Audi: Front row lock-out “no coincidence”

Audi’s head of motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, believes that its front row lock out with Mike Rockenfeller taking pole ahead of Mattias Ekström, is “no coincidence”.

The Ingolstadt manufacturer looked strong all session, with Ekström and Rockenfeller troubling the top of the time sheets throughout the afternoon at the Moscow Raceway, and eventually set the first and second quickest times in Q3.

As Q4 was cancelled as a result of Russian President, Vladimir Putin, closing the airspace above the circuit, it was decided that the drivers’ Q3 times would count as their final qualifying time, as the medical helicopter would not be able to fly for two hours until Putin had flown by.

Subsequently, Rockenfeller’s and Ekström’s times allowed them to take Audi’s first front row lock-out of 2013.

“If you look at how qualifying developed it’s probably no coincidence that Mike (Rockenfeller) and Mattias (Ekström) are on the front row,” said Ullrich. “The safety of the drivers clearly comes first. That’s why it was only logical to end the qualifying session after Q3 once the rescue helicopter had been grounded.”

Meanwhile, Ekström, who was stripped of his Norisring victory due to a rule infringement was thrilled with second place, despite missing out on pole by 0.181 seconds.

“It’s always nice being far at the front in qualifying, [but] perhaps even more would have been possible today in Q4, particularly today,” said the Swede. “My Audi was very good, it was huge fun to drive [and] every time I was out on track I was beaming at the wheel and enjoyed it.

“Second place on the grid is really good [and] I’m looking forward to the race and hope that I can really score.” tomorrow