Photo: Audi Sport

Mike Rockenfeller “delighted” with first pole of the season

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The season’s tide changed today for Mike Rockenfeller. The already former DTM champion had a strong qualifying session, managing a great lap at the right moment, and achieving his first pole of the year.

It has been a tough season for Mike Rockenfeller. The 2013 champion, who had a domineering season last year, has struggled to keep up with Marco Wittmann’s pace, both on track and in the standings. Audi has been collectively strong, but has failed to produce a race victory in eight races, and not for lack of trying.

Furthermore, Rocky’s participation this weekend was called into question, as he fell with a gastrointestinal infection and was bedridden for several days. Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi Sport, was fairly satisfied: “Particularly remarkable is the performance by Mike Rockenfeller, who was sick in bed for a few days and clinched pole anyhow. The new and the old Champion will be side by side on the front row tomorrow, that’ll be a thriller.”

Rockenfeller was cautiously optimistic: “A great result. We knew that we would be good here. Moreover, the track at Zandvoort simply suits me. Once again, it was very close, as usual in the DTM. Last time, I still had to start from the midfield. Now, I am up front again.”

For Rockenfeller and Audi Sport Team Phoenix, this marks the first pole position since Moscow in 2013 and the first one for Audi since the season opener at Hockenheim, as well as the seventh one in the DTM race at Zandvoort in the past eleven years.

Edoardo Mortara (Audi Team Abt) qualified in third position, the Swiss driver had many reasons to smile: “It was a very good day for us. Four Audi cars in the top five and Mike on pole. Congratulations! He did a great job in Q3. With that, we’ve got good chances for the race because our aim is to score as many points as possible for the manufacturers’, teams’’and drivers’ standings.”

Jamie Green (Audi Team Rosberg) fought hard with his RS5 DTM, but could only manage to be fifth, promoted to fourth position after Mattias Ekström’s penalty: “The speed I had in Q1 and Q2 was promising. Then, in Q3, I had a small problem with the power steering and slight vibrations. These issues occurred in Q3. Frustrating, but we’re obviously consistently fast.”

Nico Müller had a good day, being fastest in second practice and finishing sixth in qualy: “Grid position five is okay, it’s very good actually. But it was a hairy qualifying session. In Q1, nothing was possible and I haven’t got a clue why. On the first set of tires in Q3 we weren’t quite on the mark either. If the car had felt the way it had in Q2, clearly more would have been possible. You could again see how close it is. You’re only at the very front if everything fits.”

Mattias Ekström saw his qualy effort diminished after being handed a five-place drop in the grid for blocking Gary Paffett in Q1. He remained philosophical and optimistic: “I’ve got to accept the penalty for the alleged obstruction of Gary (Paffett) but it was definitely not intentional.”

Audi trails BMW by 18 points in the Manufacturers’ championship, now the main focus for the Ingolstadt squad. With six drivers in the top ten, tomorrow’s target is the first season victory.” ” ” ”