Audi confirm 2006 teams line-up

The German manufacturer has announced the inclusion of Team Rosberg and Team Phoenix as two of their four teams, while also revealing that Audi Sport Team Joest will not take part in the series this year so they can concentrate of the development of the Audi R10 diesel sportscar.

The manufacturer will again field a four-car works squad with Mattias Ekstrom, Tom Kristensen and Martin Tomczyk again competing for the Bavarian team.

The fourth seat remains open, but as previously predicted by Autosport, could be occupied by Heinz Harald Frentzen depending on sponsorship. Audi R10 sportscar driver Allan McNish is also another possibility.

Former Opel squad Audi Sport Team Phoenix will enter two 2005-specification cars for Christian Abt and Pierre Kaffer.

F3 Euroseries outfit Team Rosberg will also field a brace of year-old cars, which will be driven by Frank Stippler and newcomer Timo Scheider.

The Joest cars will go to Midland F1 boss Colin Kolles' new DTM team, with Vanina Ickx confirmed as one of their drivers.

Head of Audi motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich said: "The past has shown that specific DTM experience is of particular importance in this hard fought racing series.

"This is also the case for our two new teams who must familiarise themselves with the Audi A4 DTM at first but not the DTM. They will form a strong combination together with our proven team Abt Sportsline."

Audi delayed their commitment to the series late last year after they were concerned that they would have to field too many cars due to the pull-out of Opel from the sport. In total, the manufacturer will have just two more cars on the grid this season than in 2005.