Audi duo aim to erase Mercedes hopes

Ekstrom and Tomczyk are separated by four points at the top of the standings, but Bruno Spengler and Bernd Schneider can still mathematically win the title with two rounds remaining.

Tomczyk has made up significant ground on Ekstrom with consecutive victories in the last two races, but both drivers have said that their aim is to be fighting among themselves for the title at the season finale at Hockenheim.

"For us the first thing is to beat the guys with the star on the bonnet," Tomczyk told autosport.com.

"If we can manage that then we are already happy. Me and Mattias don't have any problems between us."

Ekstrom admitted that he has been focusing on the gap back to Spengler, who is currently 10 points adrift in the standings.

"Martin is our small problem," the 2004 champion told autosport.com. "The big problem is that we have to make sure that one of us is going to be champion."

Audi's head of motorsport Wolfgang Ullrich also said that their aim this weekend at Barcelona was to guarantee that the title will go back to Audi for the first time since Ekstrom's triumph three years ago.

"Mercedes will certainly do everything possible to make sure that the championship is decided at the last race," he said.

"I have nothing against this, provided that the only title candidates are Mattias and Martin."