Audi have guaranteed themselves all three DTM titles at the Hockenheimring, with the brand having secured the manufacturers’ and teams’ titles on Saturday and only Audi drivers in the running for the drivers’ title on Sunday.
After Jamie Green took his third win of the season on Saturday, heading home Mike Rockenfeller in a 1-2 finish, the Ingolstadt marque are untouchable in the race for two of the three trophies in 2017.
It means that Sunday’s title showdown will be all about the drivers’ battle, with Mattias Ekström currently heading Green by nine points, with René Rast a further four back. Even fourth-placed Rockenfeller still has an outside chance at the title, although the 2013 champion has to overturn a 20-point deficit.
Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass hailed a perfect result for the manufacturer, which has diverted some of its resources from its canned LMP1 programme into pushing its DTM programme further forward this year.
“Today, we secured the drivers’ championship for Audi – that was our big aim,” said Gass. “The manufacturers’ and teams’ championships are assured as well. You can’t do any better than that.
“We saw a tremendous race and clinched a one-two victory. Jamie once again showed a superb performance. Mike drove fantastically as well.
“Now we’re looking forward to a great finale tomorrow in which the DTM fans will get to see a thrilling shootout for the drivers’ championship.”
Audi’s Board Member for Technical Development, Peter Mertens, was at the event to witness the success and he heaped praise on Gass and his team for achieving the triple success.
“It’s been a great race and a great day for Audi,” said Mertens. “My congratulations to Dieter Gass and to the entire Audi DTM squad.
“Our engineers built the best DTM car last winter and our teams and drivers did a perfect job of putting everything on track. The three titles are more than deserved.”