DTM 2010: Runners and riders

Audi

#1 Timo Scheider (D)

Abt Sportsline Audi A4 (2009)
Starts: 95
Wins: 5
Poles: 7
2009: champion

The German admitted that he had to work harder to win his second title, as the 2009-spec Audi didn't suit him as well as the 2008 model. But once he got his head around it his form was impressive, and he was a deserving champion by the end of the year.

Three in a row has never been done before in the DTM, so he's got his work cut out if he wants to make some history.

#2 Oliver Jarvis (GB)

Abt Sportsline Audi A4 (2009)
Starts: 21
Best finish: 2nd
Poles: 1
2009: 9th

Jarvis was the stand-out performer of the 2008-spec Audi contingent last year, so his promotion to replace Tom Kristensen is well-deserved. He took a maiden pole at Zandvoort last year - the first for an old car - and could easily have turned that into a win were it not for an off while leading Gary Paffett.

He's targeting big things for his first year in a top car, and from what we've seen so far he should be capable of achieving them.

#5 Mattias Ekstrom (S)

Abt Sportsline Audi A4 (2009)
Starts: 91
Wins: 13
Poles: 15
2009: 5th

Last season turned into one to forget for the double champion, as various problems halted his title hopes early. It could have been so different if he hadn't lost a dominant win at Hockenheim to a late-race puncture, but as the problems mounted up over the year he didn't waste much time worrying about it.

Now he has the fresh beginning he desires, expect him to start with a bang to make up for 2009.

#6 Martin Tomczyk (D)

Abt Sportsline Audi A4 (2009)
Starts: 90
Wins: 4
Poles: 7
2009: 6th

His mid-season run of out-scoring everybody was impressive, and made up for a very difficult start to the campaign. But if Tomczyk wants to fight for a title he needs to start well and prove that his team-mates should be supporting him as the season goes on rather than the other way around.

If he re-captures his good days from last season he could definitely spring a surprise in the title race.

#9 Alexandre Premat (F)

Team Phoenix Audi A4 (2008)
Starts: 30
Best finish: 2nd
Best start: 3rd
2009: 13th

Oliver Jarvis may have swooped in to take the first available berth at Abt, that Premat has been waiting for since 2007, but with Audi taking the Frenchman out of its sportscar plans for this year he should be able to re-capture his tin-top form.

Not getting promoted to a top car will have come as a blow, but he should be mentally strong enough to deal with it.

#10 Mike Rockenfeller (D)

Team Phoenix Audi A4 (2008)
Starts: 31:
Best finish: 3rd
Best start: 2nd
2009: 14th

The German moves from Team Rosberg to Team Phoenix after three seasons, which will make for an interesting comparison with Alexandre Premat. Both have had their moments since joining the series in 2007, but consistency has been a problem.

Rockenfeller remains a part of Audi's sportscar programme, although he claims that has never hindered his DTM performances in the past.

#14 Markus Winkelhock (D)

Team Rosberg Audi A4 (2008)
Starts: 38
Best finish: 4th
Best start: 7th
2009: 10th

Winkelhock has been phenomenal at times with Audi, including his run to fourth just behind three 2009-spec A4s at Nurburgring last year, where you could have sworn he was in a works car.

He was second best of the old Audis last year - ahead of Premat and Rockenfeller - so he will fancy his chances to take the honours in that battle this year if he can keep his consistency up.

#15 Katherine Legge (GB)

Team Rosberg Audi A4 (2008)
Starts: 21
Best finish: 12th
Best start: 5th
2009: 18th

The move to Team Rosberg should be a good one for Legge after spending 2009 running as a somewhat overlooked fifth Abt Sportsline car last year.

Her highlight was managing to snatch fastest lap at the Norisring, but heading into her third season, points will be on the agenda.

#18 Miguel Molina (E)

Abt Sportsline Audi A4 (2008)
Starts: 0
2009: 8th in Formula Renault 3.5

The Spanish rookie was impressive in pre-season testing, and he has already earned plenty of praise from his new employers. Turning that speed into results is never easy for tin-top newcomers, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

There are advantages and disadvantages to being in the fifth Abt car, which will be put on the back-burner when the title fight kicks into full swing.

Mercedes

#3 Gary Paffett (GB)

HWA Mercedes C-class (2009)
Starts: 60
Wins: 13
Poles: 5
2009: 2nd

The 2005 champion proved he'd lost none of his form last year as he stepped back up to a top-line car and nearly won the title.

Were it not for qualifying dramas at Hockenheim and the Nurburgring, which in turn led to first lap incidents, he could easily have had a second title. He finished 2009 in ominous form, winning the last two races.

#4 Bruno Spengler (CDN)

HWA Mercedes C-class (2009)
Starts: 52
Wins: 5
Poles: 7
2009: 4th

It's surprising to think that the Canadian, who burst onto the scene with a spate of victories in his first season with HWA in 2006, now hasn't won a race since 2007.

The rise of Paul di Resta and return of Gary Paffett has nudged him down the pecking order, but he was often on their tails last year, so shouldn't be written off.

#7 Paul di Resta (GB)

HWA Mercedes C-class (2009)
Starts: 31
Wins: 3
Poles: 2
2009: 3rd

The Scot faces a challenge in jumping between driving for Force India in Formula 1 practice sessions and racing a DTM car for a fourth season. He's confident that it won't have any adverse affects on his tin-top efforts, and if that's the case he will be a force again this year.

However, there could be fireworks behind closed doors if a Formula 1 vacancy comes up mid-season.

#8 Ralf Schumacher (D)

HWA Mercedes C-class (2009)
Starts: 21
Best finish: 5th
Best start: 6th
2009: 11th

The six-time grand prix winner claimed at the end of last year that he was starting to crack the DTM after two years in the series. He's set a target of podiums for this year, and that's the minimum he needs to achieve in his second year in a top-spec Mercedes.

The learning process has been slow so far, but if he gets on top of it this year that will all be forgotten.

#11 Jamie Green (GB)

Persson Motorsport Mercedes C-class (2008)
Starts: 52
Wins: 5
Poles: 6
2009: 7th

The former HWA driver joined Gary Paffett in the elite club of drivers able to win in an old car with his stunning victory at the Norisring last year. His attitude towards demotion for 2009 was first class, and despite some great performances he's got another year in a Persson 2008 car simply because there's still no room at the inn.

The older cars should be more competitive this year, so expect Green to ruffle plenty of feathers.

#12 Susie Stoddart (GB)

Persson Motorsport Mercedes C-class (2008)
Starts: 41
Best finish: 9th
Best start: 10th
2009: 16th

The Scot is determined to score her first DTM points this year, after coming close on several occasions since joining the series in 2006. Has several top 10 finishes, but her best result is still the 2006 finale.

She'll be hoping that the extra weight break given to older cars this year gives her that little bit extra to break the top eight.

#16 Maro Engel (D)

Mucke Motorsport Mercedes C-class (2008)
Starts: 21
Best finish: 6th
Best start: 5th
2009: 12th

Engel's two years in the DTM have been impressive, and he showed well against Jamie Green at times last year. He's certainly worthy of a place on the grid, and if he can continue his steady learning curve he should be able to get closer to Green this year.

And for the second time in three years, he has an ex-Formula 1 driver as a team-mate...

#17 David Coulthard (GB)

Mucke Motorsport Mercedes C-class (2008)
Starts: 0
2009: N/A

His performance in the pre-season test - second on the first day and sixth overall - seemed to make up Coulthard's mind to come back to racing in the DTM.

He's aware that he'll spend many a session in the bottom half of the field, but his curiosity at trying something new appears to be the over-riding factor in all of this. As he has already admitted, if he fails here, does it really matter?

#21 Franky Cheng (PRC)

Persson Motorsport Mercedes C-class (2008)
Starts: 0
2009: A1GP (1 race)

When the series stages its season finale in China, the fans will have a local driver to cheer. That definitely will have played a part in Cheng's signing, but he's had his moments in single-seaters.

Mercedes was good enough to let him drive at all four days of the pre-season test in Spain, which should enable him to start reasonably well.

Read the full preview to this season's DTM championship in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, or in the digital edition.