Mike Rockenfeller unsurprised by Phoenix form

Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller is ‘not surprised’ by the Phoenix team’s strong performances in the opening rounds of the 2013 DTM season.

After Rockenfeller took eighth place at Hockenheim and won last time out at Brands Hatch, the team has emerged as the Ingolstadt marque’s top squad in 2013 and lies in fourth place in the teams’ championship, three positions higher the nearest placed Abt outfit.

With 29 points, the Audi driver also leads the drivers’ championship, one ahead of reigning champion, BMW’s Bruno Spengler.

However, Rockenfeller is not entirely surprised to find himself at the top of the standings due to the atmosphere at Phoenix and the progress the outfit has made over the winter.

“Of course you can never expect it [to be the best], but for sure it was the goal and that’s why I’m not surprised [about it] now or anything,” he told TouringCarTimes.

“I think we had a good winter this year and we were really able to improve the set up of the car. I’m feeling really good within the team.

“When you see how all the guys from the truck drivers, the engineers, the team-boss, down to the drivers are motivated – and it’s not always easy to be so in racing – I think it’s just something you need to be successful, and if you don’t have a team spirit in racing, and I think racing is a team sport, then for sure you can’t be successful.

“We have a good mixture of let’s say, very young people and others who have been there for many years and have a lot of experience in racing.

“It’s a great mixture which for me is good, so as a driver, it’s very easy for me to feel really happy here [in the team] and this is how I’ve always felt.”

Despite his comments, Rockenfeller believes the Audi RS 5 is still not the quickest car in the field and refused to make any predictions regarding the championship outcome at this early stage of the season.

“The goal is always to get maximum points and to win the championship which is normal.

“We’ll try and win more races, but you never know in the DTM.

“That’s why I think it’s a bit early and we’ll have to see what happens, but I think after five or six races, we can say where we are in the championship.

“[However] I think we can look forward to the rest of the year if we can get on the podium or challenge for the win at Spielberg.

“Even though I still believe we are not the quickest car, we’ll try and make the best out of it, because for sure many times people in motor racing have won championships and races despite not having the best package.”