Audi R8 LMS Cup Press Release
Audi DTM driver Edoardo Mortara was back in Asia this weekend and reunited with the Audi R8 LMS Cup. No stranger to the Cup, Mortara made his debut in the final round of the inaugural season in 2012, and has returned regularly over the years in between his duties as a front-running Audi DTM driver.
Currently 4th in the DTM championship, we caught up with ‘Edo’, as he is affectionately known, at the Penbay International Circuit to talk about life as an Audi DTM driver and what it’s like to be back with the Cup:
How does it feel to be back in Asia with the Cup and in a GT car?
“I love the Audi R8 LMS Cup!Joining the Cup and seeing lots of friends, enjoying the atmosphere, racing at different places around the world that I’ve never known – it’s my first time to Taiwan for me for example – makes it really cool!
“The DTM and Cup cars require different approaches and driving styles. The Audi DTM is more like a prototype, with every component built for racing. While it’s true the two cars are completely different, it’s very important to adapt. As a driver, it’s important to try many different things and use different techniques. The goal is always the same:to get more performance.”
How is your DTM season going so far?
“This is my fifth season in DTM. I’ve had some ups and downs; some very good years, one very bad year. This year started pretty well. I had a very strong first race weekend with one 4th and one 2nd, so was leading the championship after the first race weekend.
The second one was also pretty positive and I was ranked 2nd after the weekend. The third, though, was a bit difficult because we have a system of weights.
The better your performance, the more weight you carry on the car. We were the heaviest possible on the third weekend, which was a street circuit, and for four corners it was basically braking, turning, acceleration, where the weight has a big influence. Unfortunately we couldn’t really do a lot.”
And what are your thoughts ahead of the next rounds?
“The next DTM weekend will be very important. At the moment I’m 4th in the championship, but because of the last weekend we’re losing 10kg for the next round and our competitor will gain 10kg, so that will make us more competitive.
Looking at what we did in the first two weekends, I know we can aim for a very strong result, and definitely we need to do something good if I still want to have a chance to win the championship.”
Photo credit: Audi R8 LMS Cup / Audi Media
