Three-way battle at final round of DTM season in Germany

Audi driver, Mike Rockenfeller, at 142 points, secured the driver's title in the ninth round at Zandvoort, Netherlands, while the situation in the team and manufacturers' classifications promises a gripping three-way battle at the final round in Germany on the 20^th of October.

Audi Sport Team, Phoenix Racing, is heading the standings by only a three point advantage in front of the best BMW team and 10 points in front of the best Mercedes squad. In the manufacturers' standings, Audi has a seven point advantage over BMW. Audi last managed to win all three titles on making its comeback with a factory-backed commitment in 2004.
 
Since the DTM's comeback in 2000, an Audi driver has been on the very top of the podium five times. This May, two time Champion, Timo Scheider, started the season at Hockenheim with a pole position.
 
The 4.57km Hockenheimring ranks among the favourite tracks of many DTM drivers. The reason, besides the unique atmosphere in the stadium-like Motodrome, is the characteristics of the track that is regarded as technically challenging due to its mix of fast turns and slow sections.

The long Parabolica with the subsequent hairpin turn offers one of the best overtaking opportunities on the whole DTM calendar. The long straight is an optimum section for use of the Drag Reduction System (DRS) that allows the drivers to flatten the rear wing angle by pushing a button on the steering wheel. Furthermore, Hockenheim is the first track on which the teams and drivers have gathered previous experience with the option tyres. The new, softer tyre compound was first used in a race at the season opener in May.