The starting signal for the 2016 Audi Sport TT Cup will be given at the Hockenheimring this weekend. As part of the DTM’s supporting program, one race each will be held on Saturday, May 7, and on Sunday, May 8. In addition to the permanent entrants, two internationally renowned guest drivers will be contesting the races.
With the first in a total of seven race weekends the Audi Sport TT Cup will be starting its second season at the Hockenheimring. Following several months of preparation, the 16 international talents will be on the grid in competitive conditions for the first time on the 4.574-kilometer track. “We have a very good mix of rookies and seasoned campaigners who competed in the Audi Sport TT Cup last year,” says Project Leader Philipp Mondelaers.
New this year is the Rookie classification in which, in addition to the overall classification, the ten newcomers are going to battle for the title of the best budding driver. “Following the impressions from the tests, I’m expecting to see very close races and a lot of variety on the podiums,” says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing.
This year, high-caliber national and international guest drivers will be contesting the races again as well. For the season-opening weekend at Hockenheim, the organizational team managed to secure the participation of Andreas Mikkelsen (N) and Scott Speed (USA) at the wheel of the 310-hp Audi TT cup car. 26-year-old Mikkelsen is a Volkswagen factory driver in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), won Rally Spain (2015), and in the past two years took third place in the overall classification. Speed competed in Formula One (2006 and 2007) and won the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) title in a Volkswagen Beetle last year.
