AUDI announced it won all three categories of the 2017 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), the German-based touring car series, to beat rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Audi claimed the driver, team and manufacturer championship titles.
Team driver Rene Rast made history by taking the driver’s title in his rookie year, a feat last achieved 24 years ago by Nicola Larini.
Mr. Rast’s team, Audi Sport Team Rosberg, also clinched the team championship. Founded by former F1 world champion Keke Rosberg in 1994, the team has been competing in DTM as an Audi works squad since 2006. Drivers who have raced for Team Rosberg include 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg — the son of the team’s founder.
Audi said Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, the brand’s most successful group in DTM, followed Team Rosberg to the podium. The family-owned company ABT joined Abt-Audi TT-R in DTM in 2000-2003, winning the championship in 2002. In 2004, ABT Sportsline became an Audi factory team and has since won four more DTM driver’s titles — two each for Mattias Ekstrom and Timo Scheider.
Audi said it also managed to defend the title in the manufacturer’s championship to become one of the most successful car makers in DTM. It said it has notched nine driver’s, five team, and three manufacturer’s titles to date.
