Mattias Ekström: “to give it one more shot would be interesting”

When Audi switched to the A5 DTM (or for 2013, the RS 5 DTM) as a result of the series’ 2012 technical regulations, one man, Mattias Ekström, has not had the best time of things.

Dissatisfied with the A5 DTM’s performance in 2012, and currently seventh in the drivers’ standings in 2013, you could forgive the 2004 and 2007 DTM champion for being unhappy with the way things have gone this season; he should on race pace alone, have won in Moscow but was forced to concede to Audi stable-mate, Mike Rockenfeller. Then there was the ‘watergate’ incident at the Norisring, on a day when the 35-year-old Swede was utterly peerless…

He could well have been fifth in the championship now without the disqualification.

However, with his Audi contract up at the end of 2013 for the first time in four years, is ‘Eki’ ready to throw in the towel just yet?

Absolutely not, and the Swede points to his new-for-2013 race engineer, Florian Modlinger, as the reason why.

After splitting with his long-term former race-engineer, Alexander Stehlig, at the start of this season, the Swede feels Modlinger’s input has reignited his enthusiasm for the DTM after a difficult first season with Audi’s then A5 DTM in 2012.

“I had a great relationship with Alex (Stehlig) before,” Ekström told TouringCarTimes. “It was great, by all means, but there’s a saying we have in Sweden; you have to change something every 10 years, if it’s your dog, your car, your home, your girlfriend, your sofa. It’s just good to keep fresh.”

A rejuvenated Ekström comes across, too. He’s animated in his speech, and seemingly gone are the days of ‘Eco Warrior Eki’; a nickname given to the Swede by DTM journalists, after he occasionally parked an undamaged car because he qualified low down the grid, and couldn’t get into points on race day due to poor set-up.

But what’s changed? Ekström stops speaking, and hands the dictaphone over to Modlinger.

The 31 year-old, originally part of BMW’s 2012 comeback programme joined Audi at the start of the 2013 season and was given the job of helping Ekström get on top of the re-branded for 2013 RS 5 DTM.

“Well, we found during winter testing a [set-up] philosophy we’ve run throughout the year,” says Modlinger. “It’s best I don’t really explain it here, but it’s one way on how to set up and run the car

“The key point is that this year we have two compounds of tyre; you have the option and the standard tyre.

“The key is to make the option last long and I think this was our target from the beginning; to have a good performance on the option tyre and make them last as long as possible and longer than other cars.

“You have all these tough fights to go on and to move through Q1, Q2, then arrive in Q3 but for the race I think we’ve found a good way to manage the race and the option tyre.

The “philosophy”, which has seen Ekström move forward in every race since Spielberg, has inspired so much confidence in him, he explains how racing for racing’s sake, in the DTM at least, no longer brings him any real satisfaction.

Fighting for points is where the joy lies. Don’t forget, this is the man who has the motto “Go Hard, or Go Home” on the back of his helmet.

“You can say that with front row qualifying, our philosophy and a good start, then I’m not so worried to get a trophy.

“Top-six is where we say the first level of satisfaction is, and then top-10 is the next level.

“Then what about the rest? There is no more satisfaction.”

However, despite his obvious enthusiasm, for the first time in four years, Ekström is unsure whether he’ll be part of the Audi’s 2014 driver line up, after a full 13 seasons with the Abt Sportsline team.

“To get an answer [about next year], you’ll have to go and ask Dr. Ullrich and Dieter Gass, but I will try and give you a good answer.

“Even though I’m not an engineer, it’s been pretty easy since Florian came. He brought some ideas, and by coincidence, all of them have worked. So far, he has not come up with one bad idea.

“What I’ve learnt with him this year coming as “new kids on the block” is that I’d like to enjoy some more DTM because I have a new race engineer, new data engineer, new mechanics, everything like that, so even if you think you’re ready for the first race, you’re not.

“[The difference between the 2013 and 2012 car] is so big, it’s like comparing an A5 2.0 TDi road car, to an RS 5 road car. This is such a big change for me with everything we’ve done.”

So, what about this seasons extra-curricular activities into Rallycross, and the Blancpain 24 hours of Spa behind the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS? Did they mean anything for the driver who is generally perceived in the paddock as the quickest man in the DTM?

“Like I said when I did Rallycross, it will never be my bread and butter,” confirms Ekström. “It will always be a hobby, but it’s always good to have different hobbies in life, meet different people, make new networks, drive different cars.

“I think I could do some races in Blancpain, but we didn’t win and winning is what the plan is, so it could be possible to try it again.”

Modlinger, who accompanied his driver to the Belgian classic, echoes Ekström’s opinion: “I could imagine in some years to do it together for sure. We had one race this year at Spa…”

However, the feeling is that Ekström will stick around in the DTM for one more year. The passion comes across in his voice and why shouldn’t it? The relationship with Modlinger is there, the overall vibe is positive, and he spurns any talk of frustration about the last two seasons.

“To start next year with this same group of people and to give it one more shot, would be interesting,” Ekström concludes. “I’m not a guy who likes to talk about history.”

Like he’d say himself: “go hard or go home.”