Mercedes want to stop Audi’s 50th win

Audi Sport head to their effective home round of the DTM at the Norisring this weekend looking to claim their 50th victory in the series, but Norbert Haug has warned that “the race begins as early as on Saturday”, and that Mercedes are confident of extending their six race winning streak at the circuit.

With 49 DTM victories behind them, Audi would dearly love to take their 50th win in Nuremburg, particularly with the marque celebrating their 100th anniversary in July, but to do so they will have to break a barren spell that stretches back to Laurent Aiello’s win at the Norisring in 2002.

Since then Gary Paffett and Bruno Spengler have each scored two wins, while Jamie Green and Christijan Albers account for the other victories, but no Audi driver has reached the top step of the podium.

In fact Audi have only ever scored three victories at their ‘home’ circuit, with Hans-Joachim Stuck the only other driver to enter victory lane in 1990 and 1991 with the Audi V8 Quattro.

And Director of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Norbert Haug has warned that the C-Class is particularly suited to the unique, bumpy, public roads.

“Therefore, you have to opt for a very specific set-up programme. And in the past, this task was realised really good, by the Mercedes-Benz technicians and engineers.

“The Norisring is a unique circuit worldwide and winning here represents a particularly cherished success for every driver.”

Reigning DTM champion Timo Scheider heads into the race leading the series, and in 2008 was the best-placed Audi driver, finishing third behind Mercedes duo Green and Spengler.

Close behind Scheider was Mathias Ekstrom, who as always gone well at the Norisring, with five points finishes in succession, but Haug warns that because of the compact nature of the track, predicting a winner won’t be that easy.

“As I see it, there are at least 12 drivers that could make it to the podium, as the racing is extremely close here. And the chances for the 2008-spec cars also will be better than at other circuits.

“If you want to win at the Norisring, qualifying for the front end of the grid is a must. At the end of the day the race begins as early as on Saturday.”

With the A4 DTM better suited to faster, flowing circuits, Audi Sport have tested on a Franconian airfield in the run up to the race in order to improve the ‘R14 Plus’, as the car has been dubbed, in the hope of ending their run of defeats in Nuremburg.

To find out if they can, we’ll have to wait until Sunday afternoon.