A picture showing Mattias Ekström’s Audi A4 DTM leading the race at Zandvoort in 2004.

DTM

The DTM racing series disappeared after the conclusion of its high-tech era by the end of 1996. A new DTM revived under a different philosophy from 2000 onwards used its regulations to avoide the earlier escalations in technology and costs. Rear-wheel drive, robust tubular frame chassis, various standardised technical assemblies for all manufacturers, a standardised tyre manufacturer, generously dimensioned engines and limits defined in the regulations, such as the number of engines being limited to three per season for two race cars, made it possible to control costs while maintaining high-quality motorsport. Thus began a fascinating era of the touring car racing series, in which Audi played a successful role in shaping a heyday for the formula.

A group picture showing Audi race cars and drivers that won DTM titles, taken in Neuburg an der Donau.

A special DTM champions photo shoot in Neuburg: from the left: Frank Biela, Mattias Ekström, Mike Rockenfeller and René Rast. Not pictured: Timo Scheider, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Martin Tomczyk

Private commitment from Abt Sportsline

Running start

When the DTM began in 2000, Audi was not yet on the starting grid. Nevertheless, the four rings were present in the field right from the beginning: Abt Sportsline from Kempten ventured into the new racing series as a private team with the Abt-Audi TT-R. In 2002, the team with Audi factory driver Laurent Aiello achieved a major coup: the Allgäu-based outfit beat the factory teams from Mercedes-Benz and Opel in the championship battle.

A picture showing two Abt-Audi TT-R race cars on track in 2000.

The Abt-Audi TT-R debuted with Abt Sportsline in 2000

A picture showing two Abt-Audi TT-R race cars on track in 2002.

The 2002 DTM champion: Laurent Aiello with an Abt-Audi TT-R from Abt Sportsline

Audi A4 DTM

The comeback

Audi returned to the DTM with a factory commitment in 2004. The newly developed Audi A4 DTM was immediately capable of winning. Mattias Ekström won the title in the year of Audi’s return. The Swede repeated his feat three years later with a further developed version of the A4 DTM. Timo Scheider was then crowned as the champion in 2008 and 2009, which was very popular with the public. After three successful years, Audi celebrated a hat-trick of titles, something no other manufacturer had ever achieved before. With Martin Tomczyk at the wheel in 2011, the A4 DTM clinched a fifth and final title in its career.

A group picture showing the drivers and team members of the Audi DTM factory teams in 2004.

The Audi Sport factory team line-up for the 2004 DTM season from Abt Sportsline and Team Joest

A picture showing Mattias Ekström’s Audi A4 DTM taking victory at the Lausitzring in 2004.

The 2004 DTM champion: Mattias Ekström with an Audi A4 DTM from Audi Sport Team Abt

Audi A5 DTM / Audi RS 5 DTM

Two-door coupé era

A new era dawned in the 2012 season. With the entry of BMW, the DTM opted for modern and standardised CFRP monocoques for all three manufacturers. Audi initially switched from the A4 DTM to the A5 DTM and then to the RS 5 DTM in 2013. The coupé with the four rings continued to be powered by the familiar four-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. Mike Rockenfeller, who contested a dual programme in the Le Mans prototypes and the DTM for Audi for many years, came out on top in the final DTM standings in 2013. René Rast took the next title in 2017. The last two seasons of the Class 1 DTM era were characterised by the new turbo engines from 2019 onwards. Audi had developed a two-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 610 hp. Within only two years, Audi took 28 victories, 95 podiums, 29 pole positions, 28 fastest race laps and the championship titles in all of the classifications with the RS 5 DTM. René Rast was once again the best driver. Class 1 then came to an end, with the DTM turning its attention to customer racing models in the GT3 category from 2021.

A studio photo of the Audi A5 DTM ahead of the 2012 DTM season.

The launch of the Audi A5 DTM ahead of the 2012 season

A picture showing Mike Rockenfeller celebrating his DTM title at Zandvoort in 2013.

The 2013 DTM champion: Mike Rockenfeller with an Audi RS 5 DTM from Audi Sport Team Phoenix

Gallery

A group picture showing eight Audi race cars that won DTM titles.

A picture showing Mattias Ekström’s Audi A4 DTM race car taking victory at Brno in 2004.

A picture showing Mike Rockenfeller’s Audi RS 5 DTM race car on track at Zandvoort in 2013.

A picture showing the Audi RS 5 DTM race cars of Nico Müller and René Rast on track at Hockenheim in 2020.

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