Ekström as an instructor at Spielberg
Mattias Ekström has passed on his knowledge from over two decades in motorsport to hobby racers and motorsport enthusiasts. About two weeks following his victory in the DTM race at the Red Bull Ring, the Swede returned to Spielberg and served as an instructor at the ‘Go with the Pro’ Red Bull event for two days. The training was centered on the interaction of braking, cornering and focusing on field-of-vision techniques. The participants practiced in various vehicles, including karts, formula and sports cars. In addition to the driver training at the Driving Center and on the race track, they had the opportunity to elicit a few tips and tricks from the two-time DTM Champion at a gala dinner.
Visitors pit their skills against Audi driver Nico Müller
In Bern, visitors of the Shopping and Leisure Center Westside demonstrated their racing skills this weekend. They competed against Audi driver Nico Müller in DTM Raceroom simulators and won various prizes, including tickets for the DTM season finale at Hockenheim. The 23-year-old DTM race driver from Thun also signed autographs for the numerous fans at the largest and most modern shopping center in the Bern region on Friday and Saturday. “It’s great that the audience has so much interest in our sport,” said Nico Müller. “Many people had their picture taken in front of the Audi RS 5 DTM and were tremendously thrilled after competing in the simulator game.”
Christopher Haase relies on the Audi RS 4 Avant
Christopher Haase has been on the road in a new Audi RS 4 Avant since today. “The model is absolutely sporty, but the RS 4 Avant can be driven quite comfortably and in a relaxed style as well. I also like the fact that the Avant is practical and offers ample space,” says the two-time winner of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The 27-year-old professional race driver, who is currently the runner-up in the standings of the North American TUSC racing series, picked up his RS 4 Avant in Misano Red pearl effect color at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt on Tuesday.
A word from … Nicolaj Møller Madsen
The Dane is the mid-season Audi Sport TT Cup leader.
Nicolaj, what has been your highlight in the Audi Sport TT Cup so far?
That’s hard to say. On track, it’s definitely been my victory at the Norisring. The atmosphere with all the Audi fans in attendance is impressive. It wasn’t an easy race either. I started from position four on the grid and had to battle my way forward. But off track, the Norisring has left the strongest impression with me too. Following my victory, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Tom Kristensen and Marcel Fässler personally congratulated me. That was definitely a cool moment and my father was obviously proud of me.
You are 18 permanent entrants in the Audi Sport TT Cup. Rivals on track, but friends off track? It always looks as if you’re having a lot of fun with each other?
Yes, that’s right. Not just we drivers get on well with each other, but the instructors, Markus Winkelhock and Marco Werner, and the entire organizational team, are great, too. Being in the Audi Sport TT Cup is simply fun and when things are also going well on track, so much the better.
How important is physical fitness to you for being successful in racing?
In my opinion, it’s one of the most important aspects. Everyone is improving from race to race. So, when you have the same equipment, like in the Audi Sport TT Cup, physical fitness can make the difference, even more so than mental strength. You can’t do well when you’re exhausted.
It’s halftime now in the Audi Sport TT Cup. What are your plans for the second half of the season and what are your sporting aims for the future?
I’m going to continue what I’ve been doing during the first half of the season, in other words, hard workouts at the gym, on my bike and so on. For the races, I prepare myself with simulator training and video data. If I manage to keep my strength and regularly score points, then I’ll be able to stay in contention at the very front up to the season finale at Hockenheim, too. I’d love to stay with Audi in the future. If an opportunity in the GT3 program opened up afterwards, that would be terrific. But my biggest aim is Le Mans.
Have Danish race drivers inspired you in your career?
Tom Kristensen was, and still is, my biggest inspiration – as a person and by the way he works. He’s my biggest role model.
Coming up next week
21–23/08 Utah (USA), rounds 16 and 17, Pirelli World Challenge
21–23/08 Sydney (AUS), rounds 7 and 8, Australian GT Championship
22/08 Nürburgring (D), round 6, VLN
23/08 Virginia (USA), round 8, Tudor United SportsCar Championship
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