“Our starting base before the finale is even better than last year” – Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich

Timo Scheider (GW:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM 2009 #1), 1st place 1 (56 points) :

“After the poor qualifying at Dijon-Prenois I expected the worst case, in other words that I’d have a maximum advantage of two points at Hockenheim. I said that anything above a two-point lead would be an exploit. In the end, my lead over Gary (Paffett) amounted to seven points. Of course that’s a very positive feeling.”

” On the one hand I feel a little sorry for Mattias (Ekström), on the other I’ve got to look at my own position and say: there’s one less rival in the title fight! That can help a bit to stay focused. At Hockenheim, I already had the chance of experiencing how exhilarating the feeling after the championship fight can be. It would be the greatest and best thing for me to be able to clinch this exploit again in front of a German audience and to celebrate it. In any event, this is my dream.”

Mattias Ekström (Red Bull Audi A4 DTM 2009 #5), 3rd place (41 points) :

“I’ll give everything I’ve got to defend my third place. I look forward to the season finale at Hockenheim. Some of my friends will be at the race again. The last round of the season is always very special. And Hockenheim is even more or less a home race for me because, living in Switzerland, I really don’t live far away from there.”

Martin Tomczyk (Red Bull Cola Audi A4 DTM 2009 #6), 6th place (35 points) :

“Hockenheim will surely be a really great race. We’ll start with ten kilograms less weight than our rivals and thus no doubt have the best prerequisites for clinching the championship – and of course I’ll have a good chance to get back on fourth place in the championship.”

Tom Kristensen (100 Jahre Audi – A4 DTM 2009 #2), 8th place (21 points) :

“I look forward to Hockenheim, that’ll be super. For the spectators, too, it’ll probably be a dream round. We’ve got a very good chance with Audi and of course I’m hoping for Timo (Scheider) to be able to win the championship there. Now, if I only knew who won the first race of the season at Hockenheim, I’d say I’d try and do the same thing at my last DTM race …”

Oliver Jarvis (Audi Cup A4 DTM 2008 #15), 9th place (15 points) :

“I can’t believe it; this is already the season’s finale. The year went by incredibly fast and I can only say that I can hardly wait to return to Hockenheim – to a circuit I really like a lot. Now it’s about everything because the championship has not yet been decided. I want to drive a strong race and score a few points.”

Markus Winkelhock (Playboy Audi A4 DTM 2008 #12), 10th place (10 points) :

“Hockenheim is my home race. The atmosphere there is really special. There’s always a large turnout of spectators at both the season opener and the finale. That’s why I’m happy to be racing there again. My goal is the same as always: I’m hoping that we’ll be reasonably competitive and that I’ll be able to score a small point at the end of the season. That would be great.”

Mike Rockenfeller (S line Audi A4 DTM 2008 #11), 13th place (4 points) :

“I’m looking forward to the last race of the season because things are looking better for us again as far as weight is concerned. Dijon was a somewhat difficult weekend – and for me it’s been a difficult year. That’s why I’m hoping for a nice result at the final race in order to start the winter with a good feeling. I was fast in the tests at Hockenheim but unfortunately ‘slipped’ a little in qualifying on the first race weekend. Unfortunately, the race was over as early as after the first lap. Now, I’m hoping to still clinch a good result at the end of the season.”

Alexandre Prémat (Audi Bank A4 DTM 2008 #14), 14th place (1 point) :

“At Barcelona, I scored my first point; after that I had nice battles for points up to the penultimate round in my home race at Dijon-Prenois. Now I’m hoping for a good finale for Timo Scheider and Audi, as well as for my team, Phoenix, and for myself at Hockenheim.”

Katherine Legge (Audi Collection A4 DTM 2008 #21), 18th place (0 points) :

“At Hockenheim, my season with Team Abt Sportsline started and now we’re returning there and the squad is fighting for the title with Timo Scheider. I think the spectators can look forward to a really special race. And I want to give my very best to clinch a good place in front of as large an audience as possible.”

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport):

“Our starting base before the finale is even better than last year when Timo (Scheider) only had a two-point lead. That’s why’ve got a positive feeling, particularly since our performance in the first race of the season at Hockenheim was very good and we clinched a one-two-three-four victory for Audi. We need to tackle the task in a focused manner to again deliver a good team performance at the finale.”

” If we manage that, then we should be able to successfully defend the championship – fully aware of the fact that it’s difficult and that our strong rival will surely give everything within his means to turn the tables once more. Therefore, working with full concentration is all the more important.”

source: DTM