’s championship, will once again be a serious threat to BMW and Mercedes-Benz in DTM as it searches for more success in Germany’s premier motorsports series.
In the first race of the weekend, Jamie Green started from pole in his Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM and quickly pulled into the lead following a perfect start. Green remained out front and managed to hold his lead even as caution periods were put out.
“I was fast even last year but was simply unfortunate in the races,” Green said post-race. “Today, everything went perfectly. I’m driving in the same team, have the same engineer and feel comfortable in my Audi RS 5 DTM. All I can say is I’m happy.”
Also putting Audi in the top five was Abt Sportsline’s Edoardo Mortara in the Castrol EDGE Audi RS 5 DTM and Phoenix’s Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM. Youngster Nico Muller also managed to give the automaker a few points towards its manufacturer championship efforts, putting his Audi Financial Services Audi RS 5 DTM in sixth place.
The second race of the weekend saw Mattias Ekström drive to a hard fought victory in his Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM. After passing last year’s championship winner, BMW’s Marco Wittmann, Ekström set to make a move on Audi teammate Edoardo Mortara. He pitted to take wet weather tires as the rain set in and began to reel in Mortara, eventually passing him and crossing the finish line 7.3 seconds in the lead.
With a second place finish Sunday and strong fourth place result Saturday, Mortara has moved into the driver’s championship following the first round of DTM racing at Hockenheim. The automaker now also leads the manufacturer’s championship and will be looking to build on the lead when DTM heads to the Lausitzring on May 29-31.
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