Mattias Ekström frustrated after DTM premiere
Mattias Ekström started the DTM 2012 season with pole position and third in the race at Hockenheim last weekend, but the Swede was frustrated.
“It is frustrating that we haven’t got the speed to give them [Mercedes] a match,” said Ekström to Dala-Demokraten.
The Audi driver was passed by Mercedes drivers Gary Paffett and Jamie Green early on in the race. Green got past as Ekström made a mistake while Paffett simply out braked him and the pulled away.
“It felt like Gary braked 100 meters later than I was able to. I was flat out all the time after that,” said Ekström.
Despite going flat out, Ekström finished close to 20 seconds behind the leading Mercedes do in the end.
“Third is not so bad and the championship is long. I think there is going to be tough fights with especially Jamie and Gary. Now we are going to dig deep in all boxes to find the tools to give the others a fight,” said Ekström.