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327 – Audi drives into history books

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26 October 2009

Timo Schneider drives across the finishing line at Hockenheim

The fireworks go off as Timo Schneider claims title number two and a hat-trick for Audi

Third DTM title on the trot

CONGRATULATIONS to Audi on winning the DTM title for the third successive year – something none of the other combatants (Mercedes this year, but BMW in previous years) has achieved.

If you’re wondering what an earth the DTM is, it’s Germany’s version of the British Touring Car series. Except in Germany it’s very, very serious: there were 155,000 spectators at Hockenheim to watch Audi A4 driver Timo Schneider finish second on the road – but first in the championship race.

It’s so big, in fact, that even Rupert Stadler, Audi’s chairman, gets wrapped up in the sport. “In the DTM we compete with one of the toughest rivals you can imagine. Sincere congratulations to everyone who had a part in this feat. Audi Sport could not have given the Audi brand a nicer gift on its 100th anniversary,” said the boss afterwards.

Scheider played a canny game. He stayed on the bumper of his only remaining rival for the title, Gary Paffett (Mercedes), during the entire 39 laps. Job done, and his title defended from last year.

I have been to DTM races in the past in Germany. And believe me, they are big affairs. It’s like Formula 1 for touring cars. The cars look big, spectacular and the drivers crowd-friendly. The DTM circus visits Britain, too, with a race at Brands Hatch in Kent.

In all, Audi has won the title seven times now: 1990 (Hans-Joachim Stuck); 1991 (Frank Biela); 2002 (Laurent Aiello); 2004 (Mattias Ekstr

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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