Audi withdraws all drivers in race furore

[Andyuk911]

Audi withdraws all drivers in race furore

24 September 2007

The world of motor racing was hit by scandal once again this weekend.

Audi withdrew its entire 10-strong team from the penultimate round of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) after a string of clashes with rival Mercedes.

Keith Collantine looks at why Audi turned to drastic measures.

Formula 1 isn’t the only racing championship to suffer a scandal.

A bitter and bad tempered year in the DTM took a turn for the worse at Barcelona yesterday.

Audi withdrew its team from the race after its top drivers in the championship were eliminated in crashes with Mercedes’ racers.

Audi issued a stinging criticism of their opponents, claiming “the Mercedes drivers used every opportunity to eliminate our cars.”

Mercedes did not issue an official statement but its vice president for motorsport Norbert Haug suggested it was an “emotional” reaction by Audi.

The shock move hinged on two accidents that eliminated its championship leading drivers Martin Tomcyk and Mattias Ekstrom.

Tomcyk was leading when he collided with former F1 champion Mika Hakkinen. Both eventually retired, as did Mattias Ekstrom and Daniel la Rosa after their clash.

A further incident eliminated Audi’s Timo Scheider. The team finally lost patience after further contact between Mercedes’ Bruno Spengler and Mike Rockenfeller.

It had been an exciting and unpredictable race but what came next was unprecedented - Audi called its remaining seven drivers into the pits to withdraw from the race.

There were amazing scenes on the pit wall where Audi’s motorsport director Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, who made the controversial call, argued furiously with Haug

Audi’s move left just six cars circulating on the track and another bewildering spectacle for fans of the DTM.

It comes just two races after Audi’s drivers were booed by fans for fixing the finish of the Zandvoort round. Race leader Alexandre Premat slowed just metres short of the chequered flag to let Tomcyk win, in a move that echoed Ferrari’s notorious team orders controversies in F1.

At Barcelona yesterday Britain’s Jamie Green scored a long overdue first victory having led comfortably before the Audi pull-out. Hakkinen and Ekstrom were both fined and will have grid penalties at the next round.

The one-month break before the season finale at Hockenheim will at least give tempers a chance to cool. Ekström has a two-point lead over Spenger, with Tomcyk a further two points behind, with ten points to be won.

Meanwhile in the World Touring Car Championship Britain’s Andy Priaulx won the second race at Brands Hatch yesterday. He has a 12 point advantage in the championship with four races remaining.

[Mook]

Not been following the DTM, but were Audi winning by any chance and Mercedes were trying to knock them out so they couldn't?

Allegedly, of course

[J_C]

That's pretty much it in a nutshell, yes. Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk were first and second overall in the championship having been consistent all season, and after taking pole in qualifying and getting a good start Tomczyk stood every chance of taking his third win this year. Only Bruno Spengler (Mercedes) stands a chance of spoiling the party as far as the overall standings are concerned.

I've been an avid follower of DTM for some years and I was horrified at what went on on Sunday. I'll be gutted if Audi lose the championship thanks to this - it's DTM ffs, not NASCAR. They've had a superb season so far, and I really hope things go their way again at the Hockenheim finale next month (traditionally a circuit which favours the Mercs more than the Audis. )

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