Audi Motorsport has chosen the Geneva Motor Show to reveal its 2013 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters car, wearing the RS 5 DTM moniker, a nod to the company’s sportiest models. “The performance data of the current RS 5 road car and RS 5 DTM are very similar. This is why we are of the opinion that both fit perfectly to one another,” explained Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.
Although the name is new, the car’s technical specification was frozen from the last race of 2012 in accordance with the series’ regulations. However, the team has been busy over the winter break, identifying if any of the 4,000 components in the racecar could be optimized in any way. “Our technicians proved to be quite resourceful in the process,” said Dr. Ullrich.
The car is based on a state-of-the-art carbon-fibre monocoque, which features a high-strength steel tube cage, while the current 340 kW (460 hp) V8 engine is retained for 2013. Gears are changed by a pneumatically operated six-speed transmission via steering wheel-mounted flappy paddles.
Eight RS 5 DTMs will line up on the grid this year, with the first of the ten races taking part on May 5 at the Hockenheimring. Jamie Green, who is making the switch from Mercedes, is the new team-mate of Mattias Ekström at Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. “I already feel at home here at Audi and can hardly wait to contest my first DTM race for the four rings,” said the 30-year old Briton.
Green and co will give the RS 5 DTM its first public taste of track action at the DTM test between March 26 and 29 at Barcelona.
[Source: Audi Motorsport]