Mike Rockenfeller tipped for legendary status by team-boss

Phoenix Audi team-boss, Ernst Moser, has said Mike Rockenfeller can go onto become a DTM great, according to Autosport.

Rockenfeller won the 2013 DTM title with one race remaining of the season, after he finished second behind RBM BMW’s Augusto Farfus at Zandvoort.

Rockenfeller became Audi’s first drivers’ champion since Martin Tomczyk took the title in an old-spec A4 run by Moser’s squad.

“Mike has done a wonderful job this year,” said Moser. “Whenever things have been good for a weekend he’s really got the job done and been in with a chance to win.

“But when he’s on the back foot, he’s been even better.”

Moser also praised the Phoenix team’s strategy efforts this year, but said it was Rockenfeller who was the outfit’s strongest asset.

“I think the team must take a lot of credit for some of the strategies we’ve used this year with the option tyres and the pitstops.

“But you still have to be on your best form to take advantage of the situation, and that’s been Mike this year.”

The team-boss added he feels Rockenfeller, who scaled back his Le Mans commitments for this season, can become one of the sport’s greats if he continues his 2013 form over the forthcoming years.

“If you can win one DTM championship, you can win many, even though you can see from history that this is very difficult,” said Moser.

“You look at the guys that are legends, even current drivers like Mattias Ekström and Gary Paffett, but then the guys from before like Bernd Schneider.”

“Mike is a fantastic driver and if he wants to be in the DTM for many years I think he could win many championships like they did.”