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Audi shuffles DTM line-up for Hockenheim finale to boost title hopes

Audi has shuffled 2013 champion Mike Rockenfeller within its DTM line-up in a bid to help its title chances in this weekend's Hockenheim finale

Rockenfeller will move from Audi's Phoenix outfit to Abt, where he will partner drivers' championship contender Edoardo Mortara.

Abt leads the teams' title standings by 25 over BMW's Team RMG, and Rene Rast - who is standing in for Abt regular Mattias Ekstrom - will race with Phoenix.

Marco Wittmann, who leads Mortara by 14 points, and Timo Glock race for RMG, while another Audi pilot Jamie Green is an outside contender starting the weekend 39 points behind Wittmann with 50 on offer.

Audi heads to Hockenheim, where it has dominated the last two season finales, 37 points clear of BMW in the manufacturers' title race.

"Obviously, we're going to leave no stone unturned to deliver an equally strong performance as in the past two years," Audi's DTM boss Dieter Gass said.

"We know that our RS5 DTM is very fast at Hockenheim. That makes us optimistic.

"Naturally, we're also aware of all the things that can happen in a DTM finale.

"That we're actually still in contention for all three titles proves that we're looking back on a very good season.

"But we haven't reached our goal yet. Everyone involved in this effort has to do a zero-defects job."

Wittmann has led the championship after every race bar one since leaving the Norisring inJune, and would have been 26 points clear of Mortara before his exclusion from the second race at the Hungaroring last month.

Mortara has won four races this season, including the very first of the campaign at Hockenheim.

"I look forward to the grand finale and am traveling to Hockenheim with optimism and full of self-confidence," Mortara said.

"We won the first race of the year there in May and should have a chance for victory in the finale as well.

"There are only 14 points separating us. Now, we're hoping to overtake [Wittmann] in the final sprint.

"We're not going to give up and battle up until the end."

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