Quotes regarding the incidents

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “We wanted to see a tough, but fair touring car race today. But we had to get the impression that the Mercedes drivers used every opportunity to eliminate our cars. This is not the style in which we want to conduct motorsport. We want to see tough and fair duels but nothing of the kind we had today. That’s why we took the decision to withdraw all of our vehicles. That was not an easy decision, and it cost us points, and maybe even the title. But we wanted to send a clear message for fair motorsport.”

Mattias Ekström, 2007 Audi A4 (retired): “I had a good start and managed to fight from tenth to the top. I hard a hard fight with Daniel la Rosa when he missed and went off track. But he kept his foot on the gas and aimed straight for me and took me out when he got back on track. DTM is supposed to be the best racing championship, but this was a pure stockcar race.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “A race with many emotions. Everybody should take the time to watch the video recordings, get the right picture of the entire race and then draw the right conclusions. Mika Häkkinen as well as Bruno Spengler, Bernd Schneider and Jamie Green could drive significantly faster than Martin Tomczyk at the front. Mika’s attempt to overtake him was optimistic; however, the collision could have been avoided; although I don’t want to criticize Martin Tomczyk here.
Mattias Ekström made a tough move against Daniel la Rosa and hit him, Daniel slowed down as is clearly shown on the TV recording, but there was no room and on the grass besides the track, where he had been pushed to, it was impossible for him to brake considerably. Personally, I think that the withdrawal of our competitor was not correct. The HWA team will appeal against the penalties imposed on Mika and Daniel; there are comparable situations, which have been judged in a different way. I now hope for an exciting final race in Hockenheim and that oil will be poured on the troubled water – I offer our co-operation for it.”

Daniel la Rosa, 2006 TrekStor AMG Mercedes C-Class (retired): “Mattias Ekström pushed me off onto the grass. There I didn’t have any grip and despite full braking, I was not able to decelerate significantly on the loose ground nor could I control the car, so I slid back onto the track and hit Ekström’s car; we both retired.”

Mika Häkkinen, 2007 AMG Mercedes C-Class (retired): “I am frustrated that I retired so early. I was much faster and came alongside Martin Tomczyk into the first corner, we both pulled to the right and he touched me. It was a race accident.”