Audi confident it has taken a step forward during summer break

Despite showing well in practice and qualifying, Audi has won only one of the opening five races of 2012 - Edoardo Mortara's victory at Spielberg - while long-time rival Mercedes and its leading driver Gary Paffett have raced ahead in the battle for the championship.

But following an intensive test at Magny-Cours last week, head of Audi Sport Wolfgang Ullrich believes that his cars can return to the front line, starting at the Nurburgring next weekend.

"I'm optimistic that we'll receive confirmation of the fact that we worked very hard and that the guys will be rewarded for their hard work with good results," Ullrich said.

"At the Nurburgring and at the subsequent races our aim is to continue the performance we showed at Spielberg, because in my opinion we were beaten 'below value' at the Norisring."

Mike Rockenfeller, who took the drive vacated by 2012 champion Martin Tomczyk at Phoenix during the winter, was among the drivers to test at Magny-Cours, and he believes that the step forwards has come at just the right time.

"Things certainly haven't gone as well as I'd hoped for so far," he said. "However, with the exception of scoring no points at Lausitz, we have always made the most of our opportunities.

"But now are coming some circuits that I really like and I've also had good races there. Like they say in football, there's always a second half in which to turn things around."