Mattias Ekström eying ‘big trophy’ at Zandvoort

Audi’s Mattias Ekström is aiming for the win at Zandvoort this weekend, on a track where he has won three times.

Since beginning his DTM career in 2001, the two-times DTM champion is aiming to add to his three victories around the 4.4 kilometre Dutch circuit.

Ekström has had a difficult 2013 so far and is currently seventh in the drivers’ standings with 44 points.

“I’m not one of those who enjoy scoring points and would like to finish in the top five,” said Ekström. “I want to drive races and be in contention for the title.

“I’m still aiming to take a big trophy at Zandvoort or Hockenheim no matter what – not least in order to say ‘thank you’ to the whole squad for never having given up.”

The Swede also said his strong record at Zandvoort is due to associating his first-ever DTM win in 2002, on the same weekend on which then team-mate, Laurent Aiello, won the title behind the wheel of an ABT Audi TT-R.

“When you associate special memories with a track you feel comfortable there right from the beginning; they’re so nice that I almost get goose bumps thinking about it.

“I celebrated my first-ever DTM victory there in 2002, [so] that was an indescribable moment – especially since my team-mate back then, Laurent Aiello, won the DTM title in the same race.

“I still remember our moments together on the podium as if it had been yesterday. And the party that followed.”