Mattias Ekström on the Bathurst 1000

Audi’s Mattias Ekström will be heading to Australia to take part in the Bathurst 1000, which takes place over the weekend of October 10th-13th.

Ekström, who went from 11th to fourth at Zandvoort, will share the third Triple Eight Race Engineering prepared Holden Commodore with three-time World Touring Car champion and fellow DTM driver, Andy Priaulx.

The 1000 kilometre event will be Ekström’s first time in Australia, as well as his first time behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar.

“I have been trying different categories of touring cars since forever and this was one of the top series I wanted to try,” Ekström told TouringCarTimes. “I like it when the weather is warm, so I’m going there with my eyes open and waiting for a surprise.

“V8 Supercars looks like something that’s in-between the DTM and NASCAR, so if it feels like that I will tell you afterwards.”

The race will also mark the first time that Ekström has worked with Priaulx; an aspect of the event the Swede is looking forward to.

“He’s a very experienced and professional race driver with a great personality, so I will enjoy to get to know him a bit more.”

The Abt Sportsline driver added it is too early to comment whether he will make a full-time switch to the Australian series, given he will be out of contract with Audi at the end of the 2013 DTM season.

However, he will be aiming to perform at his absolute maximum despite the drive being a one-off for the moment.

“I think it is too early to say anything; first of all I want to try it out and see if I can be competitive.

“‘Go Hard or Go Home’ will still apply; it has since 1993 and will be until I stop. The day when I am not I will stop.”