If yesterday we showed you the DTM Safety Car for 2012, today we are going to focus our attention on one of the protagonists of this race, the Audi A5 DTM!
The DTM is the most exciting Touring championship on our planet and for this season there are eight Audi’s confirmed in the fight for the much-desired cup. This year's race is special, because for the first time since 2003, participants will be using coupé models and on top of that, BMW has joined the party to brighten things up even more, which means that the three big manufacturers Premium Germans (Audi, BMW and Mercedes) meet again 20 years later.
Audi, title champion, has a new car, new technology and also new regulations. It's a case of saying: With so much new, let's see if we don't have a new champion as well…
In the eight heroes of Audi the names of the two-time DTM champion come to mind Mattias Ekstrom it's from Timo Scheider , who will join the ABT Sportsline team, similarly to what happened in the 2011 season. But as Portuguese, we cannot remain indifferent to the Audi Sport Team Rosberg, which has the presence of a Portuguese driver, Filipe Albuquerque.
But after so much talk, you might be wanting to know the real potential of the car, right? Well, the new Audi A5 DTM features a carbon fiber monobloc with an integrated 120 liter fuel tank and the other elements of the side, front and rear structure are also made of this same material.
The beating of the aspirated V8 is felt from kilometers away and with a mere 4,000 displacement, this A5 delivers around 460 hp and has a maximum torque of over 500 Nm. All this coupled with a sequential 6-speed gearbox.
Filipe Albuquerque's rear-wheel drive car, as well as those of the other Audi drivers, is 5.010 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width and 1,150 mm in height, and as you might guess, it will take some man-made brakes to stop this monster. Dual circuit hydraulic brakes, with light alloy brake calipers, ventilated carbon discs and variable brake force distribution, are “adorned” by 18-inch aluminum wheels. With so much "power" it is impossible to remain indifferent to this modality...
They will have the opportunity to see the new Audi A5 DTM in action on Sunday, April 29, in Hockenheim.
Stay with the best moments of 2011:
Text: Tiago Luís