Audi’s Mattias Ekström has hinted that he could skip the season finale of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season in order to focus on remaining in the title fight in the FIA World RallyCross Championship.
Ekström is effectively out of contention for this year’s DTM title, being eighth overall and 88 points adrift of the lead, with only 100 available from the remaining four races.
However, the Swede remains in contention for the World RX title, as he is currently second overall and just five points behind the lead, with four events still to run.
Should Ekström remain in World RX title contention come the DTM season finale on the 14 October, the Swede admits that he would be willing to be absent from the event in order to compete in World RX in Estering, near Hamburg in Germany.
“For now, I’ll try to have a good weekend at [the next World RX event] Barcelona,” said Ekström. “If that’s worked out, I’m going to talk to my bosses the following week to see what we’re going to do.
“I think my chances are good. I feel very comfortable with the most recent update in terms of development. Now, a smaller aspect will be added.
“I’m very much looking forward to Barcelona. With respect to the atmosphere, it’s one of the top three events besides Lohéac and Höljes. It’s going to be a highlight.”
Ekström lost further ground in the DTM title fight last weekend at the Nürburgring, with contact with Maximilian Götz forcing him out of race one.
The former double champion was particularly critical of the Mercedes driver, whilst remaining positive about the standards of some of his other rivals in the championship.
“I’m really fed up,” added Ekström. “I simply shouldn’t be starting behind this guy anymore. He doesn’t drive the way I think a race should be driven.
“Yes, he occasionally drives fast. He occasionally finishes, too. But I simply don’t like the way he drives. That’s it.
“Driving with people that let you live is fun. Everyone in the DTM can drive fast – there’s no point in discussing that. But how you drive a race, what type of show you deliver, that’s something not everyone is capable of.
“Marco Wittmann is one of the clever ones, a driver who always finishes as well, and with whom you can fight a fair battle. He’s currently the man to be beaten.”