DTM: Audi sets pace again with 1-2-3 in second practice

DTM: Audi sets pace again with 1-2-3 in second practice
Austria’s Federal Cross of Merit for Audi’s Timo Scheider
DTM: Mike Rockenfeller sets pace in the first test of 2011
Green group appeals Audi’s Hungary expansion
Fourtitude drives the 2011 Audi TTS Weight-Optimized Prototype

Posted: 30 Apr 2011 03:33 AM PDT

Timo Scheider, DTM

Once again Audi showed strong performance in the second test from Hockenheim. Timo Scheider was the only one from the first three that made it to the top. This morning he set a 1:33.627 which was 2sec faster than yesterday.

Audi’s Tomczyk and Molina filled second and third place. Tomczyk reeled in a 1:33.813, 0.186 off of Scheider with Molina following up with a 1:33.922, 0.295 down.

Mike Rockenfeller was fifth fastest with a 1:34.036. He topped the charts yesterday during first practice. Mattias Ekstrom would finish ninth.

Audi also finished with six cars in the Top 10.

1 – Timo Scheider – Audi – 1:33.627
2 – Martin Tomczyk – Audi – 0.186
3 – Miguel Molina – Audi – 0.295
4 – Ralf Schumacher – Mercedes – 0.374
5 – Mike Rockenfeller – Audi – 0.409
6 – Gary Paffett – Mercedes – 0.551
7 – Christian Vietoris – Mercedes – 0.561
8 – Filipe Albuquerque – Audi – 0.609
9 – Mattias Ekström – Audi – 0.676
10 – Jamie Green – Mercedes – 0.839

DTM: Mike Rockenfeller sets pace in the first test of 2011

Austria’s Federal Cross of Merit for Audi’s Timo Scheider

Posted: 29 Apr 2011 09:29 AM PDT

DTM ace Timo Scheider (Audi) will be rewarded for his commitment to charity: on Tuesdays at 12:30hrs, on the Gebhardsberg in Bregenz, the two-time DTM Champion will be awarded Austria’s Federal Cross of Merit by Dr. Herbert Sausgruber, ‘Landeshauptmann’ (Governor) of Austria’s Vorarlberg region.

No matter if ‘Race-4-Kids’, ‘Wings for Life’ or ‘Stunde des Herzens’ – Timo Scheider has been involved in numerous charity projects for many years. Therefore, he now is awarded the Federal Cross of Merit of his adopter country, Austria. “Being awarded this accolade represents a true honour for me,” says the Audi works driver. “But an accolade wouldn’t have been necessary as I will keep on supporting charity campaigns anyway.”

Flying visit at Audi

On his way to Hockenheim, Scheider and three fellow Audi drivers stopped at Neckarsulm on Thursday to meet the Audi employees working there. From 11:15 to 12:00hrs, Timo Scheider, Mike Rockenfeller, Edoardo Mortara and Oliver Jarvis had a good time with the staff in the plant’s restaurant.

- DTM

DTM: Timo Scheider on pole, Rockenfeller 2nd and Ekstrom 15th?

DTM: Mike Rockenfeller sets pace in the first test of 2011

Posted: 29 Apr 2011 08:49 AM PDT

DTM Hockenheim 2011

Gallery after the jump!

The DTM is back for 2011. It has been a long winter for us waiting for the return of DTM. To some, it is not the best series going but to us, we love it. With the return of BMW in 2012 maybe we will see a bit more door to door banging and curb hopping action. Until then heres to 2011!

This morning Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller topped the charts with a 1:35.085. The next 8 drivers would also stay in the 1:35 bracket. That’s going to provide for some great action.

2-time Champion, Timo Scheider pulled up in 2nd with a 1:35.529

Red Bull’s Mattis Ekstrom was third with a 1:35.697

Audi DTM newcomer, Edoardo Mortara, was 4th with a 1:35.732 in the 2008 spec A4.

Audi had 6 cars in the Top 10.

1 – Mike Rockenfeller – Audi – 1:35.085
2 – Timo Scheider – Audi – 0.444
3 – Mattias Ekström – Audi – 0.612
4 – Christian Vietoris – Mercedes – 0.617
5 – Edoardo Mortara – Audi – 0.647
6 – Ralf Schumacher – Mercedes – 0.676
7 – Bruno Spengler – Mercedes – 0.719
8 – Gary Paffett – Mercedes – 0.746
9 – Miguel Molina – Audi – 0.841
10 – Filipe Albuquerque – Audi – 0.915

Audi reveals 2011 DTM livery schemes

Green group appeals Audi’s Hungary expansion

Posted: 29 Apr 2011 07:32 AM PDT

A Hungarian environmental group has appealed against the land use permit issued for German car maker Audi’s 900 million euro ($1.34 billion) expansion of its plant in Hungary, news agency MTI reported on Thursday.

Audi, a unit of Volkswagen AG, plans to lift production to 125,000 vehicles a year once its expanded plant in Gyor, in western Hungary, begins full production from 2013, creating 1,800 new jobs and giving a major boost to Hungary’s export-driven economy.

The land use permit is a precondition for Audi to get full planning permission for the expanded plant, MTI said.

It said the green group that filed the appeal was concerned that wildlife in the affected area — which also includes part of a nature reserve — can be successfully migrated elsewhere.

The group also says the ruling that approved the land use for the site contained procedural errors.

A Hungarian spokeswoman for Audi was not immediately available for comment. The National Environmental Protection Authority could not immediately comment.

In January, the European Commission approved the extension of the plant on the grounds of paramount public interest.

The government has approved 11.2 billion forints ($62.88 million) in direct subsidies for the expansion.

- Reuters

Audi Group: record first-half operating profit of over EUR 1.3 billion

Fourtitude drives the 2011 Audi TTS Weight-Optimized Prototype

Posted: 29 Apr 2011 07:25 AM PDT

Oneighturbo fourtitude TTS prototype

The crew of at Fourtitude have a new feature on this light-weight TTS prototype. While out at Neckarsulm, they tested an A5 aptly named The Beast. Also on hand was this TTS. Roughly 200lbs was shed using carbon fiber reinforced plastics.

A big area that we like to focus on is wheels/tires. Choosing a lighter wheel/tire package can save you large amounts overall but the rotating weight savings is enormous. Audi was able to save 39.7lbs per corner by wheels alone.

Head over to Fortitude to read more and check out the gallery.