Tomczyk delighted with new car

The German followed teammate Mattias Ekstrom home for an Audi 1-2 in the season-opener at Hockenheim, which is traditionally a track that suits Mercedes.

"I feel at ease with the new car," he said. "In the long runs it was easy to drive, and it was very promising."

The Audi driver has struggled for consistency in his time in the DTM, and he felt it was crucial that he could carry on the momentum he had built up towards the end of last year.

"Last year I said I would like to start the way I finished last season," he said. "I'm really satisfied."

Tomczyk was happy with the result at Hockenheim, despite the fact that an error while leading early in the race cost him a shot at victory.

"I made a big mistake, and it probably cost me victory in the end, but it was 100 per cent my mistake," he told autosport.com.

"But it happens. My goal was to be on the podium, and I reached that goal so the season starts well."