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Audi AG has announced its teams for the 2006 DTM season. Audi Sport Team Abt
Sportsline has received support from two new Audi factory teams in its effort to
win back the championship title from Mercedes-Benz. Audi Sport Team Phoenix and
Audi Sport Team Rosberg will both enter two Audi A4 DTM cars. Audi Sport Team
Abt Sportsline will field four cars. Two privately entered A4 DTM cars run by
the new Dr Colin Kolles managed customer team complete the squad.
Driving for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline are well-known racers, former
champion Mattias Ekström, Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, Martin Tomczyk and
newly-appointed ex Formula 1 driver, Heinz-Harald Frentzen. All will drive
newly-built A4’s for the 2006 season.
Audi Sport Team Phoenix, who have been competing in the DTM since 2000, will
enter two A4 DTM cars from last year for drivers Christian Abt and Pierre
Kaffer.
New to the Audi family is the DTM-experienced team of former Formula 1 World
Champion, Keke Rosberg. Audi Sport Team Rosberg also fields a brace of year-old
cars, which will be driven by Frank Stippler and newcomer Timo Scheider.
"All drivers have proven just how quick they can be in a DTM car, and each of
them has at least one DTM season behind them,” said Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr
Wolfgang Ullrich.
Audi Sport Team Joest, who have competed for Audi in the DTM over the past
two seasons, will concentrate entirely on the new Audi R10 sportscar project
during the 2006 season.
The two Audi A4 DTM cars which were entered by the Joest team in 2005 have
been acquired by the new team run by Dr Colin Kolles. Vanina Ickx will drive one
of the two cars originating from the 2004 season. A second driver is yet to be
confirmed for the team.
In preparation for the DTM series, all drivers were put through an extensive
week long training programme to determine their basic fitness levels and
stamina. The fitness level of each driver is analysed before, during and after
the programme. As a result each driver receives a personal training plan for the
next few months.
Audi Team Doctor, Dr Christian John was entirely positive with the results.
“The entire team is in excellent condition. Let the season begin,” said Dr
John.
The DTM will be unveiled to the public on 26 March in Düsseldorf, Germany
with the opening race of the DTM season to be held on the 9 April at Hockenheim,
Germany.
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