Photo: Audi Mediacenter

Double programme for Mattias Ekström at Hockenheim

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The 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season opener at Hockenheim is just three weeks away, featuring a joint programme with the second round of the World Rallycross Championship. Audi Sport’s Mattias Ekström will be participating on both events.

The DTM and WRX promoters held a first joint event last year, which proved a successful bet with fans and spectators.

Mattias Ekström will start his 16th season in the DTM, having complemented his racing activities with participations in the European and World Rallycross championships. The Swede only missed two out of the 11 rounds of the WRX last year, winning in his home country and finishing sixth in the overall standings.

“Being able to race in the DTM and in rallycross at Hockenheim is like Christmas and Easter combined on a single day for me,” said Ekström. “I’m very thankful to Audi for this unique opportunity. I’m all fired up for the first two DTM races of the new season. We have good chances of repeating last year’s victories.”

The double program for Ekström has been made possible by a change in the starting times of the German premier touring car races, allowing the Swede to fit the WRX heats around his DTM agenda.

The Team Abt Sportsline driver competes in the WRX with an Audi S1 EKS RX. Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport, supports Ekström’s double venture at Hockenheim: “Many of our factory drivers have programs alongside the WEC or the DTM, for instance in Formula E, the Super Formula in Japan or in GT racing. With each race, they gather additional experience that we benefit from. This applies to Mattias as well, who has invested a lot of passion in building his rallycross team and, what’s more, competes in an Audi.”

The very versatile Ekström can’t wait for the opportunity to compete against some of the bigger names in motorsport, and hopes to make the most of his tight agenda for Hockenheim: “To be able to compete with world stars like Ken Block, Petter Solberg and Sébastien Loeb in front of thousands of Audi fans at the Motodrom is fantastic. On Friday and Saturday, I’ll definitely be on the grid. On Sunday, the time between the DTM qualifying session and the final rallycross races is pretty short. But, I’d have to qualify for the RX finals to begin with.”

The 2016 DTM season starts in Hockenheim on May 6-8, with a revised weekend program.