Mike Rockenfeller arrives at Zandvoort for the penultimate round of the 2013 DTM Championship with a 33 point advantage over BMW’s Augusto Farfus.
The Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver can secure the Championship title in the sand dunes of Holland and having scored points in all seven races held to date in 2013, he is confident of completing the task ahead of the Hockenheim finale.
For the title battle to go to Hockenheim on 20th October, ‘Rocky’ has to see his advantage fall to 25 points or less – if he wins or finishes 2nd overall, he will secure his maiden DTM drivers’ title.
Having taken victory at the circuit in 2011, the 29 year old credits the Dutch circuit as one of his favourite circuits.
“Zandvoort is my favourite track,” Rockenfeller said. “I’m looking forward to the race with huge anticipation and would obviously like to win the Championship there as well. Although you can’t force that to happen we know it works: We’ve got to do our job with high concentration and then see if that’s enough or not.
“If it isn’t, then we’ll just be experiencing a hot finale at Hockenheim. But with Zandvoort being such a great track, which also suits us well, I‘m travelling to the North Sea coast with guarded optimism.”
Team-mate Miguel Molina heads to the Zandvoort circuit having finished inside the top 10 in the last two races and is looking to continue his climb up the standings from 19th at present.
He heads to the North Sea coast looking to help the team secure the teams’ Championship as well as improve on his best finish of 5th at the circuit.
He has fond memories of the Dutch circuit, as he explains: “Zandvoort is a great place. I’ve got fond memories of the track because that’s where I managed the leap into the last qualifying segment for the first time. I’d like to continue the upward trend of the past few races.”
In the teams’ Championship, Audi Sport Team Phoenix is second overall behind the STIHL/AMG Mercedes outfit – 9 points separates the two teams’ heading into the final two races of the season.
Team Director for Team Phoenix, Ernst Moser backs up his drivers’ compliments about the Zandvoort circuit as he confirms that it is one of Audi’s favourite circuits on the DTM calendar.
“Zandvoort is one of our favourite tracks,” adds Moser. “With Mike (Rockenfeller) at the front and a good position in the team classification we’ve got our sights set on two titles. Maybe we can lock it all in right here on the North Sea Coast.”