Audi beats BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the manufacturers’ championship

It's official: Audi is the best manufacturer in the 2014 DTM. With a one-two-three victory in the finale at Hockenheim, the brand with the four rings in front of 155,000 spectators (throughout the weekend) managed to recover the title in the manufacturers’ championship from BMW. In total for the 2014 season, Audi scored 409 points, BMW 379 and Mercedes-Benz 222.

The runner-up’s spot and third place in the drivers’ championship were secured by Audi as well. The two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekström in the Red Bull Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline celebrated his second victory in succession and finished the season as the runner-up. Last year’s champion Mike Rockenfeller in the Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Phoenix on clinching second place advanced to third place in the drivers’ standings. Jamie Green in the Hoffmann Group Audi RS 5 DTM of Audi Sport Team Rosberg in third place made for drivers from all three Audi Sport Teams mounting the podium in the season finale. 

“Today Audi showed ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’: before the start of the race with the driverless RS 7 and in the DTM finale with a one-two-three victory,” said Dieter Gass. “Our aim this weekend was to win the manufacturers’ championship. And in the end we clearly decided it in Audi’s favour – not least thanks to a brilliant team performance. That drivers from all three Audi Sport Teams mounted the podium today speaks a clear language. On this weekend everyone could see how strong the Audi RS 5 DTM is. 15 in 30 possible podium places this year are an impressive tally. Congratulations also to Mattias (Ekström) and Mike (Rockenfeller) on taking the runner-up’s spot and third place in the drivers’ championship. We’re already looking forward to 2015 when we’re aiming to recover car number 1 as well.” 

The race winner Mattias Ekström, just like Mike Rockenfeller, started on the harder standard tires and thus had the right strategy. The two maintained their positions in the top ten throughout, and in the final stage, after switching to the softer option tires, were able to make up one position after another. Favoured by a late safety car period, Ekström and Rockenfeller managed to intercept Jamie Green, who had been leading from the starting lap on, on the last two laps.  

Even before the start of the DTM finale, On track with a driver was the new Audi TT cup that will be fielded in 2015 as part of the DTM. At the wheel was Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of Audi’s Management Board for Technical Development, who after the race joined Chairman of the Management Board Rupert Stadler and the entire Audi DTM squad in celebrating the win of the manufacturer’s championship.