Review by CoMod Lotus of Carrera DIGITAL 132 the Audi
A5 DTMM.Rockenfeller
, “No. 1,” 2014 (Item No. 20030707)
In 2005, CARRERA added the first two DTM cars to its lineup: the Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4. Since then, these cars have been among the most beautiful and popular models in the lineup. The reason for this, aside from their outstanding handling, is primarily their varied and eye-catching appearance. In terms of color, just about every shade is represented—especially in recent years, which have brought us a wealth of colorful race cars.
This year, too, there are four new DTM models in the lineup: two BMW M4s, a Mercedes C-Coupe, and the Audi A5 Coupe. This report focuses on the Audi driven by Michael “Mike” Rockenfeller of Team PHOENIX RACING. The car from the 2014 season, bearing the number 1, is a visual treat. This is due not only to the sleek design of the base model but also to the yellow-and-green paint job, which blends seamlessly from one color to the other. The main sponsor on the car is the SCHÄFFLER Group; car enthusiasts have known who’s behind this mechanical engineering conglomerate and automotive supplier at least since the acquisition of CONTINENTAL AG in 2008. I’d like to say just a few words about the PHOENIX team: The racing team was founded in 1999 by Ernst Moser, Opel’s former chief technical officer. PHOENIX has been competing in the DTM since 2000—driving Opels for the first six years and Audis since 2006. The team celebrated its greatest success in the DTM in 2011, when Martin Tomcyk won the championship. This success was repeated in 2013 by Mike Rockenfeller, who was 31 at the time, which is why the 2014 car bore the No. 1 starting number—a car in which he finished third during the 2014 season, by the way. The team also competes in the FIA GT1, the ADAC Masters, the International GT Open, and the VLN.
For more information (and lots of great pictures), check out the website of the guys from Meuspath in the Nürburgring Industrial Park: www.phoenix - racing.de
The current A5 exhibits the handling characteristics typical of DTM cars: thanks to its wide track, it sits very firmly on the track. The weight is slightly on the high side, yet the car still handles very well. High grip, combined with a full set of magnets, makes it virtually impossible for the car to break loose, and the tires’ excellent grip further ensures that the car takes corners cleanly.
Conclusion: A successful addition to the already quite impressive lineup of touring cars. No wonder there are now quite a few collectors specializing in DTM models.
In 2005, CARRERA added the first two DTM cars to its lineup: the Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4. Since then, these cars have been among the most beautiful and popular models in the lineup. The reason for this, aside from their outstanding handling, is primarily their varied and eye-catching appearance. In terms of color, just about every shade is represented—especially in recent years, which have brought us a wealth of colorful race cars.
This year, too, there are four new DTM models in the lineup: two BMW M4s, a Mercedes C-Coupe, and the Audi A5 Coupe. This report focuses on the Audi driven by Michael “Mike” Rockenfeller of Team PHOENIX RACING. The car from the 2014 season, bearing the number 1, is a visual treat. This is due not only to the sleek design of the base model but also to the yellow-and-green paint job, which blends seamlessly from one color to the other. The main sponsor on the car is the SCHÄFFLER Group; car enthusiasts have known who’s behind this mechanical engineering conglomerate and automotive supplier at least since the acquisition of CONTINENTAL AG in 2008. I’d like to say just a few words about the PHOENIX team: The racing team was founded in 1999 by Ernst Moser, Opel’s former chief technical officer. PHOENIX has been competing in the DTM since 2000—driving Opels for the first six years and Audis since 2006. The team celebrated its greatest success in the DTM in 2011, when Martin Tomcyk won the championship. This success was repeated in 2013 by Mike Rockenfeller, who was 31 at the time, which is why the 2014 car bore the No. 1 starting number—a car in which he finished third during the 2014 season, by the way. The team also competes in the FIA GT1, the ADAC Masters, the International GT Open, and the VLN.
For more information (and lots of great pictures), check out the website of the guys from Meuspath in the Nürburgring Industrial Park: www.phoenix - racing.de
The current A5 exhibits the handling characteristics typical of DTM cars: thanks to its wide track, it sits very firmly on the track. The weight is slightly on the high side, yet the car still handles very well. High grip, combined with a full set of magnets, makes it virtually impossible for the car to break loose, and the tires’ excellent grip further ensures that the car takes corners cleanly.
Conclusion: A successful addition to the already quite impressive lineup of touring cars. No wonder there are now quite a few collectors specializing in DTM models.
