Swede concentrates on RX

Audi’s most successful DTM driver, Mattias Ekström, has decided to end his DTM (German Touring Masters) career to concentrate full time on the World Rallycross Championship. After years of juggling driving duties in both of these demanding fields of motorsport, Ekström made the announcement last night that in 2018 he will concentrate on the factory-backed commitment of his Audi-backed team, EKS, in the World Rallycross Championship.

“This was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make,” says Ekström. “The DTM was my life for a long time and my heart will always continue to beat for the DTM in the future too. However, I’ve also invested a lot of time and energy in my rallycross team in recent years. Without the dual program I’m now able to fully concentrate on one series again and have more freedom again for my family and my children. I’ll continue to compete for my own team and am clearing the way in the DTM for a promising youngster.”

In his 17 years racing in DTM, Ekström has become Audi’s most successful DTM campaigner to date, with 193 races, 23 victories and two championship titles.

Mattias Ekström began his DTM career in 2001 at the age of 22 in the Audi customer team of ABT Sportsline. In 2004, he raced for the first time as a factory driver and instantly clinched his first DTM title. In 2007, title number two followed and last season he just missed another overall victory. 

As if his DTM career hasn’t been impressive enough, since 2014, Ekström has also been competing in the dynamic World Rallycross Championship (RX) with his own team, EKS, driving his Audi S1 EKS RX quattro. Despite the pressure of competing in two such demanding types of motorsport at the same time, Ekström still managed to clinch his first world championship title in the RX series in 2016, and was a fierce competitor again last year, despite having to miss several RX rounds due to his DTM commitments.

“Mattias informed us early of his wish to contest only one series in the 2018 season,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. “Obviously, Mattias is extremely valuable and important for both projects. That’s why this decision was not an easy one for either of us.”
Ekström leaves a gap in the DTM squad which makes it possible for 26-year-old Dutchman Robin Frijns to be promoted to the ranks of an Audi factory driver. The young driver has been active in customer racing for Audi since 2015 and comes from single-seater racing. 

In a junior driver evaluation in Spain, he gathered initial experience at the wheel of an Audi DTM race car in 2013. “Robin left a strong impression with us even back then and we haven’t lost sight of him ever since,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass. 

The new DTM season will open at the Hockenheimring on May 5 and 6. The first race of the 2018 FIA World RX Championship will be held at Barcelona on April 14 and15.