Phoenix boss says Audi A5 DTM fast enough to win at Spielberg
Audi's A5 DTM machine is now fast enough to win this weekend's Spielberg round, according to Phoenix Racing team boss Ernst Moser, the man who guided Martin Tomczyk to last year's drivers' title
Tomczyk broke a 10-year win-less streak in the DTM for Phoenix at the Austrian circuit last year, but has since joined BMW to defend his crown.
Moser believes that his current drivers Mike Rockenfeller and Miguel Molina now have the equipment at their disposal to repeat the result following the team's first podium finish of the year last time out at Brands Hatch.
"After third place at Brands Hatch [with Rockenfeller driving] and victory at the Nurburgring 24 Hours [on the same weekend], the motivation in our team is such that we want to score the first Audi victory this year at Spielberg.
"The car has the capabilities to do so. And with our momentum and energy anything's possible.
"We've got very fond memories of Spielberg. Last year, we clinched our first DTM victory with Audi there - that was the foundation for winning the championship."
Fellow Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom, who races for the Abt Sportsline team, is also confident of an improved performance after failing to make the podium since the opening round of the year at Hockenheim.
"Last year I had what I think was the worst race of my whole career in Austria," the two-time series champion said.
"But at least I'm certain that things can only get better. We've been analysing where we can improve in order to finally be able to battle for the big points again."
Ekstrom is the best-placed of the Audi drivers in the championship. He lies third, but is 33 points behind Mercedes man Gary Paffett, who leads the standings after two wins and a runner-up spot. Rockenfeller is next up in fifth.
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About this article
| Series | DTM |
| Teams | Phoenix Racing |
| Author | Jamie O'Leary |
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