Muehlner Motorsport P3 en Campeonato GT Masters 2010.

En la Ciudad Alemana de Essen se esta celebrando el ESSEN Motorshow mundial, en esta semana fue premiado los 3 Mejores equipos de la GT Masters.

El turno de recibir el trofeo por el P3 absoluto en la temporada 2010 fue para Renate Carola Muehlner esposa de nuestro gran amigo Bernhard Muehlner propietarios de Muehlner Motorsport.

El trofeo fue recibido de manos de Hermann Tomczyk Presidente de ADAC Sports.
Otro gran exito para un gran equipo.

Audi Motorsport

Motorsport Newsletter 37/2010

Podium result for Audi at DTM finale Audi presents GT4 concept Audi driver Albuquerque wins Race of Champions Double podium success “down under” Audi R8 LMS at the Essen Motor Show Audi IT launches motorsport project

Podium result for Audi at DTM finale

DTM: Timo Scheider clinched a podium result for Audi at the DTM’s world final in Shanghai (China). After a serious accident in qualifying the Audi A4 DTM of the two-time DTM Champions had to be repaired from scratch overnight. In the race that was shortened from 60 to 49 laps Scheider advanced from grid position four to third place. An early stopping of the race destroyed his chance to also overtake the new DTM Champion Paul Di Resta. Martin Tomczyk and Miguel Molina shone with overtaking maneuvers in places four and five. Markus Winkelhock in seventh place scored points for the second consecutive time.

Audi presents GT4 concept

GT4: On the occasion of the DTM race in Shanghai Audi presented the concept of a GT4 vehicle based on the Audi TT. The TT developed by the Technical Development and Production divisions plus quattro GmbH is intended to extend Audi’s new modular customer sport program from 2012 forward and to offer potential customers a base option for affordable motorsport at a price of about 120,000 euros.

Audi driver Albuquerque wins Race of Champions

ROC: Filipe Albuquerque, who contested the Italian GT Championship this year for Audi Sport Italia in an Audi R8 LMS, surprisingly won the Race of Champions in Düsseldorf. At the finale, the 25-year-old Portuguese defeated World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, who had previously eliminated Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen. In the competition of the world’s best race and rally drivers the Audi R8 LMS was fielded as well this year, for the first time. At the wheel of the GT3 sports car Albuquerque defeated Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel as he was heading toward overall victory in Düsseldorf.

Double podium success "down under"

GT Australia: At the finale of the Australian GT Championship’s season at Sandown Park Audi driver Mark Eddy clinched two podium places. The Australian took third place at both rounds in his Audi R8 LMS. In Sunday’s race the seasoned, 50-year-old campaigner was just short of three seconds to the winner. The result marked the conclusion of Penfold Audi Sport Team’s first season in the GT3 Championship in sixth place overall. Eddy achieved eight top-ten results in total.

Audi R8 LMS at the Essen Motor Show

GT3: 64 victories and seven champion’s titles have been clinched by the Audi R8 LMS in its first two years of being fielded - interest in Audi’s GT3 sports car is accordingly high. At the Essen Motor Show (November 27 to December 5) Audi Sport will provide information on the Audi R8 LMS to potential customers at the Bilstein booth in hall 3.0.

Audi IT launches motorsport project

Clubsport: The Audi IT department and Brandl Motorsport GmbH, Walldürn (Germany), have jointly launched the new "Audi IT - Fascination Motorsport" project. By fielding a production-based Audi TT RS in races on the Nürburgring-Norschleife the Audi IT team, consisting of members of Audi departments and Audi IT plus strategic partners, aims to strengthen the cooperation with external partners in the IT environment across departmental and external boundaries. In case of questions about the project please contact the colleagues by e-mail at audi-it@audi.de.

News bits

Audi "factory" driver Dindo Capello finished the Rally di Monza as the runner-up behind WRC driver Daniel Sordo.

Results and points

Shanghai (CN), November 28, DTM, round 11
1 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) 49 laps in 51m 57.657s
2 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes) + 3.751s
3 Timo Scheider (Audi A4 DTM) + 4.212s
4 Martin Tomczyk (Audi A4 DTM) + 5.341s
5 Miguel Molina (Audi A4 DTM) + 16.306s
...
7 Markus Winkelhock (Audi A4 DTM) + 19.469s
9 Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 DTM) + 23.554s
12 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A4 DTM) + 35.319s
14 Katherine Legge (Audi A4 DTM) + 39.710s
17 Oliver Jarvis (Audi A4 DTM) - 2 laps
Final standings: 1 Di Resta, 71 points; 2 Paffett, 67; 3 Spengler, 66; 4 Scheider, 53; 5 Ekström, 35; ... 7 Rockenfeller, 22; 8 Tomczyk, 20; 9 Jarvis, 18; 10 Molina, 15; 11 Prémat, 12; 12 Winkelhock, 7.

Sandown (AUS), November 20, Australian GT Championship, round 13
1 Tony Quinn (Mosler) 22 laps in 30m 20.657s
2 James Koundouris (Porsche) + 3.771s
3 Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS) + 20.960s
4. Ash Samadi (Mosler) + 37.618s
5 Marc Cini (Porsche) + 38.944s
Sandown (AUS), November 21, Australian GT Championship, round 14
1. Tony Quinn (Mosler) 22 laps in 30m 43.594s
2. James Koundouris (Porsche) + 2.247s
3. Mark Eddy (Audi R8 LMS) + 3.055s
4. Ash Samadi (Mosler) + 6.839s
5. David Wall (Porsche) + 9.724s
Final standings: 1 Wall, 475.5 points; 2 Koundouris, 444.5; 3 Grant, 440.5; 4 Quinn, 406.0; 5 Hackett, 397.0; 6 Eddy, 386.5.

Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/ Acreditated and Autorized Press.

Audi aims to win DTM’s world finale DTM visits China on the last weekend of November Audi A4 DTM of Darryl O’Young to advertise “Du Shi Li Ren” Fr

Audi aims to win DTM’s world finale

DTM visits China on the last weekend of November Audi A4 DTM of Darryl O’Young to advertise “Du Shi Li Ren” Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro, Christopher Mies and Alex Yoong will also be on location for Audi

Ingolstadt, November 19, 2010 - For the second time the DTM will race in Shanghai and for the first time the most popular international touring car racing series will hold a classification race plus its world finale there. Audi is set on continuing in China the form it last proved when Timo Scheider clinched a commanding victory from grid position 15 at the European finale at Adria (Italy). In addition, Audi will enter Darryl O’Young from Hong Kong in Shanghai, a driver who has regional ties to the event.

After his so far best performance of the season and his sixth personal DTM victory Timo Scheider, like his team colleagues, aims to achieve a brilliant finish of the 2010 season for Audi. As well as Mattias Ekström, Martin Tomczyk and Markus Winkelhock the champion of the past two years competed in Shanghai in 2004 when the DTM visited China for the first time. Whereas Audi will not be able to continue the hat-trick of having won the championship in the past three years, and the title decision in China will be made between the Mercedes-Benz drivers, Audi with a score of 4:3 remains the more successful manufacturer in terms of the number of title wins since its return to the DTM in the 2004 season.

The finale in Shanghai will be held on a 2.456-kilometer circuit in the district of Pudong that has been specifically established for the DTM. None of the teams has any knowledge of the new track that has no reference to the circuit used in 2004. "This means the cards will be reshuffled once more at the end of the year," stresses Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "While our competitor will experience a tough fight within its own team we’ll be free to drive for victory. It would be nice to actually make this happen in a country that is as important to Audi as China is."

The newly prepared race car designated as car number "9" will be entered with a new driver and special graphics. After giving Alexandre Prémat a leave of absence Audi signed the Hong Kong Chinese Darryl O’Young. The blue Audi A4 DTM driven by the 30-year-old racer will continue to advertise a product of the Bauer Media Group - albeit this time it will not be TV Movie but the Chinese magazine "Du Shi Li Ren." It is China’s highest-circulation fashion and lifestyle magazine for women, selling over 1.25 million copies.

In addition to the nine Audi A4 DTM race cars the Chinese fans will get to see four other fascinating models on the race weekend. During the DTM’s supporting program they will be able to marvel at two Audi TT RS cars with endurance race specifications, an Audi R8 LMS race taxi and an Audi R8 GT. The race taxis will be driven by the five-time Le Mans winners and former Audi "factory" drivers Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela, the former European FIA GT3 Champion Christopher Mies and the Malaysian Alex Yoong. Yoong was most recently victorious at the wheel of the R8 LMS in the GTC class at the ILMC round at Zhuhai.

Racing in an increasingly important market

By holding its finale in Shanghai the DTM responds to the importance of a steadily growing automobile market. In October Audi delivered the one-millionth vehicle in China, after the brand’s success story had begun with a license agreement in 1988. The most recent sales statistics complement this success: in the first ten months of 2010 Audi delivered 192,060 vehicles in China - marking a growth of 55.7 percent over the prior-year period. This now makes China Audi’s largest single market ahead of Germany. On November 7, just three weeks before the DTM finale, Audi finished the ILMC season in China with a victory: the Audi R8 LMS in the hands of the customer sport team KK Performance won the GTC class. Now the aim is for another product-related race car - the A4 DTM - to win on Chinese soil.

Complex logistics extending all the way into next year

From October to January - this is how long the DTM finale in Shanghai lasts from the perspective of the logisticians. As early as on October 8 the hazardous goods of all the teams, such as lubricants, brake cleaners or compressed air bottles, were sent off in a bulk container by ship. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, Audi Sport Team Phoenix and Audi Sport Team Rosberg have individually been dispatching their air cargo since November 10. At the Hahn airport in the Hunsrück region the material was loaded onto aircraft pallets and the Audi A4 DTM race cars on car racks. A two-car team like Rosberg or Phoenix shipped about 16 to 18 tons of cargo weight consisting of material, equipment and vehicles, Abt Sportsline with five race cars, the two DTM safety cars, the Audi RS5 and the R8, plus a race taxi shipped 40 tons. After their arrival in China, clearing customs at the circuit on November 22 and the race, the sea containers will be loaded again for the return trip as early as on November 28 and 29. The race cars will be flown back and will land in Frankfurt on December 6. It is anticipated that the container cargo ship will embark on its voyage for Europe during the 49th calendar week and arrive at the port of Antwerp in the third calendar week of 2011, in other words from January 17 onward. Only then will the teams receive their material again "from the longest race weekend of the year."

Topics of the weekend

• After the triumph at Adria, will Audi achieve the second consecutive victory?
• Will Mattias Ekström, as in 2004, be the best Audi driver in China?
• What will be Mike Rockenfeller’s chances in the fight with Jamie Green for the position of the best driver of a used car in 2010?
• Will Audi Sport Team Abt still clinch the "vice champion’s title" in the team classification?

Quotes by the officials

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "In the past races we worked our way forward, closer and closer toward the chance for victory. At Adria, it actually worked out. That was a huge motivation boost for the whole squad. We’d like to use this boost in Shanghai to make a good showing and to be in contention for victory again. This race is very important for Audi. China is one of the most important markets of all. Therefore, we’ll tackle our tasks with full concentration once more at the end of the season."

Hans-Jürgen Abt (Team Director Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline): "We’re looking forward to Shanghai. It’ll be great to prepare for the race in this metropolis. This is a mega-event for the whole series. We can be relaxed about the decisions in the championship. We, by contrast, have got nothing to lose. We want to clinch this last trophy of the season if possible. And we’ve still got a chance to finish the team classification as the runners-up."

Ernst Moser (Team Director Audi Sport Team Phoenix): "The street circuit is new to everyone. Such a track has no grip at first. You’ve got to keep your cool and find the right set-up even if the grip level changes again. You need a good grid position because overtaking is difficult on such circuits. And you’ve got to stay out of trouble. We’ve simply had our fill of such situations; we saw enough of them at Adria. It’s better to take the bull by the horns and win!"

Arno Zensen (Team Director Audi Sport Team Rosberg): "Even though Shanghai unfortunately brings back memories of a case of total damage due to a manhole cover in 2004 we’ll start into the finale with momentum. Fourth place by Markus Winkelhock in Italy has lifted everyone’s spirits. We feel relieved and are relaxed about tackling the race. We no longer feel the pressure we did before Adria. I’m optimistic that things will be going as well for us in Shanghai as they did before, in Italy."

Facts and quotes by the Audi drivers

Mattias Ekström (32/S), Red Bull Audi A4 DTM #5 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• With a third-place finish was the best Audi driver in Shanghai in 2004
• Was most recently fighting for a podium position at Adria until encountering a minor defect
"I don’t know yet what we can expect in Shanghai. I only know the circuit from a map so far. I like street circuits and this one will be very narrow. So a lot will be predetermined in qualifying. Before flying to Asia I’ll enjoy a couple of days off, and then the finale will come."

Oliver Jarvis (26/GB), Tabac Original Audi A4 DTM #2 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Experienced part of his career in Asia
• Most recently, at Adria, clinched his second-best result of the season by finishing fifth
"It’s always nice to return to Asia. I’ve got fond memories of races in Japan and China. I clinched my first A1GP podium in Beijing. Our form curve points upward a bit. I scored points four times in the five past races. It would be great to finish the season with a good result."

Katherine Legge (30/GB), Glamour Audi A4 DTM #15 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Enters new territory in Shanghai
• Drove the fourth-fasted race lap in difficult conditions most recently, at Adria
"My car was excellent at our last wet race, at Adria. I really like street circuits and often raced on such tracks in the United States. It’ll probably be a little bit like at the Norisring. The atmosphere is really special at such events. I’ve never been to this part of the world. That’s why I’m very much looking forward to it. The track looks great on the pictures. I can hardly wait to drive there. It’ll probably be an exciting event."

Miguel Molina (21/E), Audi Bank A4 DTM #18 (Audi Sport Rookie Team Abt)
• Remains the best DTM rookie of the 2010 season
• Will be racing in Shanghai for the first time
"This will be a completely new and no doubt a good experience for me. We don’t yet know what to expect there. I want to continue to clinch the best possible results. And I’m hoping that we’ll manage to do this better than we did at the previous races."

Darryl O’Young (30/CN), Du Shi Li Ren Audi A4 DTM #9 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• Will celebrate his DTM debut in Shanghai
• Will be sporting the colors of a Chinese magazine published by the Bauer Media Group during his run
"I’m proud to have the chance of competing for Audi in Shanghai. This is a fantastic opportunity. I’m not running in an Audi for the first time. Competing for Race Experience Team Joest and finishing the Sepang 12 Hours in the R8 LMS as the runner-up was a great experience. Of course I realize that the Audi A4 DTM is a completely different car. The street race in Shanghai is very special. Nobody has ever driven on this circuit. I like street circuits very much and achieved good results in Macau in the past few years. Although I won’t have much time to get used to my new environment I’ll do my best to make a good showing for Audi and the DTM fans."

Mike Rockenfeller (27/D), S line Audi A4 DTM #10 (Audi Sport Team Phoenix)
• As seventh in the standings continues to be the best driver of a 2008-specification Audi A4 DTM and third-best Audi driver in total
• The DTM in Shanghai will be his 18th racing commitment this season
"I’m looking forward to Shanghai. Unfortunately, I didn’t clinch any points at the last race, at Adria. I’m hoping for a good qualifying and want to really score points once more at the finale. The circuit is new to all of us. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice circuit that suits us well and is fun to drive on."

Timo Scheider (32/D), GW:plus/Top Service Audi A4 DTM #1 (Audi Sport Team Abt)
• Celebrated his 32nd birthday 18 days before the race
• Only completed 13 laps at his DTM run in Shanghai in 2004
• Still has a mathematical chance of clinching third place in the standings
"The final race is a good motivator. It’s also great that before the finale we managed to clinch the victory we’d been hoping for so long. Since the middle of the season our performances have stabilized. We were on pole twice in the second half of the season but didn’t win any races before Adria. Shanghai will be another heated battle. I’ll attack there again and will hopefully deliver a good final result."

Martin Tomczyk (28/D), Red Bull Cola Audi A4 DTM #6 (Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline)
• Wants to continue his string of five consecutive point-finishes
• Retired after an accident at his run in Shanghai in 2004
"This is something new for a change. I’m sure we’ll be in for a nice closing of the season. And it’ll no doubt be a tough and thrilling race because three drivers from Mercedes-Benz will be fighting for the title."

Markus Winkelhock (30/D), Playboy/GW:plus Audi A4 DTM #14 (Audi Sport Team Rosberg)
• Achieved his best result of the season with a fourth-place finish at the most recent race at Adria
• Took ninth place in Shanghai in 2004
"I’m really excited about going to Shanghai. After my success at Adria I’m even more motivated. Street circuits have always suited me well, both in touring and in formula cars. I’ve competed in Shanghai before but obviously don’t know this circuit version. So it’s new territory for everyone and the same prerequisites apply to all of us."

The Audi drivers in the 2010 DTM

Mattias Ekström (S): * Jul 14, 1978 in Falun (S); residence: Salenstein (CH); single; height: 1.83 m; weight: 77 kg; Audi driver since 1999; DTM races: 103; pole positions: 16; victories: 14; fastest laps: 11; points: 482; DTM titles: 2 (2004, 2007); best result, DTM Shanghai: 3

Oliver Jarvis (GB): * Jan 09, 1984 in Burwell (GB); residence: Ermatingen (CH); single; height: 1.80 m; weight: 70 kg; Audi driver since 2008; DTM races: 31; pole positions: 1; victories: 0 (best result: 2nd place); fastest laps: 0; points: 41; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Katherine Legge (GB): * Jul 12, 1980 in Guildford (GB); residence: Ermatingen (CH); single; height: 1.73 m; weight: 58 kg; Audi driver since 2008; DTM races: 30; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 12th place); fastest laps: 1; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Miguel Molina (E): * Feb 17, 1989 in Girona (E); residence: Lloret de Mar (E); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 62 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 10; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; (best result: 4th place); fastest laps: 1; points: 11; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Darryl O’Young (CN): * March 26, 1980 in Vancouver (CDN); residence: Hong Kong (CN); single; height: 1.73 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2010; DTM races: 0; pole positions: 0; victories: 0; fastest laps: 0; points: 0; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Mike Rockenfeller (D): * Oct 31, 1983 in Neuwied (D); residence: Altnau (CH); single (partner Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 67 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 41; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 3rd place); fastest laps: 1; points: 43; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Timo Scheider (D): * Nov 11, 1978 in Lahnstein (D); residence: Lochau (A); single, one son (Loris); height: 1.78 m; weight: 74 kg; Audi driver since 2006; DTM races: 108; pole positions: 9; victories: 6; fastest laps: 6; points: 313; DTM titles: 2 (2008, 2009); best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Martin Tomczyk (D): * Dec 07, 1981 in Rosenheim (D); residence: Aesch/Basel (CH); single (engaged to Christina); height: 1.88 m; weight: 75 kg; Audi driver since 2001; DTM races: 102; pole positions: 7; victories: 4; fastest laps: 5; points: 244; DTM titles: 0; best result, DTM Shanghai: -

Markus Winkelhock (D): * Jun 13, 1980 in Stuttgart (D); residence: Berglen-Steinach (D); single; height: 1.75 m; weight: 65 kg; Audi driver since 2007; DTM races: 48; pole positions: 0; victories: 0 (best result: 4th place); fastest laps: 0; DTM titles: 0; points: 22; best result, DTM Shanghai: 9.

2010 DTM point standings

1 Bruno Spengler (Mercedes) 66 points
2 Paul Di Resta (Mercedes) 63 points
3 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) 57 points
4 Timo Scheider (Audi) 47 points
5 Mattias Ekström (Audi) 35 points
6 Jamie Green (Mercedes) 29 points
7 Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) 22 points
8 Oliver Jarvis (Audi) 18 points
9 Martin Tomczyk (Audi) 15 points
10 Alexandre Prémat (Audi) 12 points
11 Miguel Molina (Audi) 11 points
12 Susie Stoddart (Mercedes) 4 points
13 Ralf Schumacher (Mercedes) 3 points
14 Maro Engel (Mercedes) 3 points

2010 DTM season interim statistics

Victories: Mercedes 8; Audi 2
Pole positions: Mercedes 6; Audi 4
Fastest laps: Mercedes 4; Audi 6
Leading laps: Mercedes 426; Audi 108
Points: Mercedes 225; Audi 165

Audi DTM statistics

Pole positions: 58
Victories: 54
Fastest laps: 45
Champion’s titles: 7 (1990, 1991, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009)

All winners of the DTM races at Shanghai

2004 Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz)

Track info

Track length: 2.465 km
Race distance: 60 laps = 147.900 km
DTM qualifying record on this track: new track layout, no previous statistics
DTM race record on this track: new track layout, no previous statistics

Mattias Ekström about Shanghai: "The DTM came to Shanghai in 2004, and I secured third place for Audi in an Audi A4 DTM back then. I really liked racing on this street circuit and I’m delighted that we’re going back to China. We don’t yet have any details about the new circuit, so I can’t really say much about what we can expect there. But one thing’s for sure: a DTM finale on a street circuit is bound to be an exciting affair."

DTM statistics in Shanghai since 2004 (Audi "factory" commitment)

Races: 1
Audi victories: 0
Pole positions: 0
Fastest laps: 0

Shanghai 2004 flashback

At the DTM invitation race in Shanghai Mattias Ekström finished in third place as the best Audi driver. In his Audi A4 DTM the Swede pushed forward from position nine on the grid to third place in a turbulent race that had been started with a nearly five-hour delay due to work on the circuit. Dindo Capello on his DTM debut occupied fifth place. Audi lost its chance for victory in Shanghai as early as on the starting lap due to collisions. Of all cars, the incidents took the fastest Audi A4 DTM cars in qualifying out of the race.

2004 results
1 Gary Paffett (Mercedes) 22 Rd. in 27m 23.509s
2 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes) + 0.887s
3 Mattias Ekström (Audi A4 DTM) + 13.228s
4 Jean Alesi (Mercedes) + 15.583s
5 Dindo Capello (Audi A4 DTM) + 32.756s
...
11 Peter Terting (Abt-Audi TT-R) + 1m 07.046s
13 Frank Biela (Audi A4 DTM) - 1 lap

Schedule

Friday, November 26
10:30-11:00 Roll-out
11:00-11:05 Starting practice
14:00-15:30 Free practice 1
15:30-15:35 Starting practice

Saturday, November 27
10:00-11:30 Free practice 2
15:20-16:16 Qualifying

Sunday, November 28
11:10-11:40 Warm-up
15:23 Race

TV schedule (ARD live)

Saturday, November 27
08:05-09:30 Qualifying

Sunday, November 28
08:05-09:55 Race

Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/Autorized Media Press.

Interwiew with Alain Prost: This Professor is still learning.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost speaks to The Race of Champions ahead of his ROC debut in Düsseldorf on November 27-28

Prost will join a dazzling line-up of driving stars that includes fellow F1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher

In the ROC Nations Cup, Prost will race for Team France in partnership with seven-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb
When their glory days dry up, sports stars usually start living the good life they were denied when they competed on a world stage. Not Alain Prost. The Frenchman was ludicrously fit at his F1 peak but today, aged 55, he is ‘one or two kilos’ lighter still – thanks to a gruelling programme both on four wheels and two.

Prost’s main automotive activity is now France’s Trophée Andros ice-racing series where the cars seem permanently sideways. But he also competes in a dozen cycle races every year at distances up to 200km, similar to the stages of the Tour de France. Easy life? Hardly. But what else would we expect of a man once famously described as having a level of mental discipline beyond the comprehension of most people…

“It’s not about discipline, it’s more about attitude,” says Prost. “Sports stars very often change their attitude when they stop but I did not change mine. I always needed to do sport and I still do. Even if I have planes to catch and meetings to go to, I have to plan at least one hour’s jogging. That could seem boring for people but I’m never bored. I am 55, I enjoy all kinds of sports and there are still lots of things I want to do.

“With the cycle races you need a training programme so you need discipline for the food and everything – but that’s what I like. When you have a target, whether or not you achieve it, you work for it. That is something that I really need mentally.

“But I also never set the objectives too high. I like to reach my targets as I don’t like to be disappointed! Take the Race of Champions: obviously I’m going to do my best but I know I cannot have too high expectations.”

Four-time F1 world champion Prost may be the most experienced racer of everyone next weekend, but he remains a ROC newcomer. As such ‘Le Professeur’ is happy to play the ‘learner’ card. Prost lines up with fellow multiple champion Sébastien Loeb for Team France in The ROC Nations Cup, but he admits Team Germany will be hard to beat.

“People like Michael and Sebastian have got used to this type of race and circuit – but most importantly cars like the buggies and the KTM X-Bow, which I’ve never driven. So I honestly don’t know where I’m going to stand up.

“It’s very different to what I used to do in F1. Even in the ice races we work to set up the car and change it every 10 minutes to adapt to different heat and track conditions – as the ice changes all the time during the day.

“So Düsseldorf will be very different for me. You jump in the car, just set up the seat and the pedals and go for it. The most important thing is to have fun and be part of it – but to be at least a bit competitive…”

Tickets are still available from www.raceofchampions.com with prices starting at 29 Euros. Sign up for all the latest updates at www.raceofchampions.com, @raceofchampions on Twitter, or Race Of Champions on Facebook.

Drivers confirmed for the 2010 Race of Champions:

• Sebastian VETTEL, 2010 Formula 1 World Champion
• Michael SCHUMACHER, Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
• Alain PROST, Four-time Formula 1 World Champion
• Sébastien LOEB, Seven-time World Rally Champion
• Mick DOOHAN, Five-time World 500cc Motorcycling Champion
• Tom KRISTENSEN, Eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner
• Heikki KOVALAINEN, Formula 1 grand prix winner
• Andy PRIAULX, Three-time World Touring Car Champion
• Jason PLATO, Two-time British Touring Car Champion
• Alvaro PARENTE, GP2 race winner & winner ROC South Europe 2010
• Filipe ALBUQUERQUE, A1GP race winner & winner ROC South Europe 2010
• Jeroen BLEEKEMOLEN, Two-time Porsche Supercup Champion
• Bertrand BAGUETTE, 2009 World Series by Renault Champion
• Carl EDWARDS, 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion
• Travis PASTRANA, Eleven-time X-Games gold medallist

Info and pic: Press2010 Race of Champions/ to Acreditated and Autorized Press.

AmigosRacingForLatinAmerica/ Acreditado y Autorizado por Press2010/Race of Champions.

The world’s greatest Porsche race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife

Porsche Carrera World Cup

The world’s greatest Porsche race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife

Stuttgart. It will be one of the most spectacular sprint races ever: At the Porsche Carrera World Cup on 25 June, 2011, up to 200 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers will line up on the Nürburgring Nordschleife watched by more than 200,000 spectators. The world’s greatest Porsche race takes place just prior to the start of the 39th ADAC 24 hour race and runs over a distance of six laps (152,268 km). The Porsche Carrera World Cup forms the season highlight of Porsche’s 18 brand trophy series worldwide. This race counts as a competition round towards several championships, including the Porsche Carrera Cups in Germany, Scandinavia, France and Italy.

The field will be divided into two classes: The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with 3.6-litre engines from 2007 to 2009 model years (400 to 420 hp) as well as the 3.8-litre versions of the 2010 and 2011 model years (450 hp). Each class is classified separately. All competitors must provide proof of their considerable track experience. For all Nordschleife rookies, an intensive two-day training course will take place in the week leading up to the event with former Porsche works driver Sascha Maassen as the head instructor.

“Since its market launch in 1998 we have built over 2,000 units of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for competition in our 18 Porsche one-make championships around the world,” explains Porsche’s head of motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “With the Porsche Carrera World Cup on the northern loop of the Nürburgring, we aim to offer yet another highlight to our brand trophy customers all over the globe. Racing in the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup never fails to underline its excellent aptitude for the world’s longest and most difficult races. I’m sure that this race will be an unforgettable experience for all pilots and spectators at the track.”

Over the last years, the success story of Porsche Motorsport has been closely tied to the Nürburgring. From 2006 to 2009, the Porsche team, Manthey Racing, won the 24 hour race on the Nordschleife four times in a row. In May this year, the innovative Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid held the overall lead for more than eight hours at Germany’s most popular automobile race. From the ten races on the VLN Nürburgring Long Distance Championship calendar this year, a Porsche 911 won nine times.

Info and Fotos Porsche Motorsport/Autorized and Acreditation Press.

Darryl O’Young to compete for Audi at Shanghai

Darryl O’Young to compete for Audi at Shanghai

The Chinese replaces Alexandre Prémat in the cockpit of the Audi A4 DTM Good showing by O’Young at the Sepang 12 Hours in the R8 LMS Many years of experience in GT sports cars

Ingolstadt, November 17, 2010 - At the DTM’s finale, Audi will contest a race for the first time with a Chinese driver in its line-up: Darryl O’Young from Hong Kong will replace the Frenchman Alexandre Prémat in the cockpit of the Audi A4 DTM at the eleventh DTM race of the season.

Audi gives 30-year-old Darryl O’Young an opportunity to contest his "home race" in the 338-kW (460 hp) Audi A4 DTM. The Chinese who was born in Vancouver, Canada, and lives in Hong Kong, will celebrate his DTM debut at Shanghai on November 28 with Audi Sport Team Phoenix.

"We welcome Darryl O’Young to Audi and are pleased to have been able to secure his services for our showing in China at short notice," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "Darryl has been driving high-performance GT sports cars for many years and by finishing as the overall runner-up clinched a remarkable result in the Audi R8 LMS at the Sepang 12 Hours in August together with Frank Biela and Marco Werner. The decision to give Alexandre Prémat leave of absence before his contract expires wasn’t an easy one for us. Unfortunately, though, opinions on important topics most recently differed too much. We would like to thank him for his work during the past four years and wish him all the best for his future career."

Darryl O’Young’s outstanding successes include championship wins in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2006 and 2008 and victories at the 2008 Merdeka Millennium Race plus the 2008 Macau GT Cup. In addition, the Chinese has gathered racing experience in the FIA GT Championship, in the Porsche Supercup and in the World Touring Car Championship

Info and Fotos Audi Motorsport/Acreditated and Autorized Press Media.

105 race victories counting for Mühlner Motorsport.

105 race victories and counting for Mühlner Motorsport

Looking back at a long and successful 2010 season

Competing in five different race series

Francorchamps. The Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium based Mühlner Motorsport Team took part in 44 races spread over 24 race weekends in the 2010 race season. That made for a very busy year for the ambitious team from the Ardennes but the numerous successes made up for the untold overtime hours.

The season began as early as January in Dubai. Mühlner Motorsport took part in the UAE GT Championship running in the United Arab Emirates from January to April, where they ran the CYTECH Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S. The drivers were Andrew Donaldson in the four races in Dubai and Porsche Supercup ace René Rast in Abu Dhabi. Rast won comfortably on the Jas Marina grand prix circuit and Donaldson was also able to book a win in Dubai.

The European season kicked off with the ADAC GT Masters Weekend in Oschersleben. After a second place in the Saturday race through Kevin Estre and Frank Schmickler in the WEG Porsche 911 GT3 R, Tim Bergmeister and René Rast were able to top that on the Sunday with a win in the year old Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S thanks to clever tactics in tyre choice.

So at this stage the first 3 wins of the season were achieved and a total of 99 on the Mühlner Motorsport Teams account.

At the ADAC GT Masters Weekend in Hockenheim, the series’ third event of the year, Tim and Jörg Bergmeister were able to record the 4^th win of the season and thus the magical 100^th win overall in the history of Mühlner Motorsport. This win also regained the lead in the teams’ points and, together with a 3^rd place on the Sunday, brought Tim Bergmeister up to 2^nd in the points battle as the teams went into their mid-season break.

Accidents at the fourth round in Assen meant all chances of championship success were gone. Tim Bergmeister was best Porsche driver, behind a Lamborghini pairing and an Audi pairing. Mühlner Motorsport were still third in the teams points.

In the FIA GT3 European Championship, which started in early May, speed and performance were always there: the Mühlner cars were almost always the fastest Porsches in the field and the team had many laps in the overall lead. However, the points haul was much lower than might have been expected: accidents, tyre blowouts, stop and go penalties and changing driver line-ups all took their toll on the points tally. This will be different in 2011!

Mühlner Motorsport also took part in the Porsche Sports Cup. Running up to three Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S, the team took in both Super Sports Cup and the 2-hr Endurance Races: 4 outright wins and 2 second places! At the final round of the German Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Mühlner Motorsport made a guest appearance in their 5th series of the season with Tim and Jörg Bergmeister at the wheel. This was in preparation for the 2011 season when the team will once again enter the VLN series and the 24hrs on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. A front row start and 125km in the lead of the race showed the impressive performance of the Mühlner Porsche until a broken exhaust manifold took away all chance of a top finish.

A further highlight of Renate-Carola and Bernhard Mühlner’s successful team came on 1. August at their home event, the Spa 24hrs. Their 8th class win on the Ardennes rollercoaster, together with an excellent overall position was the result.The seeds are already sown for the 2011 season: the season will start in January in the Middle East and in the USAThe team, who have already taken part in 33 24hr races, will do two more in January – in the middle of the month in Dubai and at the end of the month at Daytona. In Europe there will be a further two: Nürburgring in June and Spa in July.