Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline’s Jamie Green is optmisitic of a strong showing at Brands Hatch for the second round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, despite it being only his second race for Audi.
Green, 30, finished his first race for Audi down in 14th, having initially been given a lap-time penalty. However due to incorrectly taking the penalty (which involves slowing down on a prescribed lap by the penalty amount), Green was subsequently handed a drive-through penalty, wrecking his chances in the race.
The Brit is hoping to make amends at Brands Hatch in the UK next weekend in the DTM’s only visit to the UK and one of only four races held outside Germany in 2013. Green admits that he would have liked to have more track time in his Audi RS5 before such an important event for him.
“It’s always very special for me to race in front of a crowd of my fellow countrymen – after all, this doesn’t happen very often,” said Green. “It’s a bit unfortunate that we’re traveling to the UK right for our second race of the season because I’m still in the process of gelling with Audi and my team. But I’ve personally had to experience the fact that Audi was always strong at Brands Hatch in the past – so I’m optimistic that we’ll be in contention for a good result.”
Green’s best result at Brands Hatch in the DTM has been a single podium – a second-placed finish in 2006. Abt Sportsline team-mate Mattias Ekström, in comparison, has scored four podiums at the circuit in England, including one win in 2006.
Ekström also had a difficult season-opener and ultimately retired from the race after not only losing his bonnet but also being handed a drive-through penalty and suffering further damage to his car later in the race. The Swede expects the Brands Hatch race to be more difficult than at the Hockenheimring due to the series using the shorter Brands Hatch Indy layout.
“Qualifying will be very important because overtaking, despite DRS and option tires, will be more difficult than at the last race at Hockenheim,” admitted Ekström. “That’s why I’ll be investing even more energy than usual to start as far at the front as possible.”