Mattias Ekström gives Audi the first DTM pole of 2012

By Tarek Ramchani

The 2012 DTM season has started at Hockenheim this weekend. Audi immediately did a great job with a stunning pole position for Mattias Ekström and a strong fourth place for Edoardo Mortara.

A very close and fought qualifying session with great battles between the drivers from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz drivers. The qualifying format has changed this year now with four sessions. Only the top four drivers are allowed to compete in the final "Q4", the fourth qualifying session. Two Audi drivers made it to this weekend’s Q4. Edoardo Mortara was the first to do his "one shot" lap. The Audi Sport Team Rsoberg driver made a mistake and that gave him the fourth place on the grid for tomorrow's race. Later it was the turn of Mattias Ekström, the Swede completed a perfect lap of 1:34.680. Eki faced great competition from AMG's Jamie Green. The British driver did a great lap, but wasn't able to prevent the Swedish ace from taking the first pole position of the new season. Audi has placed four of its drivers in the top ten. Mike Rockenfeller from Audi Sport Team Phoenix qualified in a good fifth. Timo Scheider the two times DTM champion was eighth. The other Audi drivers were twelfth with Adrian Tambay, fourteenth with Filipe Albuquerque, seventeenth with Miguel Molina and twenty-second with Rahel Frey.

Audi has done a great job in qualifying. Ekstrom will start from pole, with both Mortara and Rockenfeller not far behind. Audi has a great chance to take the victory for tomorrow's race

Full qualifying results

Photo Credits: Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Edoardo Mortara - Audi A5 DTM - Audi Sport Team Rosberg

Mike Rockenfeller - Audi A5 DTM - Audi Sport Team Phoenix