WRT TEAM AUDI SPORT HOPEFUL AHEAD OF ASSEN, A ‘PREMIERE’ FOR ALL DTM TEAM AND DRIVERS

WRT TEAM AUDI SPORT HOPEFUL AHEAD OF ASSEN, A ‘PREMIERE’ FOR ALL DTM TEAM AND DRIVERS

18/07/2019

The DTM is back on stage this weekend for the fifth and half-season-marking round, which will take place at Assen, a track that the series visits for the first time. For the WRT Team Audi Sport, who is contesting its first season in the series, this “première” effect may turn out to be an advantage, as it will put all teams on a more equal foot.

The Belgian squad has worked hard to improve race pace and after having shown excellent qualifying pace so far, both Jonathan Aberdein and Pietro Fittipaldi being determined to score heavier points with their Audi RS 5 DTM.

After a relatively disappointing Norisring round, where WRT Team Audi Sport certainly paid a “rookie toll” to the very peculiar street track in Bavaria, the Belgian squad is determined to recover the upwards trend constantly shown so far in its maiden DTM season.

A lot of work has been done to ensure that the WRT Team Audi Sport cars can perform in race conditions as well as in qualifying configuration, and both Jonathan Aberdein and Pietro Fittipaldi are confident to be in a position to prove that and to aim for heavier points at Assen.

While the DTM has often visited in the past the other Dutch top track, Zandvoort, this is the first time that it will stop at Assen, the “Cathedral of Speed” in the north of the country and a track mostly used for motorbike races. Flowing, fast and flat, the 4.542-km circuit, has a huge fan base, and certainly is a very interesting addition to the calendar.

Vincent Vosse: “We had a somehow difficult weekend at the Norisring, where we certainly paid our lack of experience of the track, but we are confident that Assen, a track quite similar to Misano, will be a more traditional ground and will allow us to retake our growing curve. So far, in this maiden first half-season, we have shown positive things. Obviously, we still have a lot to improve, and we have to continue doing so and to better manage our races. The DTM undoubtedly is certainly a unique and very specific environment, we are still discovering and learning, while competing against teams that have much more experience than us.”

Jonathan Aberdein: “The Norisring is now behind us, it was certainly a tough weekend for a rookie team like us. I really look forward to Assen, although I have never raced there, like the vast majority of DTM drivers and teams. It’s similar to Misano, flat and fast, with some very quick corners, and that should suit us. Being able to carry on to the races the same pace as in qualifying has been a massive subject of thinking for the whole team and I think we may have got hold of the issue. It has to do with set-up for the race and we are going back to the basics. Assen will tell us whether we worked in the right direction and I am really anxious to be there.”

Pietro Fittipaldi: “We go to Assen determined to bounce back. It’s a new track for everybody and this should level a bit the playing field. We did well at Misano, so Assen, another MotoGP track with long corners, should suit us. We have worked a lot on many aspects and are confident to have a great weekend.”

DTM – Round 5
Assen, the Netherlands, 19-21 July 2019

Timetable (All times = CET)

Friday 19July 2019
13:00-13:45 Free Practice 1
16:25-16:55 Free Practice 2
Saturday 20 July 2019
10:15-10:35 Qualifying Race 1
13:30-14:28 Race 1
Sunday 21 July 2019
10:20-10:40 Qualifying Race 2
13:30-14:28 Race 2

WRT Team Audi Sport entries (Audi RS 5 DTM)
#21 Pietro Fittipaldi (BR)

#27 Jonathan Aberdein (ZA)