Are your pole position and victory at Brands Hatch an indication that the improvements made to the Audi RS 5 DTM over the winter are beginning to pay dividends?
You can certainly look at it like this. It’s clear that Audi is in a much better position in the DTM now than it was at the same time last year. This is also definitely down to the car. However, the form on the day is fundamentally crucial in the DTM. You start afresh at every race weekend and have to get all the parameters absolutely spot on to be successful. My team and I managed this perfectly last time out at Brands Hatch.
A short summary after two races – how are the adjustable wing and the option tires functioning from a driver’s point of view?
Purely from the mechanical side, the DRS functions exceptionally well. It also brings more action on the track. There were plenty of overtaking maneuvers even on a typical you-can’t-overtake-here track like Brands Hatch. The system provides us drivers with more opportunities and now makes the race more interesting for us too. The option tire in particular spices up the race because nobody can say beforehand how the rubber will function on the respective track or under the changing weather conditions. At Hockenheim, the rubber was good for a long time, at Brands Hatch however deteriorated surprisingly quickly. So every race weekend starts with many questions for us. This unpredictability ultimately means an increase in excitement.
The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg poses completely different challenges than Brands Hatch. What’s the key there and what do you expect?
It’s great fun to drive there and the DTM races there were always very spectacular. You need a car that is good on the brakes, but also has enough top speed for the quick sections. If we manage to get a set-up with which I feel comfortable in the car, I’m confident that we can do well there as well.
After the race in England, you travelled immediately to the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. Are two consecutive races with two different racecars on the same weekend a special challenge?
It could have been, but unfortunately it wasn’t. Because of the long interruption at the Nürburgring due to rain I actually only drove one stint. So, no real stress.
On the agenda in June is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. You are not competing this time. A little disappointed?
No, absolutely not. I deliberately chose the DTM this year and as can be seen from Brands Hatch this decision was correct. This doesn’t mean however that the subject of endurance racing is over for me forever. I’m quite sure that I have not driven my last race at Le Mans.
Source : Audi